A recent study finds that 66% of American employees are experiencing some type of job burnout in 2025–an all-time high. Burnout has been called the silent epidemic, and it is both a career killer and a people killer. It is the result of chronic workplace stress that has been unsuccessfully managed. In today’s fast-paced work culture, employees are toughing it out at work, ignoring stress, reduced job efficacy and exhaustion. While pushing through stress may seem like strength, toughing it out at work is a form of stress mismanagement that harms your mental health and career trajectory.
Why Toughing It Out At Work Isn’t The Answer
Pushing through stress without addressing the problem heightens the risk of burnout. Ignoring mental health struggles can make conditions like depression and anxiety worse, making it even harder for work-life balance.
You can recover from stress with certain management techniques, but burnout results from cumulative and unmanaged stress that smacks you against the wall. Once that happens, there’s no quick fix.
When people get overloaded with work, they often think PTO or a vacation will remedy the condition, but that’s a myth. You can’t cure burnout by slowing down, taking a long vacation or working fewer hours. The key symptom of burnout is exhaustion in the form of a deep fatigue that isn’t curable by rest or time off because you’re already out of gas.
Sean Leonard, psychiatric nurse practitioner at Healthy Life Recovery, has seen firsthand what happens when people try to just “tough it out at work.” He suggests five things he tells his patients to do for their mental health before they hit the wall:
- Acknowledge what you’re feeling. “Stuffing down stress, anxiety, or exhaustion doesn’t make it go away—it just builds up until it spills over. Recognizing what you’re feeling is the first step in managing it.”
- Set boundaries. “Work will take as much from you as you let it. Know when to say no, set clear limits and protect your time outside of work. If you don’t, burnout is inevitable.”
- Talk to someone. “You don’t have to go through stress alone. Whether it’s a coworker, supervisor or a therapist, having someone to talk things through with can make a huge difference.”
- Take breaks—real ones. “Skipping breaks or working through lunch doesn’t make you more productive—it just drains you faster. Step away, breathe, move around. You’ll come back sharper and less stressed.”
- Prioritize yourself after work. “What you do outside of work matters just as much as what you do at work. Sleep, exercise, hobbies—these aren’t luxuries, they’re necessities for keeping your mind strong.”
A Final Takeaway on Toughing It Out At Work
At the end of the day, toughing it out at work isn’t the answer. One of the biggest mistakes sufferers of burnout make is to try pushing through burnout, and that can exacerbate the problem. Instead, getting support is a sign of strength, not a weakness. Leonard also encourages employers to create a work culture where employees feel empowered to seek help when needed.
Personally, I’m an advocate of having a “to-be list” that focuses on “being” instead of “doing.” Your “to-do list” keeps you task focused, blind to the present moment. Adding a “to-be list” balances your perspective, enabling you to grow your career and your mental health simultaneously. Engage in restful activities such as listening to soft music, reading a good book or gazing out the window at nature. Periodic mindfulness practices like watching the grass grow, a sunset or a bird nesting can reset your mind in the present moment before you go back into work mode.
Your mental health isn’t a given, and it isn’t a luxury. But it’s essential for long-term success, both personally and professionally. Leonard told me that he has seen too many people toughing it out at work, pushing themselves beyond their limits, thinking they can just power through. “Don’t be one of them,” he advises. “Take care of yourself, because no job is worth sacrificing your well-being.”