I was always known as a person who ‘got things done’, both at work and my personal life. Being that person mattered to me and became part of my identity. People relied on me and I was the one who stepped in when things needed sorted. 

I still see myself that way, but that side of me took up so much of who I was, that I didn’t notice how much I was carrying. 

Before burnout, I was working as a festival manager. It was a busy, high-pressure role that demanded constant focus and energy. Before that, I worked 12-hour shifts, rotating between two days and two nights, constantly disrupting my body clock while also running my own festival. It was a lot, but I thought it was necessary.  

Gradually, I started to struggle. Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t work out what it was. I felt low and anxious, and at times my body felt so heavy that I didn’t know what to do with it. There was a sense of being constantly out of control. 

Luckily, I had two amazing friends I could be honest with. When I told them how I was feeling, they encouraged me to go to the doctor. Being given that permission brought relief and the realisation that I knew I needed help, but I didn’t want to admit it.

hard conversations about burnout 

When I went to my GP, I mostly described the physical symptoms: exhaustion, heaviness and anxiety. I don’t remember using the word “stress”. For my GP, it was enough and he signed me off work due to stress. I was surprised. 

I was also worried. My employer only offered statutory sick pay, which wouldn’t last long. I told him I couldn’t afford to take time off. He was understanding but also told me that this was important and if there was any way to make it work financially, I should try. 

I went home and worked out a plan. It meant I could take four weeks off if I applied for the Employment and Support Allowance and sold some unneeded items. It wasn’t ideal, but I knew he was right and that I needed time to recover. 

The hardest part was telling my boss. I cried silently at my desk for a week, trying to build up the courage to speak to her. Each day I told myself I would do it, but I couldn’t follow through. 

Letting her down felt unbearable. We were six weeks away from the first festival of the year. I couldn’t see how I could step away without disappointing the team and impacting the event. 

By then, I had already been looking for other jobs as I knew this role was placing constant pressure on me. Later that week, I received an offer for another job. It was a big step down and would make my financial situation more difficult, but on balance, I knew it was what I had to do. 

That weekend, I emailed my sick note and handed in my notice. I still worked that week because I felt guilty. On my last day, I explained why the decision felt so sudden: I had been embarrassed. 

She was understanding and said I would always be welcome back. 

burnout recovery:
what changed for me 

For a long time, I didn’t want to call it burnout. I feared stigma and worried people would think I was weak. I found it easier to say I had experienced a breakdown.