You can still burn out doing what you love.

We've all heard the advice, "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." Well, I’m sorry to say it, but that’s a lie. An enticing lie, but a lie nonetheless. Doing something you’re passionate about doesn't protect you from burnout. It might even make you more susceptible. Think about it: you’re investing your effort, time and energy into something you care deeply about. So you’re more likely to work longer hours and justify your efforts as passion. 

What is burnout?

Burnout is more than just being tired. It’s an all-consuming state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. Even though it is not recognised as a clinical condition, the World Health Organisation classifies burnout as an "occupational phenomenon". In other words, it’s due to the way we work. Burnout can manifest in physical symptoms such as extreme fatigue, headaches, insomnia, joint pain or gastrointestinal issues, and you can’t self-care your way out of it with a hot bath or a weekend watching Netflix on the couch. It's the culmination of chronic stress and overexertion, to a point where your body and mind collectively give up and  say, “Enough is enough.”

It’s particularly surprising when it sneaks up on those of us who are super passionate about what we do. It’s easy to justify the long hours, the endless to-do list, and constantly being ‘on’ because we’re doing something we love. We tell ourselves we’re lucky to be doing work that matters. We’re supposed to be ‘grateful for the opportunity.’ And we are. But that doesn’t make us immune to burnout. If anything, it can blind us to the warning signs.

We've been told to “follow our passion” and then turn it into a career. It’s marketed as the ultimate life jackpot for happiness and fulfilment. But what’s not discussed as much is the pressure this creates. When your passion becomes your work, the stakes are much higher.

The problem with doing what you love is that it often causes us to blur the lines between work and life. The modern world makes it almost impossible to create boundaries—both metaphorically and literally—between the two. Many of us work from home for at least one or two days a week, and this can make it difficult to know where the line between home and work starts and stops. It’s no wonder you’re answering emails on your phone at dinner, thinking about work while brushing your teeth, and talking to your partner in bed about new work ideas. You become so consumed by work that you forget how to disconnect from it. Now, consider how this is amplified even further if you have a personal brand, because essentially, you are your work.

We need to take a moment to evaluate our approach to work and life and recognise when we need to make a change. 

How can we avoid burnout?

Avoiding burnout requires a shift in mindset and a ruthless commitment to boundaries. Yes, ruthless. It’s about understanding that passion doesn’t make you exempt you from needing rest. Here’s how to make sure you don’t fall into that trap;

Set Non-Negotiables. Time off isn’t optional. Nobody can sustain their best effort without breaks. Schedule it in your diary like you would a meeting or appointment. If you wouldn’t cancel on a client, don’t cancel on yourself. Make sure you have a hard stop at the end of the day, no work emails at the weekend, and when you go on holiday, make sure people know that you’re unavailable. Set ‘Out Of Office’ on your emails, even if you don’t work in an actual office. 

Remember that more does not equal better. Our hustle culture glorifies putting in long hours, but being effective means you’re able to complete tasks in less time. Focus on what you’ve actually achieved in a day rather than how long you worked. Productivity doesn’t increase exponentially with the number of hours worked—if anything, it’s the opposite.

Do not go ‘all in’ on work. Wait, what? Just hear me out on this one. When your entire life and identity is tied to your work, you’re risking a lot. What happens if your project fails, or you get made redundant? You need a life outside of what you do. Remember when people had hobbies? Things they did simply for fun. Make time for relationships, trips and experiences that don’t have a work deliverable attached. This is essential.

Spot the Signs. It might seem as though burnout just turns up and hits you one day, but it’s actually been creeping up gradually on you over time. So watch out for signs such as fatigue, irritability, lack of focus, and a growing sense of detachment. If you start to feel apathetic, you’re dreading work and losing interest in things you usually enjoy, those are red flags. Pay attention to them, don’t wait until it’s too late. 

Living in a culture that glorifies resilience, means it’s all about pushing through, showing up, and working harder. But burnout isn’t something you can power through with more discipline. It’s a signal that something is fundamentally going wrong, and ignoring it has real consequences. Burnout can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues and recovering could take months, or even an entire year. Your passion can push you too far if you’re not aware of it. The solution isn’t to be more resilient—it’s to be more strategic.

The reality is, yes doing what you love is a privilege, but it shouldn't come at the cost of your well-being. Passion can be a powerful motivator, but it’s not an endless fuel source. You have to protect it by taking care of yourself.

So, ask yourself honestly: is the way you’re working and living sustainable? If the answer is no, then it's time to act. Because you can still burn out doing what you love—and it’s not a matter of if, but when.