Andrew Barnes is a leading innovator in workplace advocacy and is often seen as one of the first to introduce a 4-day workweek to corporate schedules. With multiple companies, a beautiful family, and an overall successful career, Andrew seems to have it all balanced.
But that wasn’t always the case.
Like many people, Barnes had worked away the majority of his twenties. In the bustling city of London, his days got lost between financial meetings, deadlines, notifications, and his ambition. He felt his existence was purely work, so much so that he felt he sacrificed a relationship with his children. Now, looking at this extremely successful businessman, you may think to yourself, “That’s just the career he chose!” Unfortunately, this type of mindset – commonly known as burnout– is more universal than we think.
What is Burnout?
Burnout is categorized as a deep state of mental exhaustion, predominantly caused by ongoing and unmanaged stress.
In 2025, about 81% of people across the ages 18-24 experienced some form of burnout. This number increases as people move into the 25-35 age range, with 83% experiencing work fatigue. I believe that there are many factors that go into this level of exhaustion:
- Always-On Mentality: In a workforce that’s highly connected by technology, it’s easy to feel accessible 24/7. Research shows that 71% of U.S. employees feel pressured to remain reachable outside of standard working hours. This can be traced to the work-from-home culture adopted during COVID-19 and continued throughout 2026.
- Overworking Oneself: In Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari, he states that just 56% of Americans take only a week off from work a year. It’s been an ongoing mindset in our society that glorifies being the first one in and the last one out. People can attach this “value” to their self-worth and confidence, which could drive them to overwork to feel accomplished.
- Lack of Resources: My personal experiences, along with stories from friends and family, highlight a hidden side of professional burnout. While we rightly associate work fatigue with high-stress roles like nursing, law, or emergency services, a severe lack of resources can be just as detrimental in lower-risk fields. In today’s economy, individuals working for non-profits or small businesses face a unique set of challenges. These organizations often lack the financial resources to provide adequate support, leaving employees to struggle with role overload, inflexible schedules, and a lack of health insurance.
“Do one thing at a time, sleep more, read more books, let your mind wander – can so easily curdle into cruel optimism. The way our society works at the moment means they can’t do those things.” – Johann Hari
Using Deep Work Techniques to Eliminate Burnout
We’re not completely doomed – Barne’s implementation of a 4-day work week shows great promise that where there are more boundaries between work and life, there’s improvement in both.
- Notification Management: It might feel risky to unplug, but disabling notifications is crucial for work-life balance. Silencing apps like Canvas, Gmail, and Slack, or using your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode, helps you successfully separate your personal time from your workload.
- High-Impact Goals: Task – switching between emails, chats, and task lists can create a fragmented mind that’s susceptible to burnout and shallow work. Setting clear goals to complete high-impact work can feel more rewarding and manageable.
- Project Management: Using skills in project management can implement a work-smart, not harder mindset to your day-to-day routine. Creating a clear road map for yourself and your tasks can reduce mental clutter and improve work quality.
“There’s time for work, and there’s time for not having work…the problem is that we don’t have time. Time, reflection, and a bit of rest help us make better decisions. So, just by creating that opportunity, the quality of what I do, of what the staff does, improves.” – Andrew Barnes
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