The Rise of Burnout in Women Over Men
Statistics show that stress and burnout are affecting more women than men en masse. Why – and what happens next?
For years, I pushed through exhaustion, thinking it was just part of life. But when my cycles stopped, I was misdiagnosed with early menopause. In reality, it was stress. My body had been holding onto tension for so long that it finally reached a breaking point. The burnout had built up in ways I didn’t recognize at first—small things, like struggling to concentrate, feeling emotionally drained, and waking up already exhausted.
Burnout is a state of exhaustion: physical, mental, and emotional. It sneaks up over time, making you feel lackluster for no apparent reason. While different for everyone, there are some general signs:
Anxiety/stress
Depression/low mood
Irritability/anger
Sleep disturbances
Lack of motivation/passion
Lack of concentration/memory loss/brain fog
Withdrawal from others
Physical symptoms (headaches, body aches, nausea, low libido)
Emotional fragility
For women, burnout is particularly prevalent. A survey by LinkedIn found that 74% of women reported feeling very or somewhat stressed for work-related reasons, compared with just 61% of men. Another analysis showed that working mothers are 23% more likely to experience burnout than working fathers due to unequal demands of home and work responsibilities.
The imbalance is deeply ingrained. Many women are juggling careers, caregiving, household responsibilities, and societal expectations—often without the support they need. Add to that the gender pay gap, fewer leadership opportunities, and workplace biases, and it’s no surprise that so many women are struggling with burnout at an alarming rate.
I had to take a step back and reassess everything when I realized my body was shutting down from stress. It wasn’t easy, but I learned that self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and meditation—it’s about setting boundaries, asking for help, and prioritizing mental and physical well-being.
being exhausted at work is no longer. badge of honour to wear. It’s a sign that you are damaging your own health by pushing beyond your limits.
Burnout isn’t something to ignore. It can affect anyone, at any time. If you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or disconnected, it’s time to listen to your body and make a change. The solution isn’t always quitting your job or making drastic changes—it starts by changing your mindset around why you push yourself, what you are trying to prove, your life priorities i.e family, friends, social time and understanding there is so much more to life than just grinding it out.
If you want some help and support around this please reach out to me and I’d love to support you.
Emma x
Statistics show that stress and burnout are affecting more women than men en masse. Why – and what happens next?
For years, I pushed through exhaustion, thinking it was just part of life. But when my cycles stopped, I was misdiagnosed with early menopause. In reality, it was stress. My body had been holding onto tension for so long that it finally reached a breaking point. The burnout had built up in ways I didn’t recognize at first—small things, like struggling to concentrate, feeling emotionally drained, and waking up already exhausted.
Burnout is a state of exhaustion: physical, mental, and emotional. It sneaks up over time, making you feel lackluster for no apparent reason. While different for everyone, there are some general signs:
Anxiety/stress
Depression/low mood
Irritability/anger
Sleep disturbances
Lack of motivation/passion
Lack of concentration/memory loss/brain fog
Withdrawal from others
Physical symptoms (headaches, body aches, nausea, low libido)
Emotional fragility
For women, burnout is particularly prevalent. A survey by LinkedIn found that 74% of women reported feeling very or somewhat stressed for work-related reasons, compared with just 61% of men. Another analysis showed that working mothers are 23% more likely to experience burnout than working fathers due to unequal demands of home and work responsibilities.
The imbalance is deeply ingrained. Many women are juggling careers, caregiving, household responsibilities, and societal expectations—often without the support they need. Add to that the gender pay gap, fewer leadership opportunities, and workplace biases, and it’s no surprise that so many women are struggling with burnout at an alarming rate.
I had to take a step back and reassess everything when I realized my body was shutting down from stress. It wasn’t easy, but I learned that self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and meditation—it’s about setting boundaries, asking for help, and prioritizing mental and physical well-being.
being exhausted at work is no longer. badge of honour to wear. It’s a sign that you are damaging your own health by pushing beyond your limits.
Burnout isn’t something to ignore. It can affect anyone, at any time. If you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or disconnected, it’s time to listen to your body and make a change. The solution isn’t always quitting your job or making drastic changes—it starts by changing your mindset around why you push yourself, what you are trying to prove, your life priorities i.e family, friends, social time and understanding there is so much more to life than just grinding it out.
If you want some help and support around this please reach out to me and I’d love to support you.
Emma x
