I'm a CEO and I think I'm burning out. What should I do?

Short answer: if you have persistent exhaustion, growing cynicism and you're less effective than before, you may be burning out. Start with a medical and psychological assessment, not more hours. Then hand over key decisions for 4 to 8 weeks, so the business doesn't depend on the person most at risk.

Why CEO burnout is a business risk

Burnout at the top rarely stays at the top. An exhausted CEO decides more slowly, tolerates less conflict and passes constant urgency down. The first signs often show in the people around them: tense meetings, key people leaving, decisions stalling.

Signs to watch for

• Tiredness that doesn't lift after a weekend or holiday.
• Cynicism or irritation with the team, clients or investors.
• Struggling with decisions that used to be easy.
• Poor sleep, headaches, stomach problems, palpitations.
• A feeling that if you stop, everything collapses.

Some of these also appear with other conditions (thyroid problems, anaemia, depression, sleep apnoea). That's why the assessment should be medical, not just a questionnaire.

What to do, step by step

1. Clinical assessment: a doctor's consultation, basic blood tests and a validated burnout questionnaire.
2. Psychological support: weekly sessions for the first weeks.
3. Delegation plan: 3 to 5 decisions someone else can take on now.
4. Concrete limits: a fixed end to the working day, no email at weekends, one meeting-free morning a week.
5. Tell the team who decides what. No health details needed.
6. Check the leadership team. If the CEO is burning out, others probably are too.

Founders: see I'm a founder and I can't switch off.

When to get urgent help

If you have thoughts of hopelessness or self-harm, or strong physical symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness, seek medical help now or call 112 or 999. In Ireland and the UK, Samaritans is available free, day and night, on 116 123.

How LON Clinic helps

LON Clinic is an online medical clinic where doctors, psychologists and nutritionists work as one team, in English. Consultations are online, from a clinic registered in Portugal. For leadership teams, it offers a confidential assessment of the CEO and senior managers, a clinical plan and follow-up. The company never receives individual health data.

See the corporate burnout programme →

To size the impact on the business, try the burnout cost calculator.