Do you regularly finish work feeling as though you’ve got absolutely nothing left to give?
Perhaps you’re physically tired, emotionally exhausted or simply fed up with everybody and everything.
You get home and all you want to do is collapse on the sofa.
Or maybe you manage to hold everything together during the working week, only to find yourself completely overwhelmed when the weekend arrives.
If this sounds familiar, something in your working life may be taking more energy from you than it should.
And it’s worth figuring out what that is.
Because although feeling tired after a busy day is normal, feeling completely drained by your job all the time shouldn’t be something you simply accept.
What are the signs that work is draining your energy?
Work-related exhaustion doesn’t always look like falling asleep at your desk.
Sometimes it’s more subtle.
You might notice that:
- You feel emotionally exhausted by the end of most working days.
- Small things irritate you more than they used to.
- You’re finding it difficult to concentrate.
- You have very little patience left for other people.
- You feel overwhelmed by things you previously managed quite easily.
- You regularly feel close to tears or unusually emotional.
- You spend your evenings or weekends recovering from work rather than enjoying them.
And when you’re in that situation, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what’s causing it.
That’s why it’s helpful to look at four different types of work vampires.
1. People who drain your energy
Let’s start with the obvious one.
Sometimes the biggest source of exhaustion at work is another person.
It might be your manager, a colleague, somebody you supervise or somebody you regularly work with.
Think about how you feel after interacting with different people during your working day.
Are there conversations that regularly leave you feeling frustrated, anxious or worn out?
Perhaps someone constantly complains about everything.
Maybe every interaction seems to involve some kind of crisis or drama.
Or perhaps you’re dealing with somebody who expects an enormous amount of support from you but rarely offers anything in return.
Sometimes it’s less obvious.
You might work with somebody who never acknowledges your contribution, leaving you feeling unappreciated.
Or perhaps you’re regularly sitting through long, unproductive meetings where your enthusiasm slowly disappears.
The important thing is not to label people as bad or difficult.
It’s to recognise which interactions are affecting your energy, and why.
What can you do?
Think about whether you can establish some boundaries.
Perhaps you need to limit how often you’re interrupted.
Maybe certain conversations need to become shorter or more focused.
You might need to be more assertive about what you can realistically take on.
And if the problem involves bullying, persistent unreasonable behaviour or a significant power imbalance, you may need support from your manager, HR or another appropriate person.
You won’t always be able to change somebody else’s behaviour.
But you may be able to change how you respond to it or seek support to address it.
2. A job that’s draining the life out of you
Sometimes the problem isn’t the people.
It’s the job itself.
And interestingly, jobs can drain our energy for completely opposite reasons.
Not enough stimulation
Perhaps your work has become repetitive.
You’re doing the same tasks, day after day.
There’s very little variety.
You don’t feel challenged.
And you’re bored.
Boredom might not sound particularly exhausting, but spending hours trying to stay engaged with work you find dull can be draining.
Too much going on
At the other extreme, perhaps you’re juggling far too many things.
Your attention is constantly being pulled in different directions.
Every task feels urgent.
You rarely get the opportunity to concentrate on one thing properly.
And you finish the day feeling busy but not particularly productive.
Too many meetings
This is something I hear about regularly.
People tell me:
“I actually really like my job. I just wish I had time to do it.”
Their diary is filled with back-to-back meetings, leaving almost no time for the work they’re employed to do.
And since online meetings became so normal, it’s increasingly easy to fill every available space in somebody’s calendar.
Unclear expectations
Another surprisingly exhausting situation is not knowing what’s expected of you.
Perhaps your responsibilities aren’t well defined.
Your manager gives vague instructions.
Or you’re constantly wondering whether you’re doing the right thing.
That uncertainty can take up an enormous amount of mental energy.
What can you do?
Try to identify which part of your role is causing the problem.
If meetings are taking over your week, discuss whether they’re all necessary.
If your workload is unrealistic, raise the issue with your manager and agree priorities.
If you’re bored, explore opportunities for more variety or responsibility.
And if expectations are unclear, ask for specific guidance about what success looks like.
You don’t necessarily need to change your entire job.
Sometimes you need to change how the job is organised.
3. Your working environment
Here’s one we sometimes overlook.
The place where you work can have a significant impact on how you feel.
This is particularly worth considering if you work from home.
Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that everybody should return to the office.
For some people, working from home is fantastic.
But for others, spending every day in the same environment can become surprisingly draining.
What can you do?
If your job allows it, experiment with working somewhere different.
Perhaps that means spending one day a week in the office.
Working in a library.
Changing where you sit at home.
Or getting outside during your lunch break.
Also consider whether noise, interruptions, lighting, temperature or lack of personal space are contributing to the problem.
The aim isn’t to find the perfect workplace.
It’s to understand which environments help you feel more comfortable, focused and energised.
4. Habits that are draining your own energy
This final category requires a little self-reflection.
Sometimes we develop habits that make an already demanding job feel even more exhausting.
Perhaps you’ve gradually started working longer hours.
You’re regularly skipping breaks.
You’ve stopped going outside during the day.
Or you’re not making enough time for the activities that help you recharge.
Maybe you’re eating lunch at your desk while answering emails.
And then wondering why you’re completely exhausted by Friday.
Now, this is absolutely not about blaming yourself.
If your workload is unreasonable, going for a walk at lunchtime isn’t going to solve the underlying problem.
But it’s still worth considering which everyday habits might be helping or making things harder.
What can you do?
Start small.
Could you take a proper lunch break twice this week?
Finish work on time one evening?
Take a short walk?
Make some time for something you enjoy outside work?
You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle.
Choose something realistic.
And remember that if the demands of your job make even these small changes impossible, that’s an important issue in itself.
Try this: your five-minute work vampire audit
If you’re feeling drained by work, grab a piece of paper and answer these questions.
1. What is draining my energy?
Is it a person, the job itself, my working environment or some of my everyday habits?
There may be more than one answer.
2. When do I notice it most?
After particular meetings?
When you’re working on certain tasks?
At the end of a long day?
On days when you’ve barely left your desk?
3. What could I change?
Think about one or two realistic actions.
Don’t worry about fixing everything.
4. What support might I need?
Do you need to speak to your manager, request a workplace adjustment, set a boundary or seek professional support?
5. What’s one small step I can take this week?
Choose something specific and manageable.
Then see whether it makes a difference.
You shouldn’t have to spend your life recovering from your job
We all have busy periods.
We all get tired.
And even jobs we love can be stressful sometimes.
But there’s a difference between occasional tiredness and regularly feeling as though work is draining the life out of you.
If that’s happening, it’s worth paying attention.
Not every problem can be solved by changing a habit or having one conversation. Sometimes the demands of a job need to change significantly, and persistent exhaustion may warrant support from a healthcare professional.
But identifying what’s happening is a useful starting point.
You might discover that one difficult relationship needs addressing.
Perhaps your workload needs to be reviewed.
Maybe a change in your working environment would help.
Or perhaps you’ve realised that your current job simply isn’t working for you anymore.
Whatever the answer, you deserve a working life that leaves you with some energy for the rest of your life.
Because work is important.
But it’s not supposed to consume everything you’ve got.
Wondering whether it’s time for a career change?
If your current job is taking too much out of you, our free Career Change Toolkit can help you explore your options.
It contains ten practical guides to help you understand what you want from your working life, make career decisions and plan your next move.
Download the free Career Change Toolkit and start thinking about what a healthier, more fulfilling working life could look like.