Astounding Insights on Burnout: The Unpaid Overtime of Your Soul

ByDavid Gilbert
A worker experiencing burnout at their work desk. a woman reading a book in front of a computer.

A former Google employee’s story about relentless work and its consequences has sparked wider conversations about burnout. Tia Lee, a 2020 graduate of Michigan State University, recently described her drive to maximize income after entering the workforce. Multiple high-intensity roles were eventually held simultaneously, including a position as a technical program manager at Google, freelance web design work, and a personal clothing business.

The Google Grind Loses a Key Employee

By late 2023, a visible physical toll was being taken by the workload and constant travel. Frequent illness was experienced, which was initially blamed on travel between states for work. After repeated episodes, a doctor’s suggestion that chronic stress could be a factor prompted a reassessment of that demanding routine.

To prioritize well-being, professional commitments were significantly scaled back. Freelance work was reduced, expenses were lowered, and savings were built with the goal of an extended break from full-time work. A move back to her parents’ home in Michigan was made, her Tesla was sold, and a more affordable vehicle was purchased.

Hustle Culture Just Got Its Two Weeks’ Notice

Creative cost-cutting was also employed, such as trading web design services for prepared meals to reduce grocery costs. This entire experience led to old definitions of success being questioned. Earlier, professional advancement and financial growth were the primary measures. Now, greater value is placed on personal autonomy, health, and time.

After two years of living expenses were saved, her resignation from Google was submitted in June. A relocation to Brooklyn, New York, followed. A slower pace of life has since been adopted by her, with focus placed on habits such as mindful eating and daily journaling. No current plans exist to return to the structure of corporate employment. By many, her story is seen as a real-world example of a widespread condition: burnout.

The Side Hustles Had a Side of Illness

A worker experiencing burnout at their work desk. A man writing in a notebook in front of a laptop.
Image of Worker Experiencing Burnout / Courtesy of Vitaly Gariev via Unsplash.

That state is defined as physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation and performance, though it is not considered a formal medical diagnosis. It can often be difficult to recognize, particularly for individuals who are accustomed to a non-stop, high-achieving pace. For instance, a common illustration describes a person who is used to operating at maximum speed; even when the pace is finally reduced, a feeling of inadequacy can still be experienced because the slower speed is wrongly interpreted as not being good enough.

This phenomenon helps explain why the signs of burnout are frequently missed until a significant crisis occurs. Furthermore, burnout is often conflated with depression, but key differences exist. Typically, burnout is linked to a specific situation, like a job, while depression may lack a clear trigger. Stepping away from the source of burnout, such as on a vacation, often brings relief, which is less likely with depression.

Unsubscribing from Society’s Success Script

Prolonged periods of stress make burnout a common experience, but it is considered reversible. For Tia Lee, a former Google employee, that path to recovery was necessary after her own health began to falter under the weight of multiple demanding roles. Her journey from corporate pursuit to personal recalibration underscores this path.

The recovery from such a state is often said to involve establishing a meaningful routine and creating firm boundaries. In Lee’s case, that process was seen through decisive actions, including leaving her job, significantly reducing her expenses, and relocating to a different city. To prevent a deepening of the condition, the signs of burnout must be recognized early. Her journey then became an active pursuit of that balance through small, intentional changes, like trading a Tesla for a more sensible sedan.

Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor

A clear shift in priority was demonstrated, moving the focus from external validation to internal well-being, proving you can’t simply hustle your way out of burnout. This whole experience serves as a useful reminder that any reasonable definition of success has to include sustainability, otherwise you’re just building a very fancy, very empty cage. Ultimately, that high-status life was exchanged for one with more autonomy and better health, a trade many find daunting but, as it turns out, is quite worthwhile.

David Gilbert is a poet and writer from Dayton Ohio, revealing themes of love and life to uncover the importance of self-discovery and self-recovery. Attending four years at Stivers School for the Arts with a focus on creative writing and receiving his Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree in English, David has learned his craft by understanding the significance of words to provoke fresh emotion and raw honesty.