Burnout & Bore Out
Burnout and Boreout: Two Sides of the Same Coin
As we move toward a kinder, more conscious world—a revolution of the kind people—understanding burnout and boreout is essential. Both of these states are signs that our life energy, the very force that drives us, is not flowing as it should. In both burnout and boreout, there’s a lack of connection to our own inner truth, a feeling that we’re not truly in control of our own lives. We may feel pressured, lost, or even empty, unable to connect with the purpose that gives life meaning.
Burnout and boreout might seem like opposites at first—one driven by too much pressure, the other by too little stimulation. Yet they share a common root: a disconnection from ourselves and our natural energy. It’s even possible to experience elements of both at once, or to move back and forth between them. You might feel bored and unstimulated, leading you to take on tasks that don’t align with who you really are, only to end up overwhelmed and exhausted. Recognizing and understanding these patterns is the first step in breaking free.
Below, you’ll find an introduction to both burnout and boreout. Click through to learn more about each, discover the signs, and explore ways to reconnect with your own life energy.
Burnout
Burnout occurs when we push ourselves too hard for too long, often because we feel we “have to.” Over time, this can create a sense of living a life that isn’t truly ours—one shaped more by external expectations or our own perfectionism than by our authentic desires. Burnout can feel like being buried under layers of responsibilities and obligations, unable to keep up, while something essential within us cries out to stop.
Common signs of burnout include:
- Constant exhaustion and a sense of being “on edge”
- Emotional numbness or detachment from things you once enjoyed
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling motivated
- Physical symptoms like headaches, sleep issues, or muscle tension
- Burnout often forces us to stop and face uncomfortable truths about what isn’t working in our lives. It’s a painful wake-up call, pushing us to confront where we’ve lost touch with ourselves.
Boreout
Boreout arises from a lack of meaningful engagement, when we’re stuck in routines or environments that don’t challenge or inspire us. This can leave us feeling empty, as though we’re only going through the motions, while our potential goes unexpressed. Unlike burnout, which is often loud and demanding, boreout is quieter—a slow, creeping sense of stagnation and unfulfillment that can eventually feel just as draining.
Common signs of boreout include:
- Feeling bored, unmotivated, or constantly distracted
- Lack of interest in your tasks or a sense of purposelessness
- Emotional disconnection or feeling “switched off”
- A growing sense of unhappiness or even mild depression
- Boreout can sneak up on you, leaving you wondering why life feels so flat. It’s a state of neglecting your own potential, and can often lead to feelings of aimlessness or frustration.
The Interaction Between Burnout and Boreout
Burnout and boreout are often connected, and it’s possible to find yourself moving between them. For example, if you’re feeling unfulfilled or bored (boreout), you might take on extra activities or responsibilities in an attempt to feel purposeful again. In our achievement-driven society, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to “solve” this boredom by simply doing more. But if those new tasks don’t truly align with who you are, they can lead to burnout instead, as you push yourself to keep up with a life that doesn’t feel authentic.
Then, once burnout forces you to let go of those obligations, you might find yourself back in boreout, feeling unstimulated and disconnected. This back-and-forth can create a cycle where you’re constantly trying to balance between overcommitment and lack of purpose, without ever truly addressing the underlying need for genuine connection to your inner self.
Recognizing this cycle—and understanding what each state is telling you—can be a powerful step toward breaking free. By learning to listen to both your need for rest and your need for meaningful engagement, you can start to reconnect with the life energy that flows from being true to yourself.