In a quiet room, a young woman slouched in her chair during a focus group, her voice trembling as she admitted, “I don’t remember who I was before I got tired.” Around her, others nodded in silent agreement, her story echoing everyone’s shared experience.
Burnout, once confined to psychology textbooks, has become a universal phenomenon. It pervades workplaces, schools, and personal lives, emerging earlier and earlier in life for younger generations.
Promotions, achievements, new products, new content—our society places a high premium on productivity. It’s worth asking: Have we unintentionally created a culture that thrives as we weaken?
This is a piece on how burnout is becoming a defining experience for many young people, highlighting its intergenerational roots, as well as some thought nuggets on how to break free from its grasp.
The ‘Always-On’ Generation: Are We Glorifying Exhaustion?
Burnout culture refers to a societal or workplace dynamic where overwork, excessive stress, and emotional exhaustion are normalized—sometimes even celebrated. It glorifies relentless productivity, tying self-worth and identity to career milestones and material achievements, often at the expense of well-being and rest.
The term ‘burnout’ metaphorically draws from the depletion of a fire or energy source, symbolizing the exhaustion of emotional and physical resources. This isn’t merely a psychological issue but also has severe physiological implications. Studies show chronic stress associated with burnout can lead to structural changes in the brain1, particularly in areas like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which are crucial for decision-making and emotional regulation.
How Did This Culture Evolve?
Burnout culture is deeply rooted in historical, economic, and technological forces, entangled with individualistic and capitalist values. Psychologist Herbert Freudenberger first introduced the term ‘burnout’ in 19742, describing the emotional exhaustion and reduced accomplishment experienced by healthcare workers. Sociologist Max Weber’s concept of the “Protestant work ethic” highlighted how, during the Industrial Revolution, work became a moral duty, embedding productivity into personal identity.
Over time, this ideology expanded beyond workplaces, fueled by modern economic systems and technological advancements, creating a societal expectation of perpetual output and success.
Intergenerational Roots of Burnout
In many non-Western cultures, the roots of burnout run deeper than individual ambition or societal pressure—they penetrate within our collective histories. For generations, families have valued hard work as the ultimate virtue. In communities without privileged backgrounds, survival often depended on tireless labour. Our parents and grandparents worked with relentless resolve to secure opportunities for the next generation, viewing exhaustion not as a sign of imbalance but as a testament to resilience and duty.
For today’s young people, particularly Gen Z, this legacy creates tension. We are one of the first generations trying to make sense of personal healing while also seeking communal mending. The values handed down to us often conflict with the modern discourse on self-care and balance. How do we reconcile messages like “rest is a right” when we’ve grown up hearing “hard work never killed anyone”?
This dichotomy leaves many young people caught between worlds. On one hand, we carry the weight of intergenerational expectations; on the other, we face the dissonance of wanting more rest, more joy, and a life that isn’t entirely defined by labour. Burnout for us is not just an individual experience but also a cultural inheritance.
Why Is Burnout Hitting the Young So Hard?
From meticulously curated Instagram feeds to viral TikTok dances, the pressure to excel isn’t just professional; it’s deeply personal. Researchers have found that perfectionism has increased by 33% since the 1980s3. Social media has amplified this, becoming both a tool and a mirror reflecting idealized lives that leave young people feeling inadequate; amplifying the “hustle culture,” glorifying overwork and constant self-improvement. Frequent social media use correlates with higher levels of anxiety, alienation, and depressive symptoms4, largely driven by the pressure to measure up to curated representations of success.
Moreover, individuals entering the workforce now are carrying years of academic burnout. Internships, side hustles, and the pursuit of academic accolades often start early, ingraining a culture of relentless striving. Unlike earlier generations, the “always-on” nature of modern work—emails, Slack messages, and social media—makes true disconnection nearly impossible. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey5, 54% of teens then said they spend too much time on their phones but report anxiety about being “left out” if they disconnect.
Who iIs Iimpacted Mmost?
Young people, particularly women and workers under 30, are disproportionately affected6 by burnout. Economic insecurity, precarious employment, and student debt further exacerbate the issue. According to the International Labour Organization, young people face higher unemployment rates and job instability7, leaving them in a constant state of uncertainty and overexertion.
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, amplifying burnout by blurring work-life boundaries. A 2022 McKinsey survey8 found that 49% of workers reported feeling burned out, citing diminished mental health and increased responsibilities during the pandemic.
In collectivist cultures, burnout manifests differently. It’s also tied to familial or community obligations, alongside individual achievements. For instance, young people may feel the dual pressure of excelling at work while fulfilling traditional family roles, leaving little room for self-prioritization, or self-care.
Breaking the Cycle?
We’ve been pouring from an empty cup.
Drawing from Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, we might reimagine what life could look like if we all carved out a metaphorical room—not for relentless productivity, but for being. Woolf proposed that women needed space and financial independence to write; perhaps today, we all need space and emotional independence to truly live.
Less Is More
Normalizing boundaries and embracing digital detoxes, even for an evening a week, can significantly reduce stress. Tricia Hersey’s book Rest is Resistance advocates for reframing rest as a right, not a reward. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique—working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break—have been shown to maintain energy and reduce fatigue.
What if success didn’t mean climbing professional ladders but living authentically and pursuing creative passions, or self-actualization9 as Maslow would call it? Celebrating personal milestones—adopting a new hobby such as gardening or cooking, nurturing friendships, or maintaining a ‘daily joys’ diary—over traditional metrics of success could be so valuable in dismantling burnout culture.
Less is more. Scheduling downtime as intentionally as work or social commitments allows for deep, quality engagement in fewer areas rather than spreading oneself too thin.
Rebuild Your Village
Communities play a crucial role in combating burnout. Surabhi Yadav’s photo project Basanti: Women at Leisure documents women reclaiming moments of rest and leisure in everyday settings, from lounging under trees to painting their toenails. These acts are radical in societies where women’s labor is undervalued and leisure is considered a luxury. Similarly, Indian traditional practices like yoga, meditation, and ayurvedic principles—rooted in holistic well-being—offer tools for balance and healing that predate modern burnout discourse.
Intergenerational healing requires us to honor the sacrifices of previous generations while questioning which values serve us today. It means recognizing that while hard work was essential for our parents, our generation’s work might also include creating lives where rest, joy, and connection are equally valued.
Conclusion
Burnout doesn’t have to define our generation or adulthood. By stepping off the hamster wheel and asking, “What would my life look like if I didn’t have to prove myself?” we can move away from merely surviving to maybe a little living.
Balance over hustle. By rejecting the glorification of overwork, reframing rest as essential—not by what we produce, but by how deeply we live—and fostering compassionate communities, we can challenge the norms that perpetuate exhaustion. For younger generations, this also means embracing intergenerational healing—honoring the resilience of our past and reframing narratives for our present, one small act of rest, joy, or community at a time. For a room of one’s own.
If you’re a woman in your 20s experiencing burnout and seeking a virtual community centered on compassion, joy, and creativity, email muskan@ohhumanness.com to join.
