I worked at the same company for over eight years. I showed up every day, took on extra projects, learned new skills, and kept my head down. When the promotion finally came through last spring, I felt relieved. It seemed like proof that steady effort pays off. The raise helped with bills, and the new title meant something.
The keyword “Peter Principle burnout” describes exactly what happened next. People often get moved up because they did well in their old role, but the new one demands different skills. That’s the Peter Principle in action, and it led straight to burnout for me.
Right away the workload doubled. I had to manage a team, handle budgets I barely understood, and attend meetings that ran long into the evenings. Former colleagues who used to chat freely now kept their distance, maybe unsure how to act around the “boss.” Every decision I made got second-guessed by higher-ups. I second-guessed myself even more.
Sleep became a problem. I’d lie awake worrying about tomorrow’s tasks. Meals got skipped. A tight feeling stayed in my chest most days. At the office small errors felt huge. At home I snapped at my kids over nothing and pulled away from friends. The promotion I chased for years left me exhausted and anxious instead of proud. Read more https://drbokko.com/?p=36456
