Yes, Financial Burnout is Actually a Real Thing; Are You Feeling It?
For something that isn’t officially recognized as a medical diagnosis, burnout is something many people experience.
Are you one of them? Or do you know someone who has been or is currently burntout?
As you may know, burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. It builds quietly over time and tends to surface when you’re overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and struggling to meet constant demands.
Most often, burnout is associated with being overworked, undervalued, or stuck in a high-demand, low-control situation. But it can also come from long-term emotional labor without enough support or rest. And sometimes, it’s rooted in the chronic internal pressure to perform or achieve at high levels — constantly.
Financial burnout may not be in the DSM — but maybe it should be.
Because the emotional, mental, and even physical exhaustion that comes from being constantly stressed about money? That’s real. Very real.
And I think the recent market swings, headlines, and social media commentary have been a doozy on our nervous systems. They’re revealing just how stretched our emotional bandwidth can be — especially when it comes to money.
Signs of Financial Burnout
Financial burnout doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it is “silent.” But some common signs of financial burnout include:
Avoiding money tasks (like checking your accounts or opening bills) - particularly if you’re struggling to make ends meet.
Feeling anxious or numb when thinking about finances - especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your financial responsibilities.
Making impulsive money decisions because you're just “over” feeling fatigued by always having to think about or manage money.
Constantly hustling but still feeling behind when it comes to reaching your revenue goals and cashflow projections.
Fatigue from always having to plan, budget, or fix something.
In this way, financial burnout is similar to other triggers of burnout. And much like the other types of burnout it’s often layered with shame, guilt, or pressure, especially if you're the financial “rock” for others.
Lurking in the Background?
I think financial burnout is always lurking in the background, but moments of economic turbulence have a way of yanking it into the spotlight. The dramatic market swings of late — combined with a steady stream of jarring headlines and social media commentary — stir up more than surface-level anxiety.
They tap into deeper fears about security, survival, and sufficiency.
Even if someone is technically “fine” on paper — with a stable business/job or a balanced portfolio — the emotional undercurrent tells a different story.
Heightened uncertainty can be just as exhausting as actual lack, especially when it stretches on for weeks, months, or even years.
And how that stress shows up depends on your financial context.
Entrepreneurs might feel the emotional rollercoaster of cash flow highs and lows, wondering if their next month will cover their current commitments.
Employees could be silently panicking as they watch their 401(k)s drop, questioning the security of their long-term plans.
Parents may be trying to do the mental math between saving for college, managing everyday costs, and protecting their own retirement.
And first-generation wealth builders—who often carry the unspoken pressure to “get it right”—not just for themselves, but for the generations before and after them—wonder if they’ll ever catch a break.
What’s often overlooked is that financial burnout isn’t just about numbers. It’s about identity, responsibility, and the emotional weight you and I carry — silently, and often alone.
And while I am not personally experiencing burnout. I am greatly concerned about the stock market’s volatility right now, because it IS NOT NORMAL! It’s not being driven by the usual factors that affect economic cycles—which makes it even harder to mentally and emotionally prepare for what’s unfolding.
Releasing the Pressure
If you or someone you know is experiencing financial burnout, the most powerful thing you can do right now is to simply name what you’re feeling: Give yourself permission to say, “I’m experiencing financial burnout.”
That alone will go a long way to releasing some of the pressure.
And after you’ve reclaimed your power, you can assess your situation with fresher eyes and a calmer spirit, which puts you in a better position to answer a few important questions from a place of strength and clarity…and not fear:
What matters most right now?
What’s still true about my long-term goals?
What’s one small thing I can do today to support my future self?
Like I said, burnout rarely screams. Rather, it simmers in the fertile ground of overwhelm and emotional, physical and mental exhaustion.
So, if you’ve had that, “ooh, she’s describing me moment,” please hear me loud and clear:
Now is NOT the time to “power through.”
However, it is the perfect time to re-tool your systems of support.
Plus, systems help you to focus on what you can control —including adopting a mindset that reminds you that the current state of the financial world is just a snapshot, not the full story.
This is also something to keep in mind as you navigate the even greater uncertainty that awaits us all.
Your current circumstances are a snapshot, not the full story.
If you want, please feel free to turn that sentence into a mantra that can keep you grounded.
Here’s what else can keep you grounded—us working together!
I have several ways to meet you where you are — emotionally, financially, and time-wise:
Beyond the Panic: A 30-minute clarity session to help you re-center - Book a session.
A Half-Day VIP Coaching Session - Book a discovery call.
Six-month coaching engagements - Entrepreneurs | Individuals/Couples
Pricing Made Human® Masterclass on June 5, 2025.
Or, explore at your own pace, The More Than Money Workbook (with an audio companion!)
There are lots of links — I know! But I want to meet you where you are. Let’s make sure burnout doesn’t have the final say.
About Jacquette
I love to ask questions and spark aha moments. I love to talk about why success with money is about more than just the numbers, and how the cultural impact on the intersection of money, business, and life matters–A LOT! And, I really hope I help people feel seen, heard, and not judged—especially since money is emotional and personal.
