If you’ve ever felt completely drained, overwhelmed, or on an emotional rollercoaster at work, you may already know what workplace burnout feels like. Burnout goes beyond just feeling stressed or tired; it’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental fatigue that builds over time due to chronic workplace stress. When burnout takes hold, it impacts not only your job performance but also your overall well-being.
My story of workplace burnout began when I worked ridiculous hours building my Professional Organising business while working in a full-time management position.
I was running on pure adrenaline (sound familiar, anyone?). I was doing a lot, but I felt totally dissatisfied, disconnected, and drained, so in my mind, I needed to do even more to find that feeling of I’ve done enough. I was not listening to my body and mind, and adrenaline fatigue set in. My body went into shutdown.
Everything came to a very abrupt stop, and it took me a long time to recover.
Unfortunately, my story is not rare or unusual. A recent study showed that Australian workers reported the highest burnout rates in the world. An alarming 61% of Australian workers reported experiencing burnout, compared to the global average of 48%.
People with ADHD are at a much higher risk of experiencing burnout compared to the general population.
A 2024 study found that employees who identified themselves with ADHD reported higher job burnout compared to those without ADHD.
Managing executive functions impacted by ADHD, like organising, planning, keeping track of time, and maintaining or shifting focus, requires much extra mental effort.
Trying to keep up with workplace demands while constantly redirecting your mind and re-focusing is like running a marathon with extra weight on your back; eventually, the extra effort takes a toll.
Over the years, in supporting people to avoid workplace burnout, I’ve identified other ADHD traits that are contributing to ADHD workplace burnout.
Many clients comment that they are unaware of their energy, time and attention expenditure.
One of the jobs of executive functions is to self-monitor the progress of tasks or the day. Without a strong awareness of where your energy is going, it’s easy to end up over-committed, drained, or completely exhausted.
You don’t realise you’re approaching ADHD workplace burnout until it’s already hit, making it even harder to bounce back.
Recognising the early signs is crucial to preventing burnout from fully taking over. If these symptoms feel familiar, remember you’re not alone—and there are ways to build a more balanced, sustainable approach to work.
The ADDItude self-test helps you identify the symptoms and discover if you are experiencing burnout.
In my next blog, we’ll explore specific ADHD traits that can amplify burnout risks. Understanding these root causes is a powerful first step toward building resilience against burnout and creating sustainable work habits.
In the meantime, a fabulous way to start the recovery from burnout is to look to what you can celebrate about your ADHD.
Get your step-by-step worksheet to Celebrate your uniqueness and turn your hard-learned lessons into gifts.
References – Navigating burnout – Mental Health First Aid Australia. https://www.mhfa.com.au/navigating-burnout/
Embrace all of who you are on your ADHD journey, for it is where you find how to live your potential with ease. I’ll walk you through eight steps to meet your ADHD productivity challenges and uncover your strengths.
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With Infinite Peace and Gratitude from,
Outside the Box Coaching
Carolyn Verhoef
Qualifications:
Outside the Box Coaching
Carolyn Verhoef
ADD/ADHD Specialist
Certified Organizer Coach
Associate Certified Coach, ICF
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