When "Strong" Becomes Too Expensive

Dependable. Reliable. Accommodating. Do these words describe you? Often seen as positive attributes, our need to embody these traits can sometimes lead to overcommitment and burnout. Bridgette and Lindsey talk through how constant overexertion for others can leave us with nothing for ourselves at the end of the day; how resentment can appear in our lives; and how boundaries can allow relationships to thrive.

Key Takeaways

• Survival mode looks different for everybody and includes being overproductive or constantly flexible for others’ needs over our own.
• Generational, cultural, and learned behavior contributes to our belief that productivity and dependability overshadow a person’s need for relaxation.
• In professional settings, burnout can feel like a personal failure or shameful, making workplace culture on mental health integral to organizational wellbeing.
• Resentment due to stress looks different for everyone, including annoyance, flattened emotional response, and simply saying “yes” instead of assessing capacity.
• Boundary-setting does not limit a relationship or someone’s commitment; it allows breathing room for everyone to communicate transparently about needs and space.

Resources Mentioned

• “Employers need to focus on workplace burnout: Here's why” by American Psychological Association, 12 May 2023.
• Denise Albieri Jodas Salvagioni et al. “Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies”, PloS One vol. 12(10), 4 Oct. 2017.

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