Stop Repeating the Career Burnout Cycle: How to Break Free

Stop Repeating the Career Burnout Cycle: How to Break Free

Career burnout isn't just a bad week at work. It's a career-long cycle that keeps repeating until you fix the root cause. 

In this episode, you’ll recognize the invisible tipping point that pushes high-achievers toward breakdown, and how to break the burnout cycle before it happens again.

One of the most dangerous things about leadership burnout? It builds over years, even decades, creating chronic burnout signs most people miss.

Today, I'm sharing how this career misalignment pattern works, why it's so hard to see when you're in it, and the moment that it turns from just a season into the tipping point that leads to breakdown.

I lived this career breakdown cycle three times before I finally recognized I was in it and learned how to stop burnout. Over 16 years in merchandising across four different retailers, the pattern was always the same: six to nine months of energy and excitement, followed by that unsettled pull, less excitement, more drain, more stress, less fulfillment — classic burnout symptoms for high achievers.

If you've ever felt the spark fade faster in every new role, or wondered why the same stress and tradeoffs keep returning, this is for you.

 

Episode Highlights

 

The Career Breakdown Cycle: 

[01:20] - How burnout builds slowly over years, not months 

[02:45] - Why "fixing the symptoms" keeps you stuck in the pattern 

[04:15] - The silent shift at the tipping point most leaders miss

 

Breaking the Pattern:

[05:30] - Why this cycle repeats in every job until you address the root cause 

[06:45] - How misalignment accelerates breakdown moments over time

 

Burnout Recovery Tips: 

[07:20] - You can stop the cycle without risking everything you've worked for

Powerful Quotes

"You can stop the cycle without risking your income, your reputation or everything you've worked so hard for. You don't need to blow up your career to feel fulfilled again." -Blake Schofield

"Burnout is chronic misalignment. If you don't fix the root cause, you'll keep repeating the pattern across your entire career until you simply cannot do it anymore." -Blake Schofield

 

Resources Mentioned

Whether you’re in a corporate job, running your own business, or both—if you’re questioning

your next step or feel you’re not at your full potential—stuckness is a signal to seek expert

help.

 

If you’re ready to reclaim your energy and momentum & create sustainable success on your

terms, I’d love to support you through 1:1 coaching. You can apply at

impactwithease.com/coaching.

 

Enter the Giveaway + Win Prizes!

All who enter get Realignment Rituals™—a 5-Day Audio Series to Reclaim Energy & Clarity—plus a chance to win:

 

• 1:1 Alignment Accelerator coaching session ($2,000 value) w/ Blake Schofield: Uncover what’s holding you back, how to align with how you are naturally wired to thrive & move forward with confidence — 1 winner

• Personal branding coaching session ($495 value) w/ Jennifer McClure: Clarify:  Clarify & confidently communicate your unique value; building a standout leadership brand — 2 winners

• Financial Mindset Fix online course ($997 value) w/ Joyce Marter: Break free from limiting money beliefs; take control of your financial & mental health — 3 winners

• Connected Parenting “How to Chill Out” mini course ($99 value) w/ Jennifer Kolari: Reduce anger & increase connection with your child — 5 winners

 

Enter at www.impactwithease.com/giveaway by August 30. Winners will be randomly selected & announced on Sept 3, 2025.

Drained at the end of the day