How do I recover from burnout?

Burnout is depletion, not laziness

You might feel exhausted even after rest, cynical about work you once cared about, and less effective no matter how hard you try. That's a signal your load and recovery have been out of balance for too long — not a character flaw.

Recovery usually needs structural change

Candles help less than fewer overnight emails. Ask what can be paused, delegated, or done to a "good enough" standard. Protect tiny pockets of non-work identity: a walk, a hobby, a friend who doesn't ask about your job.

If you can't quit yet, shrink the bleed: clearer stop times, one meeting-free block, saying no to one optional thing.

Be patient with the rebuild

Motivation returns in flickers. Some people need medical or therapeutic support, especially if depression arrived with the burnout. Peer communities help you reality-check "maybe I'm just weak" — you're not.