You’re tired. Like, pagod na pagod kind of tired. Your to-do list is longer than the line at LTO, and your brain is running on 3-in-1 coffee and prayers. Lately, you’ve been daydreaming about quitting your job and moving to the province to raise chickens while figuring out how Wi-Fi works in the middle of a rice field.
STRESS: You’re still pabibo, but tired.
- Juggling too much: work deadlines, family pakisuyo, planning the next reunion, avoiding EDSA traffic, and figuring out what ulam to cook tonight.
- Emotions are high, but present: you might be irritable, anxious, or prone to sudden urges to eat an entire leche flan.
- There’s light at the end of the tunnel: stress is often tied to specific triggers or periods. You know that once this project is done, or after this hell week, things might calm down.
- Coffee still works (mostly): that cup of 3-in-1 still gives you some semblance of life, enough to face your inbox.
‘Knowing the difference can help you choose the right path – whether it’s towards a better coping strategy or, eventually, that peaceful probinsya sunset.’
BURNOUT: You no longer care if your boss sees your deadpan face on camera
- You feel empty and detached: it’s not just tiredness; it’s a soul-deep exhaustion. You feel disconnected from your work, your colleagues, maybe even things you used to enjoy.
- Cynicism is your new best friend: everything feels pointless. You start rolling your eyes internally (or externally) at every new task, email, or overly cheerful colleague.
- Performance plummets (and you barely care): you’re not just procrastinating; you genuinely struggle to concentrate or muster the energy to do tasks you previously handled easily.
- Physical and emotional depletion: forget feeling irritable; you feel nothing, or just a constant, heavy dread. Sleep doesn’t refresh you. Coffee is just hot bean water.
So, What Now?
Recognizing the difference is key. Stress needs management: better boundaries, a vacation, exercise, maybe delegating that reunion planning. Burnout needs more serious intervention: extended rest, seeking support, re-evaluating your job or career path, and yes, maybe even considering that province life more seriously – but after you’ve recovered enough energy to actually pack.
Before you sell your condo and tell your boss where to stick it, take a breath. Whether it’s stress or burnout, please know this: you’re not alone. You don’t have to tiis ganda your way through life.
Take care of yourself like you’d take care of your friends. Knowing the difference can help you choose the right path – whether it’s towards a better coping strategy or, eventually, that peaceful probinsya sunset. Just promise me you’ll figure out the Wi-Fi situation before you move. Good luck!