According to Sharlene Massie From About Staffing
A note to students, grads, and newcomers building life in Alberta
I said something out loud that I regret. I said I needed six months off to go to Mexico and relax on a beach. I shouldn’t have said that, but I was tired and overwhelmed.
Here’s the thing.
Even after years in a career, hitting a wall can happen.
So when I see 18-, 22-, 25-year-olds already exhausted, it is not a motivation problem. It is burnout starting early.
You’re Carrying More Than People Realize
If you are a student or recent grad right now, your plate probably looks like this:
- School or upgrading
- Part-time or full-time work
- Applying for jobs constantly
- Trying to afford rent
- Helping family
- Sending money home
- Navigating a new country
- Building credit
- Learning Canadian workplace culture
- Comparing yourself to everyone on social media
That is not “just starting out.” That is a lot. Especially if you are new to Alberta and trying to prove yourself.
Burnout Doesn’t Always Look Dramatic
It can look like:
- Sleeping but still tired
- Doom-scrolling instead of studying
- Missing deadlines because your brain feels full
- Thinking maybe you are not cut out for this
- Feeling behind everyone else
- Smiling in interviews but feeling numb inside
Burnout is not weakness. It is stress with no recovery.
The Hustle Culture Lie
Somewhere along the way, you were told:
- Work harder
- Say yes to everything
- Take every shift
- Build your resume nonstop
- Sleep later
But here is what no one says:
If you burn out at 22, you do not win anything. You just start your adult life exhausted.
If you are a newcomer, the pressure can double. You might feel like you cannot slow down, like you have to succeed fast, like you owe it to your family. That pressure is real. But your energy is not unlimited.
Quick Check: Are You Running on Empty?
Be honest:
- When was the last time you rested without guilt?
- Are you always in prove myself mode?
- Do you feel anxious even when nothing is urgent?
- Are you afraid to say no to work or school because you might lose opportunity?
That is not laziness. That is overload.
Here Is What Balance Actually Looks Like
Balance is not perfect time management. It is not having it all figured out. Balance looks like:
- Taking one shift less if you can
- Saying no to something that does not align
- Asking questions instead of pretending you know everything
- Booking the appointment
- Sleeping 8 hours
- Not answering emails at midnight
- Giving yourself permission to be new
You are allowed to be learning. You are allowed to grow at a sustainable pace.
From Someone Who Has Been There
When I said I needed six months in Mexico, I did not actually need six months. I needed a reset. I needed rest before resentment.
Here is what I know after working with young professionals across Alberta: The people who build strong careers are not the ones who grind the hardest. They are the ones who protect their energy, especially at the beginning.
You probably do not need Mexico. But you might need to stop pushing like you are behind. You are not behind. You are building. And building takes energy. Protect it.
Burnout can be short term if you recognize it and move forward.
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