Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor: How to Set Boundaries & Protect Your Mental Health at Work

She used to be the top performer on her team.
Until one day, she couldn’t get out of bed.

What looked like laziness to her manager was actually burnout—chronic emotional exhaustion from blurred boundaries, nonstop pressure, and always being “on.” And she’s not alone.

In this powerful Mental Health Awareness Month episode of the Thrive Careers Podcast, host Olajumoke Fatoki sits with clinical psychologist Oyin Oladipupo to unpack how burnout hides in plain sight at work — and what we can do about it.

🎯 Inside this episode:
 ✅ How to tell the difference between everyday stress and actual burnout
 ✅ Why high performers crash — and what managers often miss
 ✅ Real examples of toxic productivity and blurred boundaries post-COVID
 ✅ What healthy workplace boundaries actually look like
✅ The importance of inclusive, culturally competent mental health support
✅ Why rest is not a luxury — it's a leadership strategy

Whether you’re on the verge of burnout, leading a team, or just want to feel like yourself again at work — this episode will meet you with both wisdom and real-world tools to help you protect your peace and thrive in your career.

🔔 Hit follow, leave a review, and share with someone who needs this reminder:
 Burnout is not a badge of honor. You deserve better.

📱 Guest: Oyinkansola Oladipupo – LinkedIn | Instagram
 📸 Host: Olajumoke Fatoki – @thrive_careers_hub
 🎙 More episodes: 

#BurnoutRecovery #MentalHealthAtWork #BoundariesMatter #ThriveCareersPodcast #WorkplaceWellness #HustleCulture #LeadershipWellbeing #EmployeeSupport #WomenInWork #CareerGrowth #ToxicProductivity #CulturallyCompetentCare

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro: Welcome to Thrive Careers Podcast
• 0:14 Why Mental Health at Work Matters
• 0:14 Meet Our Guest: Clinical Psychologist Oyin Oladipupo
• 2:04 Oyin’s Background and Approach to Therapy
• 2:53 Why Burnout, Stress, and Anxiety Are on the Rise Post-Pandemic
• 5:43 The Role of Workload and Blurred Boundaries
• 6:23 Normalizing Mental Health Conversations at Work
• 8:01 The Full-Self Approach: Mind, Body, and Soul at Work
• 8:44 Burnout vs. Stress: What’s the Difference?
• 10:45 How Burnout Affects Performance & Why Leaders Miss It
• 13:33 What Managers Can Do: Signs of Burnout vs. Performance Issues
• 16:25 What Healthy Work Boundaries Actually Look Like
• 19:11 Leadership’s Role in Modeling Boundaries
• 21:36 Inclusive Mental Health: Supporting Women, Gen Z, and More
• 25:09 Thrive Tip: Set Boundaries, Take a “Me Day”
• 27:17 Rapid-Fire: If You Weren’t a Psychologist...
• 28:24 Final Words: The Power of Real-World Human Connection
• 29:46 Where to Connect with Oyin

Transcript

Olajumoke Fatoki (00:14) Hello everyone, and welcome back to this week’s episode of the Thrive Careers Podcast — where we unpack real stories, tools, and strategies to help you build a career that doesn’t just pay the bills but fuels your purpose. This month is especially meaningful to us because it’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Today’s conversation is one every workplace should be having.

Here’s the truth: Burnout is not a badge of honor. Hustle culture is not the only path. And mental health is more than a workplace perk — it’s a priority.

Joining me today is a phenomenal guest, a seasoned clinical psychologist with over six years of experience supporting individuals and teams through stress, burnout, and emotional well-being.

Welcome to the Thrive Careers Podcast, Oyin Oladipupo!

Oyin Oladipupo (01:14) Thank you so much, Olajumoke. I’m so happy to be here.

Olajumoke Fatoki (01:18) We’re excited to have you! Before we dive in, can you tell us a bit about your background so our audience can get to know you?

Oyin Oladipupo (01:29) Of course. My name is Oyin Oladipupo. I’m a clinical psychologist practitioner. I’ve been practicing for six years, supporting clients through various mental health and life challenges — including depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. I focus on a strength-based approach, helping clients build resilience and live purposefully.

Olajumoke Fatoki (02:04) Thank you for sharing that, Oyin. I’m excited for this conversation because it's at the core of our existence. Let’s start with a significant issue we’re seeing more of these days — the rise in burnout, anxiety, and depression at work. From your perspective, what’s driving this surge?

Oyin Oladipupo (02:53) Great question. One major factor is the aftermath of the pandemic. COVID blurred the boundaries between work and life, especially with the rise of remote work. Many people couldn’t tell when work ended and personal life began.

For example, I advise clients working remotely to create a designated workspace at home — not on the bed or couch — and to physically step away from it at the end of the day. Go for a walk. Change your environment. This helps re-establish boundaries.

Another cause is increased workload due to job insecurity. People are overworking to prove their worth and avoid layoffs. They’re sacrificing rest and recovery — but rest is essential. Also, isolation has grown, especially for remote workers, and that leads to higher risks of stress and depression.

Toxic productivity culture is another culprit. Leaders expect employees to be always available. In one movie, a boss yells at a staff member for not replying to an email at midnight. That’s not okay — there should be a clear line between work and personal life.

And then there’s presenteeism — people physically show up but mentally check out. They’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck in survival mode. That’s how burnout develops.

