Burnout Isn't a Badge of Honor (and Wellness Isn't a Step Challenge and Fruit Bowl in the Break Room)
In the thick of my corporate days, I wore stress like a badge of honor. Didn't sleep well? I figured that was just part of life. Skipping workouts? Well, priorities, right? Living on caffeine and vending machines? Felt efficient.
Stretching myself too thin? Check.
Back-to-back meetings with zero breathing room? Check.
Tried to squeeze in a workout between the commute and a day full of deadlines? Yeah, ‘tried’ is exactly the right word.
Wondering how to stick to any nutrition plan while traveling? My all-or-nothing mindset said that was impossible.
I was doing everything I thought I was supposed to be doing: working hard and striving for the best, but I was letting my health slide in the process.
For a while, I assumed that was just part of adulting. The truth is, burnout isn't proof of commitment; it's a red flag.
And I missed it.
I coped the best way I knew, usually with a glass (or three) of wine at the end of the day to take the edge off. But it didn't help. It just became part of the cycle because I didn't have better tools to manage stress in a way that supported my health.
Eventually, I realized something had to give. I started making small changes, getting stronger, creating boundaries, andshifting my mindset. That's what led me to the work I do now. I help people feel better in their bodies and minds and help companies create a culture that supports well-being rather than just talking about it.
When Wellness Efforts Miss the Mark
Now, I work on the other side, helping professionals in Fort Worth feel better, think clearer, and get stronger through workplace wellness that makes a difference. The kind where we recognize that a fruit bowl in the breakroom is a nice gesture, but it's not enough.
Many workplace wellness efforts miss the mark.
While I appreciate it when companies start thinking about employee well-being, just like in fitness, a little something is better than nothing; it's only a first step.
Employees don't need one more thing to add to their to-do list. They need genuine support, coaching, accountability, and a culture that helps them feel better rather than just checking a box.
Step challenges with no guidance can sound great until half the team checks out and the rest start rounding up to the nearest 1,000.
Mandatory lunch-and-learns or lunchtime yoga might sound like good ideas on paper. Still, they often add to people's plates, literally and figuratively, when they really need time, space, and support that fits into their actual day.
Most people don’t need more information, it’s everywhere. What they really need is coaching, support, and guidance to take the right steps and keep moving forward.
A BETTER WAY
It's not that people don't care about their health. Most systems fail to support employees, and as a result, many are running on empty. When it comes to health, when busy professionals realize they can't do everything, they often do nothing.
There is a better way.
Movement that fits into the day and doesn't require a 90-minute lunch break or a gym membership
Nutrition habits that fuel energy and focus, not restrictive plans or unrealistic expectations
Stress-management strategies that start with awareness, practical tools, and real support
Coaching-based challenges with real accountability and guidance, not just self-reporting checkboxes
Technology that makes it all accessible, whether someone works in the office, from home, or travels for work. It allows us to deliver support, track progress, and coach in real-time so people don't just join a program; they stay in it and grow.
From Pressure to Progress
Let me give you an example.
A busy professional I work with told me she often found herself stuck in all-or-nothing thinking. She was great when she stuck to her diet, but she's also very social, having a lot of friends and family events, so she constantly felt like she was starting over.
Recently, she shared that she's learning to embrace doing the best she can, making a slightly better choice at a restaurant, skipping or reducing the alcohol, and giving herself some breathing room instead of strict rules.
Being social is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle, and putting extra stress around the time that was supposed to be joyful wasn't helping anyone.
Because of that shift, she feels less pressure and stress around food and still sees results.
And here's what matters most. When people feel supported in their health, they feel better in their life. They think more clearly, manage stress more effectively, and show up to work more consistently and confidently.
Creating a Culture That Supports Employee Health
Workplace wellness isn't about forcing people to care.
It's about removing the barriers that keep them from showing up fully and building a culture that supports true well-being, not just compliance or another unused platform.
I do that with my Better YOU workplace wellness programs in Fort Worth: authentic coaching, real tools, and real humans behind the process. Sustainable change doesn't require perfect action. It starts with simple steps that build momentum over time. People often think they must overhaul their lives to be healthy, like adopting a rigid routine that takes over everything else. I show you how you can fit health and fitness into the life you're already living, no matter how hectic it feels.
If you're leading a team, running a business, or caring about helping people feel better and work better, I'd love to connect.
This work changes lives. And yes, it helps your bottom line too. Healthy, supported employees take fewer sick days, are more productive, have better focus, and are likelier to stay with your company long-term. Investing in well-being improves engagement, reduces turnover, and builds a stronger, more resilient, and connected workforce you can measure. But mostly, it helps people come to work feeling like themselves again.
Questions? I’d love to help.
Lea
Lea Genders is a board-certified health coach, personal trainer, and workplace wellness consultant based in Fort Worth, TX. She offers corporate wellness programs for employee health and productivity, as well as virtual training and coaching for individuals worldwide. Her blog shares expert guidance on strength training, running, and sustainable nutrition @fortworth_trainer
Workplace wellness isn’t about fruit bowls or step challenges with no follow-through. It’s about building a culture that supports employee health in real ways, with coaching, structure, and tools that meet people where they are.
Most systems fail not because people don’t care, but because the plan doesn’t fit their real life. When you give employees the support they need, they feel better, think more clearly, and show up more consistently. That’s not just good for people. It’s good for business.