Burnout: From Body to Mind — Doubt as a Healing Opportunity

Burnout doesn’t always show up as classic exhaustion. Sometimes it feels like a small inner "bell" telling you to run faster, to be more productive—even when you actually need rest (Maslach & Leiter, 2016). That inner voice saying “you’re not doing enough” gets louder at the beginning of every new chapter, especially when you compare yourself with others. In the social media era, images of success and constant activity fuel cognitive distortion through comparison (Han et al., 2020).

The Voice of Doubt

For me, burnout appears as a "little manager" inside, telling me that if I don’t work harder I won’t succeed. It’s the opposite of caring: the belief that results only come if you hustle more and relax less. Research shows that persistent self-critique and peer comparison increase feelings of inadequacy and the duration of burnout (Schaufeli et al., 2009).

Burnout: The Pattern of Comparison & Social Media

I follow many accounts, I see colleagues achieving and "running", and my body translates that as proof I should do more—social media comparison as a key burnout factor has been well documented as a stressor (Han et al., 2020; Festinger, 1954).

Micro-practices & Self-leadership

What helps me return to Self is adopting small rituals: breathing breaks, grounding, meditation, music (Creswell, 2017; Garland et al., 2019). These practices don’t just relieve stress—they bring me back to the Present and remind me of what’s “enough” for today. Each time I feel that loss of Self, I reframe: "You are enough today. Every colleague follows their own journey—real success isn’t what’s shown on Instagram, nor is it unreachable or magical” (Brown, 2018).

Message for You:

If you feel burnout as an inner urgency or doubt, try standing in your truth and giving your body some care. Set your own frame through practical habits, awareness, and self-validation. Discovery starts when you allow yourself to be “enough” (Neff, 2003).

References:

• Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead. New York: Random House.

• Creswell, J. D. (2017). Mindfulness Interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 491–516.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-042716-051139

• Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117–140. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/001872675400700202

• Garland, E. L., et al. (2019). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement. PLOS ONE, 14(2).https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000638

• Han, R., Xu, J., Ge, Y., & Qin, Y. (2020). The Impact of Social Media Use on Job Burnout: The Role of Social Comparison. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 588097. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.588097

• Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 25(2), 103–107.https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311

• Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101.https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/15298860309032

• Schaufeli, W. B., et al. (2009). Burnout and work engagement: The JD–R approach. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology, 1(1), 115–146.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091235