The Intersection: The Burnout Bootcamp – Smashing the Cycle of Exhaustion

In partnership with

In partnership with

Welcome to The Intersection

Burnout culture—it’s the badge of honour no one asked for but many workplaces seem determined to demand. For marginalised individuals, it’s a double burden, where systemic barriers, microaggressions, and the relentless pressure to code-switch amplify the strain.

Last week in The Intersectional Mind: Navigating Mental Health at the Crossroads of Identity, we explored the challenges of intersectional identities within mental health and shared Zara's story—a vivid example of cultural disconnect in therapeutic settings. If you missed it, catch up here.

In this edition of The Intersection, we dive into the satirical "Burnout Bootcamp" to expose the harmful realities of toxic workplace cultures. But we won’t stop at critique. Together, we’ll explore solutions rooted in Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™) and intersectional futurism, offering a pathway to workplaces where everyone thrives.

But let’s pause for a moment—how do you cope when the pressure mounts?

💬 "Drop a comment and share any strategies that work for you—we’d love to learn from each other!"

The Prevalence and Impact of Burnout in the UK

Burnout is a growing concern in the UK, with statistics underlining its widespread impact:

• 46% of UK workers feel “more prone to extreme levels of stress” than ever before, according to a 2023 study by CIPD.

• The mental health crisis costs the UK economy £56 billion annually, with workplace burnout being a major contributor (Deloitte, 2022).

• Marginalised employees, particularly Black and Asian workers, report disproportionately high levels of stress due to microaggressions and systemic inequities (Mind, 2022).

These figures highlight the urgent need for systemic changes to address the root causes of burnout in UK workplaces.

Let’s explore why burnout persists and how we can tackle it, starting with a satirical take on workplace culture that glorifies overwork.

Burnout Bootcamp: A Satirical Wake-Up Call

Welcome to Burnout Bootcamp: 10 Easy Steps to Achieve Maximum Exhaustion! Here’s the agenda for those who want to hit rock bottom faster:

1. Glorify Overwork: Be “available 24/7” and celebrate exhaustion as a success metric.

2. Say Goodbye to Boundaries: Respond to emails at midnight—it’s the new normal!

3. Ignore Cultural Barriers: Code-switch until your authentic self feels like a costume.

4. Underpay and Overpromise: Twice the work, half the recognition—it’s “character building.”

5. Tokenism as Motivation: “You’re on our diversity poster—what more do you want?”

6. Shame Breaks: Lunch is for the weak. Coffee breaks? Unheard of.

7. Reward Self-Sacrifice: Forget hobbies or family—your job is your personality now.

8. Dismiss Mental Health: Feeling stressed? Meditate in the two minutes you have between meetings.

9. Push Productivity Above All Else: KPIs > humanity.

10. Celebrate Burnout as Success: If you’re not drained, are you even trying?

Humorous as it seems, the reality is far worse. Burnout isn’t just about exhaustion—it’s a systemic problem that disproportionately impacts marginalised communities.

Download Your Pathway to Resilience

Looking for actionable solutions? Download Burnout to Balance: An ICC™ Pathway to Inclusive Well-Being. Discover how to reduce burnout, foster resilience, and build workplaces where every identity is celebrated.

The Reality of Burnout: A Personal Story

Let me take you back to a moment that changed my perspective forever. Ironically, I was preparing to deliver a workshop on burnout in marginalised communities—a topic I thought I knew inside and out. As I wrote, “Burnout is insidious. It creeps in disguised as productivity, ambition, and resilience until you’re too far gone to see the signs,” I paused.

Those words weren’t just for the workshop. They were for me.

I’d been calling it busy, challenged, pushing through. But I wasn’t. I was burning out. The fatigue, the disconnection, the dwindling creativity—all the signs had been there. As someone whose career is built on supporting well-being, I felt both humbled and ironically human.

For me, burnout wasn’t just about workload. It was about navigating spaces that demanded more than my work—they demanded my identity be moulded, my boundaries erased, and my emotional labour rendered invisible.

The Sleep App That Forbes' Rated 5 Stars 😱

The app Forbes’ said helps "users achieve high-quality sleep by creating and maintaining effective sleep routines.” is back with new sounds and features!

Now featuring over 300 unique sounds to build to fall asleep to, a personalized sleep tracker and more. It’s no wonder over 65 million people have downloaded this app for better sleep.

Try it tonight 👇

Get BetterSleep!

The Intersectional Burnout Challenge

Burnout hits harder when your identity carries extra weight.

• Code-Switching: For many of us, there’s the exhausting need to adapt in professional spaces that aren’t designed for our authenticity.

