Burnout-Free Working
- Jayne Morris
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
Burnout rarely arrives with a single dramatic moment. More often, it creeps in quietly, through long hours, shrinking space for rest, and the slow erosion of connection.
In the first episode of the newly rebranded podcast series Burnout-Free Working, I’m joined by Dr Richard Duggins, whose work over the past two decades has shaped how many of us understand burnout, recovery, and sustainable working.
What struck me most in our conversation was Richard’s reframing of resilience. Rather than something we must cultivate alone, as another personal responsibility to manage, he describes resilience as something that exists between people. It’s created in cultures, relationships, and teams where it is safe to say, “I’m not okay.”
We explored how burnout often unfolds through what Richard calls the exhaustion funnel: as pressure increases, play, rest, and connection are gradually sacrificed to protect work. Productivity may hold, sometimes for months or even years, until one day it doesn’t. That sudden collapse is what he describes as the burnout cliff.
And yet, there is hope here.
Burnout, when met with the right support, can become a turning point rather than an ending. Recovery isn’t about returning to how things were before, often that place was already unsustainable, but about learning a new way of working and living that honours our limits, values, and humanity.
This conversation is for anyone who feels close to the edge of the Burnout Cliff, who is questioning their relationship with work, or who wants to be part of creating healthier cultures, not through ticking wellbeing boxes, but through care, connection, and courage.
You can listen to the episode now, and I’ve also written a companion article over on Balanceology exploring the systemic themes we discuss in more depth.
Resources & links
Season 4: Episode 1 - Burnout Free-Working on the Burnout to Brilliance Podcast by Balanceology (formerly The Art of Balance Burnout Podcast)
Jayne Morris MCC : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynemorrismcc/
Balanceology: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1200854
Dr Richard Duggins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-duggins-dr/
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