Sales ops for a SaaS company that sells “AI-powered workflow automation.” Translation: I move numbers in spreadsheets until my eyes bleed. I once high-fived myself for closing a deal at 2 AM. Now I high-five the delivery guy for bringing Whataburger.
Last Monday, I woke up excited. Like, actually bounced out of bed, blasted “Eye of the Tiger,” made a green smoothie. By Wednesday, I was googling “is it legal to live in a storage unit?”
Work Motivation vs. Burnout: The Morning Test
Here’s how I spot the difference between work motivation and burnout before I even leave the house:
- Motivation: Alarm goes off, singing off-key to whatever’s on Spotify. Coffee tastes like ambition.
- Burnout: Whisper “five more minutes” and wake up at 8:47 with drool on my phone. Coffee tastes like regret and yesterday’s grounds.
- Me right now: Somewhere in the middle. I’m upright. I’m dressed. But my socks don’t match and one is inside out.
The Time I Thought I Was Motivated (Spoiler: I Wasn’t)
I once stayed till 9 PM “crushing goals.” Felt like a boss. Couldn’t remember my own name. Turns out that was burnout wearing motivation’s clothes. Celebrated “hustle” with Whataburger, woke up with fries in my hair, and cried in the shower because the hot water ran out.
Work Motivation vs. Burnout: The Energy Check
Motivation feels like:
- Brain buzzing with ideas.
- “Let’s go!” texts to my group chat.
- Actually wanting to open Slack.
Burnout feels like:
- Brain buzzing with static.
- “k” as my only text response.
- Opening Slack and immediately closing it like it’s on fire.
If your to-do list makes you want to nap under your desk, that’s not motivation. That’s your body filing a formal complaint.
The Spreadsheet That Broke Me
Tuesday, 3:14 PM. stare at cell A1 like it’s written in ancient runes. I type “help” in row 1, column 1. Then I walk to the bathroom, splash water on my face, and whisper to the mirror, “You are not a robot.” Then go back and fix the spreadsheet. Because rent.
Work Motivation vs. Burnout: The Weekend Test
- Motivation: Saturday morning, I’m up early, planning Monday like a general.
- Burnout: Saturday morning, I’m still in bed, phone on Do Not Disturb, dreaming of moving to a cabin with no WiFi.
- Reality: I set 17 alarms for Sunday night. Only 3 go off. I wake up Monday panicked, wearing one shoe.
I read this Mayo Clinic page on burnout symptoms and checked every box. Then I ate a whole pint of Blue Bell and called it “self-care.”
The Great Motivational Lie of 2024
I bought a planner that said “MAKE IT HAPPEN.” Filled it with color-coded goals. By February, it was a coaster for my Whataburger cup. The duck on my desk (cape still on) judges me daily.
Work Motivation vs. Burnout: The Fix (Or At Least the Band-Aid)
- Micro-wins: Celebrate sending one email without typos.
- Fake boundaries: Log off at 5:30 even if the world’s ending. (It’s not. It’s Tuesday.)
- Real talk: Told my boss, “I’m at 60% battery.” He gave me a half-day. I napped in my car. Came back at 80%.
The Chaos Hour (Where It All Collapses)
4:47 PM. Inbox at 89. Calendar ping: “Sync in 2 min.” I mute everything, eat a crouton off my desk (don’t judge), and text my mom a crying emoji. She replies, “Tacos?” I cry harder. But happier.
Okay, I’m Out (Before I Burn Out Writing This)
So yeah—work motivation vs. burnout? Motivation is a sprint. Burnout is when you’ve been sprinting with no shoes. One feels like fire, the other like you are the fire and it’s out. I’m somewhere in the smoke. But I’m breathing. And I’ve got tacos coming.
