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Running on Empty? Let’s Talk About Invisible Burnout
This week speaks to those who are high-functioning but secretly exhausted. It's the kind of burnout that hides behind yoga classes and green smoothies.
Valerie Alvarez
21 May • Reading Time: 11 minutes
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…We’re bringing that Sunday energy on a Wednesday!
Let’s talk about that flavor of burnout that doesn’t look dramatic—but feels like quietly unraveling.
You’re still showing up. Still checking things off. Still going to your workouts, your meetings, your matcha-fueled morning rituals. But underneath it all? You feel kind of...numb.
This week, we’re unpacking invisible burnout—the kind that hides behind high-functioning habits and a well-optimized Google Calendar. It’s the exhaustion you don’t notice until your motivation ghosts you and your joy gets stuck in airplane mode.
Think of this issue as your permission slip to stop powering through and start tuning in. We’ll help you recognize the subtle signals your body and brain have been sending—and give you the tools to actually feel like yourself again.
Let’s reset. (And rest.)
🔖 This Week’s Sponsor: Thanks to our friends at 1440 Media—your go-to source for fact-based news that respects your time and your intelligence. No bias. No fluff. Just what you need to know in 5 minutes or less. (More about them below.)
What's Inside
The Burnout You Didn’t See Coming: What to Do When You’re Still Getting Stuff Done, But Feel Dead Inside
Let’s be real: burnout doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes it’s not the all-caps MELTDOWN with crying-on-the-floor energy. Sometimes, it looks like hitting your deadlines, doing your morning runs, showing up for your team…and still feeling totally, cosmically meh inside.
That, my friend, is invisible burnout. And it’s sneaky as hell.
I felt it last week. I finished a long run, my training plan was going great, my schedule was full of “good” things—and yet, I felt like I was living in grayscale. My brain? Foggy. My vibe? Blah. My dog Mila? Thriving, but also low-key judging me for not taking joy in her perfect little face.
Because of this, I ended up booking a very last minute trip to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands to do absolutely nothing, but to disconnect from work, recharge, and rest.
Here’s the kicker: high-functioning burnout loves people like us. Overachievers. Creators. Hustlers who build dreams and meditate after.
So how do we spot it before we short-circuit?
Let’s walk through the signs—and more importantly, how to bounce back without burning your life down.