Burnout in men rarely looks like crying at your desk. It looks like this:
- Everything's irritating. The kids, the traffic, the guy who chews loudly. Short fuse, all day.
- The fun stuff feels like a chore. You skip the game. The guitar's gathering dust. The cave is just a room now.
- Sleep doesn't fix it. Eight hours and you still wake up flat.
- One more drink, most nights. Not a problem, you tell yourself. Just to switch off.
- Autopilot. Weeks blur. You can't remember what you did last Saturday.
What helps (start with one)
- Move, badly. A 20-minute walk counts. So does taking the dog the long way around.
- Two dry nights a week. Pick them in advance. Notice how you sleep.
- One evening that's yours. Not productive, not for anyone else. Darts, a record, a movie you've seen ten times.
- Say no to one thing you'd normally say yes to out of guilt.
- Tell someone the number. “I'm at about a 3 out of 10 lately.” It's easier than describing it, and it starts a conversation.
If two or more of the signs have stuck around for a month, that's worth a doctor's appointment. It's a check-up, not a confession.
General information, not medical advice. In a crisis, call or text 988 (US) any time.
