By Christine Larkin

Have you ever felt like you're juggling too much, barely holding it all together? 

Dr Emma Seppälä, author of The Happiness Track, puts it bluntly: “Burnout is often a result of chronic stress that’s ignored”¹. We’re not superheroes—expecting we can do it all, all the time, is not only unrealistic but harmful. So, how do we break the cycle?

Flowing to F***ed Up: How Quickly It Can Happen

We all have a capacity—a set amount of energy we can expend before we hit a wall. But when we keep pushing through, ignoring the warning signs, the decline can be rapid.

Research from Psychology Today shows that burnout often starts with “compulsive perseverance”—you keep going, ignoring physical and emotional exhaustion until your body forces you to stop². Sound familiar?

The problem isn’t ambition; it’s the idea that asking for help is a failure. Instead, reframing help as a way to do more of what you love while protecting your mental health is key.

The Myth of 'Maximum Capacity' 

Here’s a thought-provoking question: if you gave 20% of your best today, but that’s all you had in the tank, haven’t you still given 100%? It’s a concept that challenges the way we think about productivity. Imagine what you could achieve if you delegated just 20% of the tasks weighing you down.

As one study from Harvard Business Review points out, burnout doesn’t just affect individuals—it affects entire teams and organisations³. Leaders who ask for help not only improve their own productivity but also set a powerful example for their teams.