Stress, Burnout, and the Balance We Can’t Ignore
Craig Aucutt / September 14, 2025
In today’s culture, burnout has become almost normalized. The Harvard Business Review recently explored how many of us accept exhaustion, overwork, and cynicism as just “the way things are.” At the same time, there’s a growing belief that the ideal life is one of zero stress. Such as a calendar with no deadlines, responsibilities, or friction. But the truth is more nuanced: zero stress isn’t healthy, and neither is chronic over-stress. The real goal is balance.
The Problem of Extremes
Stress works on a spectrum. On one end, too little stress can leave us disengaged, bored, and stagnant. On the other, too much stress—especially when it’s chronic and unrelenting—leads to burnout. Somewhere in the middle is what psychologists call the “optimal stress zone,” where tension is enough to push us toward growth, learning, and resilience, but not so much that it overwhelms. I’ve seen both ends of this spectrum in my own life. There are seasons where I give a lot energy, attention, effort and it feels like it goes nowhere. Over time, that creates the slow drip of burnout. The weight doesn’t always show up in the moment. Often it only becomes clear later, in reflection, looking back and realizing how much I was carrying.
The Hidden Cost of Carrying Stress
I’ve carried stress heavily for most of my life, even since childhood. It has shaped me in both positive and negative ways. On one hand, stress has often been a motivator. It helps me move quickly, adapt, and course-correct when I need to get a point across more clearly. On the other, I worry about the long-term toll it may have on my health and longevity. That’s the tricky nature of stress: in the short term it can feel energizing, but unchecked, it compounds. Burnout doesn’t always arrive with a bang — sometimes it’s the quiet accumulation of unresolved strain.
Why Recovery Matters
What breaks the cycle is recovery. Just as muscles grow stronger not during the workout itself but during rest, our minds and bodies need intentional downtime to rebuild. Without recovery, even manageable stress levels can tip into burnout. Recovery doesn't mean escaping all stress or responsibility. It can be as simple as:
- Scheduling real breaks, not just scrolling on a phone between tasks.
- Creating mental boundaries where work doesn't intrude.
- Finding restorative practices — sleep, exercise, reflection, even play.
- Allowing yourself time to step back, look at the bigger picture, and re-center.
Finding the Balance
For me, the challenge is learning how to ride the line: to recognize when stress is sharpening me and when it's starting to break me down. It's acknowledging that giving a lot isn't always sustainable if the output doesn't align with meaningful outcomes. And it's realizing that balance isn't passive — it's a practice. We don't need a life free of stress. We need a life where stress is put in its proper place: enough to keep us growing, but never so much that it burns us out.