How to Deal with Burnout at Work: Strategies for City Professionals
Burnout has become an unmistakable feature of modern professional life, particularly among high-performing City professionals. Its symptoms—fatigue, cynicism, and diminished effectiveness—signal more than individual overstress. They point to a misalignment between deeper values and daily tasks. Depth psychology, which probes the roots of motivation and meaning, offers clarity where traditional approaches often fall short.
At its core, burnout reflects existential disconnection. When work lacks resonance with personal purpose, no amount of self-care or resilience hacks will suffice. Jamie Wheal, known for his research on flow, emphasizes that peak performance is sustainable only when anchored in genuine meaning. Periods of engagement, creativity, and flow serve as antidotes; yet their presence depends on a defined sense of mission and connection with others. Part of dealing with burnout at work is figuring out what holds meaning for you at work - maybe it’s not the work itself - it could be your colleagues, it could be supporting your family, it could be about learning and growth. Finding what that thing or things is can help you hone in on the parts of your job that bring flow.
Author, speaker and filmmaker Alexander Beiner, meanwhile, critiques the “novelty famine” of today’s workplace. When professional routines become repetitive and creativity is stifled, burnout proliferates. Beiner suggests that renewing novelty—both in one’s role and approach—can reinvigorate morale and motivation. He advocates for combining grounded self-understanding with exposure to new ideas and experiences. Sometimes it can be difficult to find this novelty. Some non-standard places to look could be working with the charitable causes that your company supports, providing mentoring for junior colleagues, considering a horizontal move to a different part of the business, or pursuing an overseas assignment.
For those navigating burnout at work, the following strategies stand out:
Reconnect with deeper values. Take time outside busy routines to journal, reflect on core motivations, and clarify what genuinely matters.
Pursue novel experiences and perspectives. Attend industry talks, join new projects, or explore cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Engage professional guidance. Therapy, coaching, and facilitated groups offer confidential, expert support that goes beyond surface solutions.
Burnout is not a personal flaw, but a signpost indicating the need for realignment and renewal. If you are ready to go deeper—whether you seek insight, confidential support, or wish to explore depth psychotherapy—contact us here at Depth & the City today to arrange a free introductory call. Your next chapter can begin with a single, decisive conversation.
Photo by Rebecca Clarke on Unsplash
