From Surviving to Thriving
- Angela Cooper (she | her), Founder and CEO
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Protecting Energy for What Matters Most
I am no stranger to burnout. More than once, it has creeped up on me, catching me off guard and dragging me down. More than once, I've had to pull myself out of it, which is no small feat.
Maybe it's affected you, too. Burnout is at an all-time high in America. While we all have different circumstances and risk factors, the truth is that most high-performing professionals are susceptible.
According to 2025 research from Moodle, 66% of Americans are experiencing burnout on the job, with the highest rates among younger generations.
So many of us approach our work with deep dedication - and our passion is what makes us extra vulnerable to burnout, especially as workloads increase and resources dwindle. Our best intentions lead us to take on too much - to overfunction. And that can't last forever.
For years, I had a magnet on my desk that said, "Go the extra mile - it's never crowded". I strived to do exactly that...always offering to lead, raising my hand, saying yes to the challenge. Corporate America offered me infinite opportunities to channel my energy, and while it felt good to be trusted with big responsibilities, it also came with immense pressure. I started realizing that while my to-do list was endless, my energy wasn't. Deep down, I wanted a way out of the frenzy, but my everyday reality felt inescapable. People were depending on me and I couldn't afford to lose my footing. Like so many of us do, I told myself that if I just stayed strong, everything would hold together and the intensity would pass. I "white-knuckled" my way through years of my life.
Looking back now, it's easy to see that burnout was inevitable. Of course things caught up to me. No one person could have managed to keep holding up the load I was carrying. Eventually, I crashed. Climbing out of burnout was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Not because I lacked willpower. Because I lacked a real understanding of what was happening and why.
The Biology of Burnout
Burnout is a natural biological response to a unsupported chronic stress. It's what happens to our bodies and minds when we face a constant buildup of pressure over time without relief - it creates an implosion.
Sometimes, the pressure comes from an external source (think: impossibly complex assignments or persistent harmful stereotypes). Other times, it's self-imposed (perfectionists, IYKYK). But ultimately, burnout isn't a failure of grit...and the solution is not to “try harder.”
All of us experience stress, and we humans are well-equipped to manage acute crises. But when stress systems remain activated for too long, it damages your nervous system - and there are real bodily consequences.
It's not speculation - it's science. In 2019, the World Health Organization added burnout to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an "occupational phenomenon".
Wilmar Schaufeli's research has deepened our understanding of burnout and its four core dimensions:
Utter exhaustion (no matter how much you sleep)
Emotional impairment (feeling over-reactive or numb)
Cognitive impairment (difficulty remembering, starting, or focusing on tasks)
Mental distance from work and people (cynicism, avoidance, or feeling "it doesn't matter")
And, three secondary dimensions often co-occur:
Depressed mood
Psychological distress
Psychosomatic complaints (when stress causes or makes a physical condition worse)
If you or your colleagues are struggling with burnout, there is good news - keep hope. There are ways to heal it, and to prevent it in the future.
An Energy Renewal Strategy
My experiences and realizations led to the development of The Power of Renewal, a strategic framework I now practice in my own life and embed across my consulting practice.
(Click below to get the infographic)
The truth is, success requires more than a willingness to hustle, grind, and "keep going". We must learn to protect and sustain our energy for what matters most.
Energy renewal does not equate to rest alone. It’s the intentional protection and replenishment of energy, across five dimensions (the 5 B's).
1. Balance
Recalibrating the nervous system with calming habits that build steadiness over time.
2. Batteries
Recharging energy with self-care systems that create joy, connection, and replenishment.
3. Boundaries
Protecting capacity with "realism rituals" that prevent unnecessary energy drain.
4. Beliefs
Removing thought barriers that glorify depletion - and replacing them with sustainable thinking patterns that lead to long-term change.
5. Brilliance
Reconnecting to meaning, aligning with purpose, and finding flow.
Together, these shifts allow people and teams to operate at their best without burning themselves out to do it.
Why Burnout Belongs at the Center of Culture Work
Today, my consulting practice is grounded in a simple but often overlooked truth:
People cannot perform well if they are chronically depleted.
Burnout forced me to rethink how I live. It also reshaped how I work. As I rebuilt my energy, I realized something important: if individuals are burning out, entire organizations are too.
You cannot build sustainable success on energy-draining systems.
Burnout has devastating effects on the bottom line. The Health and Economic Burden of Employee Burnout to U.S. Employers - American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that employee disengagement/burnout can cost employers up to 2.9 times the average cost of health insurance, and up to 17.1 times the cost of training, per employee. For a 1,000-person employer, that's over 5 million dollars annually.
Energetic wellbeing is foundational to organizational health and longevity. It fuels employee engagement, collaboration and innovation. It taps into the collective capacity of our shared strengths.
And perhaps most importantly, replenishing energy restores a sense of agency and empowerment. It moves people from surviving to thriving, and helps them actualize their full potential.
A Small Invitation
I invite you to start with yourself. If you’re reading this and noticing your own warning lights, just take a moment to pause. You can begin to rebalance your energy right now with one of my favorite science-backed stress-relieving techniques.
"Hands on Heart"
Gently place one or two hands over your heart.
Notice the gentle pressure and warmth.
Take 2-3 deep, satisfying breaths.
Choose a reassuring phrase to say to yourself (“I’ll get through this like I always do.”)
Hold onto the feeling for as long as you need to.
Building an energetic culture begins with awareness. With simple, intentional support strategies for the people who carry too much.
This belief is personal for me. It’s professional for me. And it’s at the heart of how I help individuals, teams, and organizations operate at their best.
We don’t need more endurance. We need more energy. And we must continually renew and protect it for what matters most.
Is Your Team Burning Out?
Click below to download the flyer for our popular workshop, "the Power of RENEWAL".
Need More Support? If you’re looking for guidance on shaping a healthier, more energetic culture at your own organization, check out our consulting partnerships and other speaking engagements.
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