I climbed the career ladder and got my dream job at 30 - then I hit burnout
Jo Hooper, a former communications professional, shares her experience of hitting burnout after achieving her career goals by age 30. Her story highlights the growing issue of work-related stress and the physical toll of high-pressure corporate environments.
Why it matters
Burnout is an increasingly recognized occupational phenomenon that impacts workforce productivity and individual mental health.
Image source, TCOLS Studio Image caption, Jo said she felt like someone had flipped a switch in her brain
Jo Hooper spent her 20s trying to climb the career ladder, quickly rising through the ranks with promotions and pay rises.
"I loved being good at it," said Jo, a former communications professional.
But just after she landed her dream role at 30, Jo struggled with burnout and had to take time off work.
Burnout , external is recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion.
Recent statistics show 22 million working days , external were lost in Britain because of work-related stress in 2024-25.
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