Wearing Authenticity When You feel Burnt Out

Wellness, Healing, Burn out

Let's talk about what a lot of people are going through right now, and yet, they sometimes are having a mask to get by. How do we wear our Authenticity when we are Burnt Out?

What does Burnout Feels Like?

Burnout isn’t just being tired. It’s the slow draining of energy, meaning, and even the desire to care. It can feel like you’re going through the motions, getting things done, but everything takes twice the effort and delivers half the satisfaction.

You wake up already exhausted. Simple tasks feel overwhelming. Things you used to enjoy now feel like obligations. You forget things, miss messages, stare at your screen and wonder how time passed. You might even start questioning if you’re just lazy, broken, or not trying hard enough.

It’s not just physical fatigue—it’s emotional flatness. Like you’re stuck in neutral. You want to rest, but rest doesn’t feel restful. You want to care, but the spark just isn’t there. And underneath it all is this quiet pressure to keep pretending you're fine.

Burnout can feel invisible from the outside but all-consuming on the inside. And the hardest part? It makes you feel like you’ve lost access to the version of yourself who once felt whole, clear, and energized.

Wearing your authenticity doesn’t mean performing your strength or bottling your burnout into a motivational poster. It means letting the truth of your experience breathe. You’re tired. Exhausted. Burnt out. That’s not weakness—that’s data. That’s your inner system lighting the “maintenance required” dashboard.

Here’s how you might begin to wear your authenticity without it wearing you out more:

 1. Name It in Real Time

Saying “I’m depleted right now” in a meeting or to a peer isn't a confession—it’s a boundary. Authenticity starts when you stop editing yourself to keep others comfortable.

Try this:
“I’m not at my sharpest today—running on fumes. I’ll do my best, but I might need to circle back after some rest.”

2. Curate, Don’t Broadcast

Authenticity isn’t full exposure. It’s selective honesty. You don’t need to unpack your entire emotional carry-on at every gate. Instead, share with intention. Choose safe spaces and trusted people. Authenticity is a scalpel, not a megaphone.

Ask: “Does this share connect, or just bleed?”

3. Build Micro-Restoratives

Burnout warps our sense of self. Small, frequent rituals that remind you of who you are (outside of output and roles) are surprisingly powerful.

A 5-minute music break with headphones.
A ridiculous gif exchange with a friend.
Taking 3 intentional breaths before answering the next email.

Authenticity is easier when your nervous system isn’t on fire.4. Let Go of “Professional Pretending”

Being polished while perishing inside isn’t noble—it’s a slow erosion. Leading or working from a place of honesty actually models real resilience—not the Pinterest kind.

“Authenticity is not needing to look like you're thriving in order to lead.”

5. Give Yourself Permission to Reboot

You can’t wear your authenticity if you’re carrying burnout like a second skin. Take the damn break. Ask for the support. Even if you “should be able to handle it.” Because here’s the deal: authentic leadership (and living) means knowing when to pause before you fall.

If your tank is empty, being authentic might just mean saying:

“I need to stop before I break.”
And letting that be enough.

Being burnt out doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you’ve been strong for too long without enough support, and it’s time to come back to yourself. Let's help and support you as you heal and rise stronger, with gentleness and rawness.