• Invisible Labour: From emotional labour to being the go-to “diversity advocate,” marginalised employees often carry unrecognised burdens.

• Systemic Inequities: Bias, microaggressions, and underrepresentation amplify stress levels.

For me, these elements created a perfect storm. It’s not just the work—it’s the constant performing of oneself to navigate systems that were never built with you in mind.

Expanding on Intersectional Futurism: Innovation Meets Inclusivity

Intersectional Futurism reimagines burnout recovery through a lens of equity and innovation. It ensures that futuristic tools like AI-augmented coaching are not just cutting-edge but culturally conscious.

1. Bias-Aware AI: By training AI systems on diverse datasets, we avoid perpetuating systemic biases, creating tools that understand and respect nuanced experiences.

2. Customised Virtual Reality: VR therapy tailored to cultural contexts can offer deeply resonant and personalised stress relief environments.

3. Intersectional Algorithms: These adapt to the overlapping challenges of multiple identities, providing personalised guidance for individuals navigating complex societal barriers.

Imagine technology as a bridge, connecting ancestral wisdom and lived experiences with the possibilities of the future. That’s the promise of intersectional futurism.

ICC™: The Antidote to Burnout Culture

Enter the Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™) framework—a revolutionary approach that addresses the root causes of burnout, especially for marginalised communities.

Here’s how ICC™ helps dismantle burnout culture:

1. Cultural Sensitivity Training: Teams learn to respect diverse identities, removing the pressure to code-switch.

2. Authentic Inclusion: Beyond tokenism, workplaces become spaces where everyone feels valued.

3. Work-Life Balance: Flexible schedules and healthy boundaries are championed, not frowned upon.

4. Mental Health Support: Culturally competent resources ensure no one feels overlooked or misunderstood.

Success Stories: The ICC™ Impact

Eva Banks, an events assistant for diversity and inclusion, shared her experience of a workshop I delivered on burnout:

"We were thrilled to have Jarell lead a training session on burnout at our conference, and the experience exceeded all expectations. As the event organizer, I can confidently say that Jarell brought a wealth of knowledge and an engaging presence that resonated deeply with all attendees.

From the planning stages to the delivery, Jarell was professional, responsive, and committed to understanding our specific needs. The session was expertly crafted, blending insightful information with practical strategies that delegates could take away with them.

Our attendees appreciated the interactive elements and the safe space Jarell created for open discussion and personal reflection. The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the session's impact on their understanding and management of burnout.

I highly recommend Jarell for any organization looking to address burnout and improve workplace well-being. His expertise and dedication is truly exceptional.”

This story isn’t unique—it’s a testament to the transformative power of ICC™ in reshaping workplace cultures.

Taking Action: From Satire to Solutions

It’s time to leave Burnout Bootcamp behind and create workplaces where thriving is the norm, not the exception.

1. Assess Your Workplace: Does it value productivity over people? Identify areas for change.

2. Advocate for ICC™ Principles: Introduce cultural audits and inclusive policies.

3. Normalise Self-Care: Make well-being a collective priority, not an individual burden.

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

1. Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

2. They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

Sign up to start learning.

Reflection Challenge

This week, pause and ask yourself:

• Are you masking burnout with words like “busy” or “challenged”?

• What’s one small change you can advocate for in your workplace to prioritise well-being?

Download Your Pathway to Resilience

Looking for actionable solutions? Download Burnout to Balance: An ICC™ Pathway to Inclusive Well-Being. Discover how to reduce burnout, foster resilience, and build workplaces where every identity is celebrated.

Share the Message

Do you know someone who could benefit from this article? Share it with your colleagues or on social media to help amplify the message and encourage change.

Until Next Time

Your well-being isn’t just a priority—it’s a superpower. Together, we can dismantle the burnout culture and create a future defined by empowerment, inclusion, and balance.

Stay conscious, stay empowered, and let’s transform the workplace together.

About the Author

I’m Jarell Bempong, a Catalyst for Cultural Consciousness™, best-selling author and award-winning innovator in intersectional leadership, mental health, and AI-augmented personal development. My life's work centres on empowering individuals and organisations to thrive by unlocking the transformative potential of intersectionality.

As the pioneer of the Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™) framework and a champion of Intersectional Futurism™, I blend lived experiences with cutting-edge innovation to reimagine mental health and leadership for the future. From coaching executives to designing culturally conscious AI systems, my passion lies in turning marginalised perspectives into sources of strength and resilience.

When I’m not writing, speaking, or consulting, you’ll find me crafting transformative frameworks or exploring new ways to disrupt the status quo for a more inclusive world.

Ready to join the movement? Book a clarity call today to explore how we can collaborate and create lasting impact together.