I spoke with Happiest Health magazine about burnout - why it quietly catches the most dedicated people off guard, and why we've collectively mistaken rest for weakness.
February 20, 2026
Burnout doesn't come for the people who are coasting. It comes for the ones checking emails before brushing their teeth. The ones who haven't taken a real vacation in three years... and wouldn't know what to do with one anyway.
After a decade of working in mental health, I've noticed a pattern. The people most at risk aren't the ones who don't care. They're the ones who care too much and have quietly tied their entire sense of self-worth to how busy they are.
Somewhere along the way, sitting still started feeling like falling behind.
So they push. And push. And one day, the body just decides for them.
We've built workplaces where "I'm swamped" is a status symbol. Where taking a break feels like a confession. Where people genuinely believe everything will collapse without them... and sometimes, the system around them quietly reinforces that belief.
The fix isn't a wellness app or a mental health day. It's rethinking what we actually reward.
Taking a break is not falling behind. It's preventing a collapse.
Vijay Sharma
Entrepreneur and reluctant philosopher. Built India's largest digital health platform. Angel investor. Writing about startups, technology, and building businesses.
