A Fresh Take on Stress and Burnout

After experiencing three very different career paths, I’ve realized that the classic advice to “follow your passion” is woefully inadequate. Most jobs—no matter how glamorous they appear from the outside—contain a surprising amount of tedious, repetitive, or low-value work. Add in micromanaging leaders, unclear priorities, endless meetings, and corporate initiatives that create pressure instead of progress, and it’s no surprise that burnout has become a defining feature of the modern workplace.

In a healthy workplace culture, work should be a place where we bring our highest selves into the world—aligned with our values, ethics, talents, and sense of purpose. When that alignment exists, we feel meaning, fulfillment, and connection. Even the difficult parts of our jobs feel worth the energy.

But for many people, that’s not the default. A lot of roles appear neither meaningful nor engaging at first glance—just a way to make money. When that’s the case, we often have to generate positivity, resilience, and purpose ourselves.

Here are a few practical ways to do that today:

1) Be an antidote to stress.

Everyone is carrying more stress than they show. Be the person who brings emotional resilience and psychological safety into the room. Look people in the eye, especially the ones who annoy you or seem disengaged. Ask how their day is going and don’t accept the stock answer of “good.” Sometimes the most meaningful leadership is quiet.

2) Find a way to engage (even when the work is dull).

Every task—no matter how boring or “pointless”—contains at least one angle that can become interesting or meaningful. Challenge yourself to contribute thoughtfully in a useless meeting or to transform a tedious task into something you can feel proud of. This is sustainable productivity at its core.

3) Reconnect yourself to society.

Every job—yes, even yours—is part of a much larger ecosystem. When I eat a meal, I think about the farmers, drivers, accountants, and supply-chain teams that made it possible. You are one of those people for someone else. That sense of interconnectedness can be grounding.

4) Create moments of pride and self-compassion.

A few times a day, remind yourself: you didn’t create the situation you’re in, and you’re doing your best. That is enough. Without feeling, there is no healing—so let yourself feel proud, even briefly. So you have to intentionally call it to mind and heart throughout your day. Remember – if nothing changes, nothing changes.

And lastly…

Sometimes the grass is greener because it really is greener. If you’re in a toxic workplace culture, set boundaries, protect your well-being, and consider finding something healthier. Psychological safety is not optional.

Your turn

In what small ways do you create meaning or purpose at work?
How are you being a part of the solution to stress and burnout rather than adding to the problem?