Olajumoke Fatoki (05:43) That’s such a powerful breakdown. You’ve highlighted two key drivers — excessive workload and blurred work-life boundaries. So how do we start normalizing mental health conversations at work?

Oyin Oladipupo (06:23) First, we need to recognize that everyone brings their full selves to work — body, mind, and soul. When someone struggles mentally, it affects their performance. Just because someone looks fine or is functional doesn’t mean they’re not dealing with something internally.

Through my work with Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), we’ve seen how mental health challenges — like poor communication or team conflicts — impact performance and well-being. It’s not just about skill; it’s also about emotional health.

When workplaces focus on helping employees build better social skills, manage stress, and navigate life challenges, it improves not only their work performance but their overall life quality.

Olajumoke Fatoki (08:01) Absolutely. If you want employees to bring their best, then every aspect of their well-being must be supported. Now let’s address a common misconception: many people assume burnout just means being tired. Can you break down what burnout actually is and how it shows up at work?

Oyin Oladipupo (08:44) Sure! Let’s first differentiate stress from burnout.

Stress is short-term. It comes from urgent tasks — a deadline, a meeting, a project. It puts us in a state of high energy temporarily. With good stress management, we recover afterward.

Burnout, however, is long-term and systemic. It builds over time from continuous stress with no relief. People feel emotionally drained, detached from work, and hopeless. It’s like running a marathon with no finish line.

Burnout affects every area of life — not just work. People may disengage, lose motivation, and even struggle at home. It’s deeper than just fatigue.

Olajumoke Fatoki (10:45) That’s eye-opening. I’ve never really paused to understand that difference, and it’s such a vital distinction. I have a follow-up. Often, when high performers start struggling, managers misinterpret it as a performance issue rather than a mental health concern. What advice do you have for managers?

Oyin Oladipupo (11:51) I often tell clients: "This is a trauma response, not a personality flaw."

The same applies here. If a high-performing employee starts slipping, it’s likely emotional exhaustion — not lack of skill. They’re coping with overwhelm. They might become defensive, withdrawn, or irritable — not because they’ve changed, but because they’re surviving.

Instead of assuming it's a performance issue, HR or EAP teams should ask: how can we support this person? Do they need stress management training? A mental health day? Time off to reset?

Creating open-door policies and normalizing conversations about mental health can go a long way in retaining talent and supporting recovery.

Olajumoke Fatoki (16:25) So good. Let’s shift into boundaries, which many professionals struggle with. What does a healthy boundary look like at work?

Oyin Oladipupo (17:14) A healthy boundary starts with clear work-life separation. For remote workers, this means shutting your laptop at a set time — and not responding to messages after hours. But in today’s always-on digital culture, it’s tough.

We need to respect personal time and vacation. Even something as simple as “just a quick message” after hours can break boundaries.

Scope creep is another issue. People are often given new responsibilities without proper recognition, compensation, or title changes. That creates dissatisfaction and burnout. Boundaries mean defining roles clearly and respecting limits.

Olajumoke Fatoki (19:11) Exactly. Leadership plays a big role in reinforcing boundaries. What can leaders do better?

Oyin Oladipupo (19:36) Leaders need to lead by example. If you start work at 7 a.m. and stay until 10 p.m., your team will think that’s the standard for success.

So, manage your time. Decline weekend meetings. Take your own vacation. Set expectations for off-hours communication and honor rest. This helps normalize boundaries for the whole team.

Olajumoke Fatoki (21:03) So true. People follow their leaders’ cues. Now before we close, let’s talk about tailoring mental health support. Mental health is not one-size-fits-all. What does inclusive support look like?

Oyin Oladipupo (22:52) Great question. In therapy, we use client-centered and culturally competent approaches. We consider a person’s race, gender, age, caregiving roles, and more.

Women, for example, carry emotional and caregiving burdens that affect their mental load. Gen Z workers value authenticity, psychological safety, and purpose. Each group has unique needs, and we must understand systemic stressors that affect them.

True care means meeting people where they are — culturally, emotionally, and practically — to help them build resilience.

Olajumoke Fatoki (25:09) So powerful. I loved what you said about cultural competence. As we wrap up, what’s one simple but powerful thing someone can do this week to protect their mental health at work?

Oyin Oladipupo (25:45) Reinforce your boundaries. Take a “me” day. Reset your nervous system. We’re constantly in fight-or-flight mode, and without rest, it leads to burnout and even physical illness.

You don’t need to earn rest — you deserve it simply because you’re human. Take time off. Protect your peace.

Olajumoke Fatoki (27:17) Beautifully said. And now a fun one: If you weren’t a clinical psychologist, what would you be doing?

Oyin Oladipupo (27:32) Honestly? I can’t see myself doing anything else. Helping people grow, teaching life skills through therapy, and seeing real transformation — that brings me so much joy.

Olajumoke Fatoki (28:24) And it shows. Thank you for this uplifting and enlightening conversation, Oyin. Before we let you go, where can people find you online?

Oyin Oladipupo (29:46) You can connect with me on LinkedIn at Oyin Oladipupo, on Facebook at Oyin Oladipupo Lawal, and on Instagram @oyinkosolaoladipupo. I’d love to hear from you!

Olajumoke Fatoki (30:15) Please let her know you heard her on the Thrive Careers Podcast when you reach out.

Thank you so much for tuning in. Remember: the digital world can’t replace real, human connection. Go out and build meaningful relationships.

Until next time — keep thriving!