Burnout doesn’t happen overnight — it builds over time. Maybe you’ve been ignoring the little hints:

• You wake up tired, no matter how much you sleep.

• You feel detached or resentful toward tasks you once did with love.

• You’ve lost touch with your own hobbies, friendships, and rest.

Awareness is the first step toward healing.

Emotional labor is the process of managing your emotions, and often the emotions of others, as part of your job — especially in service-based roles. It’s the teacher who wipes away tears while keeping the classroom calm. The social worker who comforts a client while burying her own heartbreak. The nurse who must smile while delivering painful news.

For many, especially those navigating trauma, career changes, or the uncertainty of young adulthood, a mentor can serve as a lifeline.

Without proper guidance, these parents may unintentionally perpetuate cycles of emotional neglect and instability.