In 2025, exhaustion is no longer just a personal struggle—it’s a systemic issue shaping industries, economies, and global innovation. The recent VMX and WVC conferences, two of the largest gatherings of veterinary professionals, showcased this exhaustion in stark clarity. Attendees, usually buzzing with energy, were instead dragging themselves from session to session, their faces betraying an undeniable fatigue.
Even 2024 Speaker of the Year, Dr. Adam Christman, recognized the significance of this challenge, expressing how it impacts not only the audience but how presenters deliver their content. “I see the audiences’ faces and they are certainly engaged but they are tired. They work hard in their hospitals, and it absolutely shows. Yet their passion to advance their knowledge is evident as they attend their continuing education conferences. And I know I personally feel a strong responsibility to bring them a moment of joy. That, in turn, pushes me to work even harder just to get a smile. If I can deliver education through a chuckle or just one laugh for them, then I will take that as a small yet mighty win.”
The Leading Causes of Exhaustion
The state of exhaustion today stems from several key factors that have only intensified over the past few years:
1. The Overwork Culture
Burnout has become synonymous with success. Across industries, professionals are juggling heavier workloads with fewer resources. In veterinary medicine, for instance, a nationwide staffing crisis has forced veterinarians and technicians to take on additional shifts, sacrificing personal time for professional demands.
2. Digital Overload & Work-Life Blur
The rise of remote work and digital connectivity has eliminated clear boundaries between work and rest. Emails, Slack messages, and urgent client requests don’t stop at 5 p.m., and many professionals find themselves “on-call” 24/7, leading to chronic stress and sleep deprivation. Adding to this is the disillusioned notion that watching videos or scrolling through social media will help recharge. Instead, the constant exposure to screens—whether for work or leisure—only compounds mental fatigue, leaving individuals more drained than before. The very tools we turn to for relaxation are, ironically, feeding the cycle of exhaustion.
3. Mental Health Struggles & Compassion Fatigue
In fields that require emotional labor—like veterinary medicine, healthcare, and education—compassion fatigue is depleting workers faster than they can recover. The suicide rates among veterinarians remain alarmingly high, pointing to an exhaustion that goes far beyond physical fatigue.
Economic & Industry-Wide Impacts
Exhaustion isn’t just a health crisis—it’s also an economic one. According to the Harvard Business Review, U.S. businesses lose between $125 billion to $190 billion annually in healthcare costs due to workplace burnout. Additionally, burnout can lead to a 50% increase in safety incidents and a 37% increase in absenteeism, further elevating operational costs.
In veterinary medicine, the financial toll is staggering. A study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) estimates that burnout and turnover among credentialed veterinary technicians result in $933 million in lost revenue annually, while veterinarian burnout and turnover account for an additional $928 million in lost revenue. These losses underscore a workforce in crisis—one that is overworked, emotionally depleted, and financially strained.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The state of exhaustion in 2025 is a warning sign that industries can no longer afford to ignore. Running on empty isn’t sustainable, and pushing teams harder only deepens the deficit—both in human energy and business profitability. Organizations must shift their approach, prioritizing long-term well-being over short-term output.
However, solutions don’t just start at the corporate level; they begin with personal self-assessment. As we’ve been building Project Sticker, countless conversations have underscored a fundamental truth about human nature: we want to be productive, but when we’re depleted, we simply cannot be. The outdated mantra of “Do as I say, not as I do” is one of the worst approaches to exhaustion and burnout. If leaders and individuals don’t take stock of their own well-being, they can’t expect others to thrive.
From self-awareness comes collective change. Organizations must implement sustainable productivity models that foster work-life harmony—where the focus should be on creating structures that allow professionals to bring their full selves to work and to life, without sacrificing one for the other.
Key steps forward include:
- Redefining Productivity – Metrics are important, yet we have an opportunity to move away from output-focused metrics and begin embracing work models that prioritize sustainable performance over relentless efficiency.
- Mental Health Support – Providing accessible mental health resources, destigmatizing therapy, and fostering peer-support networks so professionals feel safe addressing their struggles.
- Rethinking Work Structures – Embracing flexible scheduling, ensuring fair compensation, and prioritizing rest as a necessary component of workplace success. This is the hardest one as we are all exhausted and creating a new work structure can be challenging. However, as leaders we can create the structure and take steps, even the smallest one’s toward achieving the goal.
The exhaustion seen at VMX and WVC is a reflection of a workforce on the brink. If industries fail to act, they will see more professionals walk away—taking with them their expertise, passion, and potential. Addressing this crisis isn’t just about avoiding burnout—it’s about building a future where people can thrive.