What climate burnout really is (and why it's not a personal failure)
If you work on climate or environmental issues, feeling exhausted, numb or constantly on edge doesn't mean you're not cut out for the work. It usually means your nervous system has been running at full capacity for too long.
This page explains what climate burnout is, how it shows up in the body, and what you can do about it. If you'd like to know where you are on the spectrum right now, you can take the free Climate Burnout Assessment at any point.
Take the Climate Burnout AssessmentWhat is climate burnout?
Climate burnout is the gradual wearing down of your emotional, mental and physical capacity when you spend a lot of your time thinking about, working on, or feeling responsible for the climate crisis.
It has some things in common with general workplace burnout, but there are important differences. Most jobs don't confront you daily with the possibility of planetary-level loss, injustice and irreversible damage.
Why climate burnout feels different
Many climate professionals describe a mix of:
- Deep love for the work and the people they work with
- Persistent guilt that they are not doing enough
- A sense that if they step back, they are personally letting the planet, vulnerable communities or future generations down
That combination of love, responsibility and urgency can be beautiful. It can also quietly overload your biology.
If you suspect you're heading toward climate burnout, it can help to see clearly what state your nervous system is in. The Climate Burnout Assessment gives you a personalised snapshot.
Check your climate burnout riskCommon signs and symptoms of climate burnout
Everyone is different, but there are some patterns that show up again and again in people working on climate and environmental issues.
Physical signs
- Feeling tired almost all the time, even after sleep
- Frequent headaches, muscle tension or body pain
- Light, restless, unrefreshing sleep
- Digestive issues or changes in appetite
- More frequent colds or slower recovery from illness
Emotional signs
- Oscillating between anger, despair and emotional flatness
- Finding it harder to feel joy or genuine excitement
- Irritability with colleagues, family or the general public
- Growing cynicism or bitter humour where hope used to be
- Feeling detached from the outcomes of your work
Behavioural and cognitive signs
- Struggling to concentrate or make decisions
- Procrastination on tasks you care deeply about
- Using work to avoid feeling, then avoiding work because it feels overwhelming
- Withdrawing from friends, hobbies or community outside the climate space
- Feeling that rest is “wasted time” unless you're completely exhausted
If you recognise yourself in several of these patterns, it may be time to gently rebalance how your body is handling the load of climate work.
Take the Climate Burnout AssessmentThe biology behind climate burnout
To understand climate burnout, it helps to zoom out from productivity and look at something more basic: how your nervous system keeps you alive.
Your autonomic nervous system is constantly asking one question: “Am I safe enough right now to rest, digest, connect and think clearly? Or do I need to mobilise to deal with a threat?”
When you spend your days reading reports, watching hearings, analysing data or campaigning around climate breakdown, your brain receives a steady stream of “threat-like” information. Even if you're sitting safely at a desk, your body behaves as if danger is close.
Designed for a small tribe, not a whole planet
Human biology didn't evolve for 24/7 global awareness. It evolved for keeping a relatively small group of people safe. Your nervous system is brilliant at noticing a local fire, bad harvest or social conflict. It is not built for carrying constant awareness of every wildfire, flood and policy decision on the planet.
That doesn't mean you should stop paying attention. It does mean we need to take seriously the load your body is holding so you can stay in the work without burning out.
The role of the vagus nerve
The vagus nerve is a key part of your “brake system”. When it's functioning well, it helps you return to a calmer, more grounded state after stress. Chronic climate stress can reduce this flexibility. You end up stuck in:
- Fight/flight: hyper-focused, restless, anxious, “can't switch off”
- Shutdown: numb, detached, exhausted, no energy to care
- Or a rapid swing between the two
Is it time to take climate burnout seriously?
Many climate professionals keep going long after their systems are asking for help. They tell themselves:
- “Everyone else is coping better than I am.”
- “I can't step back now; this moment is too important.”
- “I'll rest when this project / campaign / summit is over.”
Months or years later, they find themselves on the edge of leaving the work altogether—or staying physically present, but emotionally checked out.
If you'd like a clearer picture of where you are now, you can take the Climate Burnout Assessment. It's a short, gentle way to listen to what your nervous system is trying to tell you.
Take the Climate Burnout AssessmentFrequently asked questions about climate burnout
These are some of the questions climate professionals bring to me most often. If you have others, you're always welcome to ask.
What is climate burnout?
Climate burnout is what happens when your nervous system has been exposed to climate-related stress, threat signals and responsibility for too long without enough time to recover. It's not a psychological flaw—it's a biological overload response.
How is climate burnout different from ordinary burnout?
Climate burnout includes all the usual signs of burnout, but it's tied to work that involves loss, injustice and potential irreversible change at planetary scale. You're not just dealing with office politics or deadlines; you're working with existential stakes, which puts a different kind of load on your system.
What causes climate burnout?
There's rarely a single cause. It's usually a mix of chronic nervous system activation from climate data, stories of harm, political inaction, internal pressure to do more, and not enough genuine rest or recovery. Over time, your body simply runs out of room to keep compensating.
Is climate burnout a sign that I'm not cut out for this work?
No. In my experience, climate burnout often affects the people who care most and work hardest. It says more about the intensity of the situation and the limits of human biology than it does about your strength or commitment.
How can I tell if I'm experiencing climate burnout?
Common signs include exhaustion that doesn't lift with rest, irritability, emotional numbing, brain fog, difficulty making decisions, and a sense of being on autopilot. If you're unsure, the Climate Burnout Assessment gives you a structured way to explore where your nervous system is right now.
Do I have to stop climate work to recover?
Not necessarily. The aim isn't to pull you out of the work you care about. It's to change the conditions your nervous system is operating under, so it can protect you without shutting you down. Sometimes that involves shifts in pace or boundaries, but it doesn't always mean stepping away.
Where should I start if this feels familiar?
A good first step is to get a clearer picture of what's happening inside your system. The Climate Burnout Assessment is designed as a gentle starting point—no judgment, no labels, just information you can use to make kinder choices for yourself.
If these questions resonate, your body may already be asking for support. You can start quietly by checking your nervous system state.
Take the Climate Burnout AssessmentAbout the person behind this work
Bennett
I'm Peter Bennett, a chiropractor and burnout coach working at the intersection of nervous system physiology and long-term climate work.
I started in molecular biology, then completed postgraduate research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. For the past 25 years I've helped people untangle complex health problems by understanding what their bodies are trying to do to keep them alive.
My approach has always been to trust nature and to trust the body. When we reduce unnecessary pressure and create the right conditions, your system will almost always move towards healing and balance on its own. My work is about listening to what your biology is already trying to do, and supporting that process instead of fighting it.
My focus now is on climate professionals and activists whose nervous systems are carrying a load they were never designed to hold alone.
You don't have to choose between your health and your climate work. With the right support, you can have both.
Start by checking your burnout riskCopyrights 2024 | Get More Life™
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