A Victim of The Modern Burnout Society

As working-class individuals in today’s hyper-connected world, we often find ourselves burned out, not only from the overwhelming workloads but also from the constant interruptions, the societal pressure to stay “positive,” and the illusion that we must always be productive.

You wake up, and you’re already exhausted. Your phone buzzes with messages and demands disguised as opportunities. And your chest feels heavy, not from rest, but from responsibilities that drain more than they give.

The Silent Oppressor: You

Gone are the days when suffering came from shouting bosses or factory lines. Now, the oppression is invisible—and more dangerous. The truth is, you are your own oppressor.

There’s a judgmental voice in your head. It tells you you’re not enough. It demands more. It appears to be ambition, but it’s actually self-sabotage.

Byung-Chul Han called this “The Society of Performance.” A system where we believe we’re free, yet we’re more trapped than ever. In this world, every second must be useful. Every breath must take you somewhere. Stopping feels like failure.

Let me ask you:

• Do you feel guilty when you’re not being productive?
• Anxious when you don’t reply to messages?
• Frustrated when you fall short, even if no one is watching?

If your answer is yes, then you’re not just tired. You’re burned out.

The Hidden Trap of Positivity

We’re often told, “You can do anything if you work hard enough.” It sounds empowering. 

But here’s the trap:
When you fail, you are to blame. When you collapse, you are the problem. In this modern society, the prison has no bars. It has goals. And the punishment is no longer physical; it’s psychological. We’ve become self-managed machines, optimizing ourselves until we break. Byung-Chul Han calls this the age of the entrepreneurial self, where rest is no longer a right but a fuel for more work.

When Even Rest Becomes Work

This afternoon, I picked up a book and read. Reading is good, right? But even that had to be productive reading. Our bodies have become machines. Our minds, project managers. Relationships are networking. Spirituality is coaching. Rest is a battery recharge. Even free time is measured, monetized, and optimized. You’re always functioning. But are you really living?

What Are We Missing?

When was the last time you permitted yourself to just be?

No goals. No agenda. Just you and your breath.

You probably can’t remember. Because we’ve been taught to always be available, always be active. Any moment of pause gets filled by a ping, a task, or the thought, “I need to do this first.” Right now, while reading this, your mind might be elsewhere, already thinking about messages to reply to, meetings to prepare for, or tomorrow’s checklist.

Today, leisure feels wasteful, silence feels uncomfortable, and boredom feels like an enemy. But boredom is a portal to creativity, reflection, and presence. Multitasking isn’t a skill anymore. It’s a survival mechanism. And it’s robbing us of our peace.

We Live, But We Don’t Inhabit

We reflect, but don’t deepen. We live, but don’t inhabit. We work jobs that bring no joy. We live in beautiful homes we can’t appreciate. That’s why you feel tired after eight hours of sleep. Anxious in quiet moments. Empty even in a crowd. We’ve been trained to never stop. But stopping is not weakness. It’s a reunion with your true self. And in silence? That’s where you hear the truth.

The Courage to Stop

And now we arrive at the turning point: Courage. You need courage to:

• Slow down.
• Embrace emptiness.
• Say no to endless expectations.

Society tells you that if you’re doing nothing, you’re wasting your life. Even rest must be explained. Even silence must be useful. But what if…doing nothing is the most revolutionary act?

Byung-Chul Han suggests that true freedom begins when you reclaim your right:

• Not to act
• Not to want
• Not to be useful
• Not to be “enough” 

Of course, this sounds lazy to society. But saying no is an act of power. It breaks the toxic cycle of productivity. It gives birth to authenticity.

Respect the Host: You

Saying no is a gateway. When you stop saying yes to everything and everyone, you start saying YES to yourself.

From that refusal comes

• Clarity
• Inner strength
• A peace you didn’t know existed

The burnout you’re feeling? It’s not just tiredness. It’s your soul screaming, This is not your way of life. You don’t deserve this. You are not weak. You are not failing. You’re just caught in a system with flawed logic.

Final Reflection

Freedom doesn’t happen all at once. It starts with stillness. It starts with honesty. Before you act, first sit with yourself. See the truth. No filters. No excuses. Only then will you know the next step, the one you’ve quietly known all along.

Thank you.

Thank you for reading.
Thank you for pausing.
Thank you for choosing yourself, even for just a few minutes.

Until I see you again.