The Burnout Of Being Emotionally Intelligent
Last Updated:July 22, 2025, 19:10 IST
Emotional intelligence does not mean being endlessly available. It means knowing when capacity runs low
This kind of burnout does not announce itself. It leaves no visible trail. Energy dips. Focus becomes harder to hold
The person others go to during tense moments rarely asks for help. There is a steady tone in the voice, an ability to read a room without needing much time, and a way of holding space when everyone else has run out of patience. That steadiness becomes expected. Over time, it stops being a strength and starts becoming a burden.
Pritika Singh, mental health expert & CEO, Prayag Hospitals, shares all you need to know:
People get used to it: That person will listen. That person will smooth things over. That person will figure it out. So the load keeps piling on slowly, quietly.
This kind of burnout does not announce itself. It leaves no visible trail. Energy dips. Focus becomes harder to hold. There is less to give, but the same amount is still being asked. Not because others are careless, but because the signs are subtle. The one who absorbs emotions rarely shows their own.
The days are longer. Conversations begin to feel heavier. Tasks that once sparked momentum now feel like obligations. And yet, the same face shows up, calm, measured, present.
The cost of being emotionally steady is often paid in silence. There is no badge for this kind of labor. No promotion tied to patience. No applause for holding others together while falling apart inside.
Emotional intelligence does not mean being endlessly available. It means knowing when capacity runs low. When enough has been said. When the most generous thing is to step away for a while and return clear.
Even the most grounded people run dry. The quieter the strength, the easier it is to overlook.
Those who lead with empathy still need space. Support cannot sit on the same shoulders every time. Strength needs rest. Presence needs a pause.
Otherwise, the anchor begins to slip and no one sees it until it’s already too far gone.
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
view comments
- First Published:
[title_words_as_hashtags
