I climbed the career ladder and got my dream job at 30 - then I hit burnout

Jo Hooper, 39, from Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, achieved her dream job at 30 after a decade of rapid career progression in communications, but then experienced severe burnout, leading to two breakdowns within a year and forcing her to take time off work.

"I loved being good at it," Jo, a former communications professional, said of her 20s, during which she quickly climbed the career ladder through promotions and pay raises. She recalled, "I wanted to be a head of communications by the time I was 30, which I did by doing all things you'd expect, working long hours, saying yes to everything including mad things like taking my boss's kids to school." Jo genuinely believed these were good opportunities to seize.

However, a year into her management role, Jo hit burnout. She described feeling like "someone had flipped a switch and my brain had just broken," making it difficult to make decisions and causing her brain to feel like it was working slower. She also experienced crying and hyperventilating in the bathroom, but never considered her situation unsustainable. "I just thought I needed to change job and I'd be fine," she explained, believing a different organization would be the fix, but realized her behavior and perceived expectations remained the same everywhere. During her burnout, Jo could barely sleep and felt sick when brushing her teeth.

Jo ultimately left her career, realizing it was unsustainable, and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. She stated, "I've learnt the hard way that rest doesn't fix burnout, and it certainly didn't fix the breakdown for me. Actually changing the things that burnt you out or broke you down is the only way to get over it." Now, Jo is dedicated to convincing others to work less, having spent 10 years doing the opposite, which "nearly broke" her. She now engages in public speaking and coaching to help business owners and employers prevent others from reaching burnout. "I'm in control, I run my business, I get to decide how it works, I get to decide what I do and who I work with, and that's a huge part of the process for me," she said. Jo also expressed her disdain for "this optimisation culture of trying to be as productive as possible," believing it forces people to work more and live less.

Concerns have been raised about how individuals are signed off work for mental health issues. Earlier this year, hundreds of GPs informed the BBC they had never refused to sign a patient off work for such reasons.

Dr. Jill Williams, a psychologist and business coach in north Wales specializing in burnout, noted that "perfectionists or those who go the extra mile" are more susceptible to burnout. She added, "The same traits that get you promoted will be the same ones that burn you out, unfortunately."

Amy Davies of Public Health Wales clarified that while "burnout" is often used interchangeably with "stress," they are distinct. "Stress can feel like drowning, but burnout can feel like having nothing left to swim with," she explained. Dr. Williams added that burnout isn't exclusive to work, frequently appearing in carers and students, or "any situation where there is long-term stress." As it results from prolonged, unmanaged stress, it can arise from any persistent, demanding role or responsibility.

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not classify burnout as a mental health condition or illness, distinguishing it from depression. However, Davies warned that "if burnout experiences are unaddressed it may lead to those conditions developing." She also noted that while time off can be helpful, it must be accompanied by changes to the context causing distress. Dr. Williams added, "For many people rest is necessary, but it's not always enough. If you go back to work and your attitude to work is the same, then you're going to have the same result, so something needs to change."

Some workforces, including midwifery and teaching, have reported staff leaving due to burnout. Hannah Leonard from the Royal College of Midwives union stated, "Midwives do an extraordinary job, and they deserve to feel pride in their profession, not burnt out within a few years of qualifying." Neil Butler of the teaching union NASUWT commented, "Changes must be made to bring back the joy into teaching. While it is a relentless grind we will continue to lose good teachers from classrooms in Wales."

Laura Doel, leader of Trade Union Congress Cymru, highlighted that "stress is the number one risk at work" for union workers, surpassing traditional hazards like chemical exposure, working at height, and unsafe machinery. While employer-offered wellbeing measures are welcome, Doel emphasized that addressing root causes of stress, such as "low pay, insecure contract and impossible workloads," is crucial.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive, Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety, affirmed that "Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from risk factors that cause work-related stress by assessing and properly managing key areas of the work." The Welsh government stated its commitment to collaborating with employers and trade unions to alleviate pressures, support staff wellbeing, and ensure access to appropriate mental health support.