Insight & Action: Beyond Burnout

When workplace stress is more than the "Sunday Scaries"

Q&A with Dr. Lere

My real-life reactions to your real-world challenges.

Dear Dr. Lere,

I’m a mid-career professional who’s worked hard to build a successful career in finance. On paper, I’ve checked all the boxes—good salary, promotions, respect from colleagues. But lately, I’ve been feeling increasingly disconnected from my work. I dread Monday mornings, find myself zoning out in meetings, and feel like I’m just going through the motions. It’s like I’m on a treadmill that’s moving faster than I can handle, but I’m too afraid to step off because I’ve invested so much to get here. I’m torn between sticking it out for the sake of my career and taking a step back to figure out what’s gone wrong. How do I navigate this? Is it normal to feel this way, or am I missing something?