The Burnout I Didn’t See Coming (And How I Dug Out)

Burnout doesn’t usually arrive with warning signs. One minute you’re leading from the front, keeping projects moving, and making sure the team feels supported. Then suddenly, you’re drained, staring at your screen, wondering why any of it matters.

When I experienced it, I didn't know what to call it. I wasn't exhausted—I was empty. It took me some time to realize burnout isn't necessarily triggered by doing too much. It is triggered by doing too much without experiencing a feeling of purpose.

1. Identifying It Was Burnout

At first, I chalked it up to fatigue. Maybe all I needed was a weekend off or another cup of coffee. But when I couldn't muster the motivation to care about deadlines, product issues, or even team achievements, I knew it was more than that.

Burnout is not physical fatigue. It's emotional and mental fatigue. I was constantly reminding myself to push through, but it only got worse.

What I learned:

• Burnout hits when purpose fades, not just when energy runs out

• Masking it with productivity hacks only deepens the problem

• Admitting it wasn’t about weakness, but about being human

2. Admitting You’re Burned Out (Even to Yourself)

Tech leaders believe that they have to be perfect. The one that never fails. I was also guilty of the same mentality. But when I shattered the facade of pretending that all is good, things started to shift.

What worked:

• Being honest with my team instead of playing the show

• Leveraging peers who went through it too

• Learning that vulnerability made me a better leader

3. The R.E.S.E.T. Framework for Burnout Recovery

• Reconnect: Spend time with others who make you reflect on why you do what you do

• Evaluate: What's draining the life out of you? What can you eliminate or outsource?

• Simplify: Cut back on unnecessary meetings, minimize mental load

• Energize: Do something creative on your own time (writing, hobbies)

• Trust: Create space for your team to own things for a bit, let them take on projects

4. Finding Purpose Again

After recognizing burnout, I needed to rekindle my enthusiasm for the job. As it happened, rediscovering purpose was more than just taking time out.

What worked for me:

• Returning to why I initially chose to build this team

• Talking about burnout in all-hands meetings (yes, it was daunting, but it was worth it)

• Getting back to hands-on work—sometimes building something small, like a script or prototype, helped me reconnect

5. Creating a Culture That Prevents Burnout

Burnout doesn't happen to individuals—it happens to teams. As leaders, we get to set the pace and expectations that prevent burnout.

How I do it now:

• Make it normal to take time off without guilt

• Lead by example: Don't respond to Slack out of hours unless it's a genuine emergency

• Encourage others to speak up when they're overwhelmed

TL;DR: Burnout is not weakness. It's losing touch with what makes the work valuable. Reconnect, streamline, and ask for help from your team when you need it.

One Last Thought: Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do is take a step back, recover, and come back stronger. Your team doesn't need you present, they need you at your best