The meeting ended, but my body stayed tense.

The conversation itself lasted less than twenty minutes. No one raised their voice. On paper, it probably looked like an ordinary review of missed deadlines and shifting priorities.

My shoulders stayed tight for the rest of the day. I reread every message before sending it and jumped whenever a new notification appeared. Everyone else moved on to the next agenda item. My body did not get the memo.

That was when I realised burnout was not only about having too much to do. It was also about spending every day preparing for the next moment that might make you feel small.