It happens to the best of us. You sit at your desk and your brain feels like it is moving through wet cement. You are competent and excellent at your job but today the tank is completely empty. And right on cue, the guilt creeps in. We often twist ourselves into knots trying to hide a temporary drop in output to protect our professional reputations.

We juggle paid work, unpaid care and a barrage of societal expectations. Add in hidden disabilities or a creeping case of imposter syndrome and it becomes a potent recipe for burnout. It’s helpful to start separating what you can do from how much energy you have right now.