Life in Your 20s Series | Mental Health, Prioritising Self-Care, and Work | Season 2 – The Pepetoe Podcast

Let’s be real. The phrase “your mental health comes first” sounds great when it’s on company merch or during Mental Health Awareness Week, but in practice? It rarely feels that simple. Especially when you’re the kind of person who shows up early, stays late, gets things done, never asks for help, and still worries it’s not enough. I’ve been there. I’m still there now.

The meetings stack up. Your inbox is a war zone. Your stomach knots before every 9 a.m. login. You think it’s “just stress,” but the truth is: it’s burnout.
And no, burnout isn’t just feeling tired; it’s a slow erosion of your joy, your identity, your spark. It’s constantly overfunctioning in a system that rewards silence, not softness.

High Achievers Don’t Always Know They’re Struggling

Especially if, like me, you were the high-achieving student. The kid who thrived off praise, who needed straight A’s to feel worthy, who never wanted to “disappoint.” That same perfectionism can sneak into your career and make it really hard to say, “I’m not okay.”

But here’s the kicker: you don’t have to hit rock bottom to validate your pain. You’re allowed to struggle, even if everything “looks fine” on the outside. You’re allowed to need rest and ask for a day or two off – not because you’ve earned it, but because you’re a human being, not a machine.

What We Get Wrong About Work & Worth

We’ve all internalised this message that career success = personal value. That productivity makes us more lovable, more secure, more “together.” But this way of thinking will burn you out.

You are not your output. You are not your job title. And your worth doesn’t hinge on how much you can handle before breaking.

Companies won’t always recognise your boundaries, your effort, your burnout. So you have to be the one who does. That might look like:

• Using your annual leave without guilt
• Not answering emails at 9 p.m.
• Saying no without explaining
• Logging off when your body is screaming please stop

It’s radical. But it’s necessary.

You’re Not Alone If You’re Struggling at Work

If your workplace feels too much right now, you’re not weak, lazy, or dramatic. You’re human. If your nervous system is fried, your self-worth is shaken, and every day feels like a mountain, please know that you’re not broken. You’re just burning out in a culture that praises the hustle and ignores the human. And if you need to take a step back, switch jobs, speak up, or just breathe, you do have permission.

You Come First. Even When It’s Hard.

This week, on the podcast, I dive deeper into this: the feelings we carry when we’re silently burning out, how hard it is to ask for help, and why self-trust is everything when the workplace doesn’t protect your peace. Because mental health at work isn’t just a buzzword. It’s survival.

So if you’re feeling like you can’t keep going at this pace:
You don’t have to.
You can slow down.
You can choose you.

Even when the job says you can’t.

💬 Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

And if this hit home for you, share it with someone who might need the reminder too.

Life in Your 20s Series | Mental Health, Prioritising Self-Care, and Work | Season 2 – The Pepetoe Podcast

In this episode, I’m speaking honestly about something that’s been weighing heavy lately — the reality of mental health struggles in the workplace. From the pressure to always perform to the fear of not being “enough,” it’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos of trying to keep up. I share my personal experiences of burnout, what it feels like when your job starts to impact your self-worth, and the hard but necessary lesson of learning to let go of what you can’t control. If you’ve ever sat at your desk with tears in your eyes or felt like you’re just one more task away from breaking — this one’s for you. You’re not alone, and you never have to be.Links:Blog – http://www.pepetoe.netIG – @pepetoebyelenaTikTok – @elenaoverfield