You’re not imagining it, that foggy head after meetings, the tension creeping into your shoulders, the mysterious headaches after a day next to a certain co-worker, it’s real. And if you’ve ever wanted to ask to move desks but couldn’t quite explain why, this might help make sense of it all.
When It’s More Than Stress
In today’s workplaces they are already pressure cookers. Full calendars, open-plan desks, constant noise and the pressure to always be ‘on it’. There’s nowhere to hide. But for some people, it goes deeper than this. You might leave the office feeling not just tired, but flattened and depleted. Maybe you actually feel unwell, like you’ve picked up a bug.
If you’ve ever had thoughts like “I was fine this morning, but now I have a headache and feel anxious.” or “I was fine until sitting next to that person” or “I just need to shut myself in a dark room after work”, you may be more energetically aware than you realise. Actually, it’s a good sign.
It’s Not All in Your Head, it’s Your Energy
Some of us pick up on what’s going on underneath the surface like the tension in the room, someone’s bad mood, the silent frustration at the next desk. Even without words, you can absorb it. That doesn’t make you weak, it makes you sensitive and quite possibly in need of stronger energetic boundaries.
Energetic sensitivity isn’t woo-woo. It’s how your nervous system and emotional radar respond to your environment. It’s your nervous system speaking to you and maybe you’re not listening or not understanding it.
For example:
You feel fine until you sit in a certain meeting room and suddenly your chest tightens. Or you spend time near a colleague who’s always complaining and leave feeling low or flat. Or your weekends feel like recovery time from just being around people.
Burnout, But Not Just From the Work
In many cases, people leave jobs not because of workload, but because of the atmosphere. Toxic work cultures can quietly drain you, especially if you’re the one always trying to keep the peace, support others, or stay upbeat when everyone else is down.
That’s not just tiring, it’s unsustainable.
What You Can Do?
Start by acknowledging that what you’re feeling is valid. You don’t need to justify it with logic. Your body already knows what’s not right.
Here are a few small but powerful steps:
- Take a breather alone at lunch, away from the noise and people.
- Notice your body’s cues, like headaches, tired eyes, clenched jaw – they’re signs.
- Visualise a bubble or light around you before walking into draining situations (yes, it sounds odd but give it a go).
- Protect your space – headphones on, even without music, can be a cue to others and to your nervous system.
You’re Not Alone
If this all feels strangely familiar, you might not just be burnt out, you might be sensitive in ways you haven’t had language for. And that means the support you need may be different too.
There’s nothing wrong with you and you’re not being dramatic. You’re simply built to feel more and with the right tools, that can become your strength.
Want to explore this more?
There’s a free Energy Check-In you can take. We used to call it the Empath Quiz but it felt like there was a right or wrong answer, so we changed the name. Just a few questions and it might help you understand why work feels the way it does.
