2 days ago
Why Modern Work Is Exhausting Us
We've never had more workplace wellbeing initiatives. More employee assistance programmes. More mindfulness apps. More resilience training. More engagement surveys. And yet burnout remains stubbornly high, stress-related absence continues to rise, and employees seem more exhausted than ever.
So what's really going on?
In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, Andy Goram is joined by workplace wellness and organisational culture expert Andria Barrett to explore why the answer may have less to do with individual resilience and more to do with how modern work is designed.
Together they unpack the hidden causes of workplace exhaustion, why burnout is becoming harder to spot, the role leaders play in creating healthier environments, and why genuine human connection remains one of the most powerful drivers of performance and wellbeing.
They also explore the opportunities and anxieties surrounding AI, and why technology should help people reclaim time rather than simply increase workloads.
If you've ever wondered why people seem to be working harder than ever but feeling less energised than before, this conversation offers a timely and practical perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Burnout Has Gone Underground. Employees may still be showing up and performing, but many are quietly reaching their limits and considering their next move.
- Wellbeing Is A Design Choice. Sustainable wellbeing comes from how work is structured, not from occasional initiatives or one-off programmes.
- Connection Drives Performance. People do their best work when they feel supported, valued, and able to reach out for help when they need it.
- Leaders Set The Tone. Employees take their cues from leaders, making healthy behaviours and sustainable ways of working essential to model.
Key Moments
The key moments in this episode are:
0:01:11 – Why are so many people exhausted at work?
0:03:45 – Meet Andria Barrett and her approach to workplace culture
0:05:26 – Why feeling better helps people perform better
0:07:34 – The growing challenge of leadership and management burnout
0:09:51 – Burnout has gone underground
0:13:44 – Productivity, pressure and the modern work dilemma
0:17:22 – Why leaders must take responsibility for healthier workplaces
0:19:49 – Why workplace wellbeing initiatives often miss the mark
0:23:03 – Better hours, not more hours
0:26:01 – Using creativity and sensory learning to unlock innovation
0:31:05 – Stress, cortisol and the physical impact of overwork
0:35:35 – The six personal batteries behind sustainable performance
0:36:09 – Why leaders must model healthy behaviours
0:37:30 – Connection as a workplace superpower
0:39:45 – AI anxiety and the future of work
0:42:41 – Andria’s 3 Sticky Notes for healthier workplaces
Useful Links
Full Episode Transcript
Get the full transcript of the episode here
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