ON MY MIND

You can’t pour from an empty cup

Let’s talk about burnout and well-being – topics once relegated to whispers, now front and center in business conversations. The pandemic years blurred work-life boundaries and stretched everyone thin. Even now, surveys indicate burnout is rampant. Globally, an estimated 82% of white-collar workers have experienced burnout to some degree . Closer to home, a SHRM study found 44% of U.S. employees feel burned out at work and over half feel “emotionally drained” by day’s end . These numbers are eye-opening. It means in a typical meeting or office, nearly half the people are running on fumes.

The costs of burnout are huge – diminished creativity, errors, absenteeism, and ultimately people quitting. Burned-out workers are almost 3× more likely to be actively job-hunting , which should set off alarm bells for any manager. I admit, I’ve felt that creeping exhaustion too – that Monday morning dread after a weekend that didn’t feel like a break because my mind was still on pending deals or projects.

So, what do we do? For one, companies are now recognizing that mental health is as important as quarterly earnings. More firms are offering employee assistance programs, counseling, and encouraging time off. Some progressive leaders openly talk about their own mental health and model setting boundaries (e.g., not emailing employees at 11 pm).

This helps destigmatize the issue. And it turns out addressing burnout isn’t just nice for employees – it’s good for the bottom line. When companies actively support mental well-being, they see higher engagement and retention. One Boston Consulting Group study even found that when employees feel included and supported, their likelihood of burnout is cut in half . Inclusion and open dialogue can literally make work less draining.

On a personal level, I’ve been learning to prioritize recovery as part of my routine. It sounds odd – scheduling downtime with the same importance as a client meeting – but I’ve started doing exactly that. I put blocks on my calendar for a midday walk or an hour of reading something not work-related.

I’ve learned that hustling non-stop is a young person’s game; seasoned professionals realize consistent high performance requires rhythm – bursts of effort and periods of rest. As an example, I recently began enforcing a “digital sunset” – turning off work notifications after a certain hour. At first I worried I’d miss something urgent, but I found that the world kept spinning and I showed up the next day far more focused.

It’s heartening to see that even in traditionally high-pressure fields like real estate, this conversation is happening. Big brokerage firms are introducing wellness programs, and real estate leaders talk about mindful leadership. They know that in an industry built on relationships, showing up as your best self (not your most frazzled self) makes all the difference in winning clients and closing deals.

In short, taking care of our mental and physical health isn’t slacking off – it’s strategy. A healthier you is a more effective you. The old notion that burnout is just the price of success is being challenged, and thank goodness for that. Because success achieved by burning oneself out is hollow and unsustainable. True success is building a career (and life) where high performance and health coexist.