Breaking Through Burnout During a Career Transition
Candle burned out
Burnout keeps appearing in social media, again. Most of the focus is on the impact of the corporate grind, however burnout is also common among people working their way through a career transition or career change.
When I stepped into my own career transition, I expected a renewal that would come with a surge of fresh energy. After all, I was leaving behind the relentless demands of university teaching, student advising and directing a professional graduate degree program.
Stepping into entrepreneurship was uncharted territory that was accompanied by curiosity, excitement and anticipation. All of it was energizing.
I remember one Friday afternoon, staring at my laptop, surrounded by several unfinished “How To” video clips (about social media platforms), partially completed drafts of different blog content, and lists of network connections to make.
My head was spinning.
I couldn’t focus.
I felt drained of creative energy.
My self-imposed workload was in overdrive.
I was feeling like my wheels were spinning and I was going nowhere.
Add to the mix, I felt isolated and without a peer network of colleagues to help me regain perspective.
That was the moment when I realized something important - that burnout isn’t limited to the corporate, policy or academic world, it can happen at any time in the middle of professional change – whether a career transition or career change. Change takes energy. My transition was into entrepreneurship which carries its own brand of stress and fatigue.
Why Career Transitions Can Spark Burnout
Here’s what I’ve discovered about factors that contribute to burnout during a career transition.
➡️ Rewriting My Identity. When I started a career transition that ultimately resulted in a career change, I didn’t just swap tasks or titles, I started to question who I am professionally. This redefinition of professional self is invisible work, and it can feel heavy. Every introduction feels like a mini performance. The conversation goes something like this. “I used to be (X) … and now I am becoming (Y)”. Some days I felt like I was straddling two worlds, carrying both the past version of myself and the emerging one. That constant self-definition was tiring, especially given that I hadn’t figured out my new identity.
➡️ Living in Limbo. Transitions are full of unknowns. Will this new path work out? How long will it take to get there? Am I making the right choice? These are normal questions and without immediate or clear answers. Living in the space of ambiguity demands a certain level of stamina. Unlike the predictable rhythm of a steady job, a transition can feel like walking into a fog. Suddenly I was establishing new benchmarks and timelines. That level of uncertainty alone can lead to burnout.
➡️ Juggling Two Worlds. Seldom does a transition happen in a clear break. For me, there was an overlap period where I was still managing, at the time, my current responsibilities while building toward something new. It’s like one foot was out the door, the other was stuck on the threshold. In your case, you might be finishing projects in your old role while taking classes to earn a new certificate or freelancing in the side hustle world to help with your finances. Suddenly, you are holding down two jobs with one set of resources. The sheer logistics of juggling it all can be overwhelming.
➡️ Managing Financial and Emotional Pressure. One of the most unspoken stressors in a career shift is money. The unpredictability of my cash flow weighed heavily on my sense of well-being. Add in the mental soundtrack of “I should have figured this out by now, I should be further along”, and the pressure mounts. When well-meaning friends or family ask how the career transition is going it creates an added layer of stress.
➡️ Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster. Transitions are full of highs and lows. One day I would have a win, such as an energizing informational interview, followed by days into weeks when I went into a dry spell. It was tempting to compare myself to other people who had successfully transitioned into a new role or career. These swings are natural but can be draining. This emotional whiplash threatened to leave me unsteady on my feet questioning my ability and contributing to exhaustion.
Why Burnout in Transition Feels Different
What I’ve come to understand is that burnout in transition isn’t failure - it’s feedback, a signal that the pace is unsustainable. It doesn’t mean that I chose wrong or that I’m not cut-out for this professional adventure. It was a wake-up call to pause, reset and refresh for the long game.
When I started to see burnout through that lens, it became less of a stop sign and more of a checkpoint. A reminder that building something new isn’t only about hustle and growth. It’s about resilience, clarity and belief in myself that will keep me moving forward.
How to Snuff the Burnout Candle
Here are more specific strategies that helped me navigate through a burnout stretch.
👉 Take a deep breath, pause and reflect. I revisited the end goal of my transition.
👉 Focus on self-care. I checked in with my nutrition, physical activity, meditation and sleeping patterns.
👉 Re-establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. This was a game changer!
👉 Set realistic goals (that are small and achievable) for each week.
👉 Lean on a support network. A simple conversation with a colleague or friend would bring a fresh perspective on my career transition process.
Are You in This Space?
If you’re in this transition burnout space, you are not alone! Burnout doesn’t just live in cubicles, corner offices or the halls of academia; it lives in the in-between spaces of any change. In this case, building something new.
Use your burnout experience as a turning point.
Recognize it as a sign that you’re in the thick of growth and on your way to rewriting the next chapter.
Pause and ask yourself – what one small step you can take to assure rest and total breaks from the pressures of being in transition? Make it small and make it sustainable.
For me, it was as simple as taking a few days away from my desk, doing a better job managing my daily work calendar that was based on weekly goals, and closing my laptop by a designated time each day.
How are you breaking through burnout on your career transition journey? Drop a line or reach out – I’d love to share ideas and support you in building your next chapter.