The Burnout Economy: A Country Running on Low Battery

This study paints a stark but deeply human picture: most Americans are not building their best life — they’re trying not to fall apart.

Only a small slice feel financially “very well”; most describe themselves as either barely comfortable or actively in survival mode. For many, every month feels like a new balancing act between bills, debt, rising prices, and the emotional toll of staying functional through it all.

How would you describe your current financial situation?

This financial self-assessment is the foundation of the burnout economy: when stability feels uncertain, everything else — health, relationships, and long-term planning — becomes harder to sustain.

In the burnout economy, stability is a luxury and peace of mind feels increasingly rare.

Financial Fatigue: Living Close to the Edge

Daily money life is tight. Large portions of Americans:

• Live paycheck-to-paycheck
• Have little or no savings
• Feel unsure they could handle even a modest emergency

In the past 6 months, how has your cost of living changed?

As everyday costs rise, people don’t simply “adjust a budget” — they reallocate their entire life. Small buffers disappear, and unexpected expenses turn into real crises.

Most have cut back on something: dining out, travel, entertainment, clothing, even healthcare and therapy. For many, the first things to go are the little joys — the small luxuries and “extras” that once made life feel fuller.

What if anything, have you actually cut or reduced this year? Select all that apply.

The cutbacks tell a deeper story: this isn’t just belt-tightening. It’s a shift toward “maintenance mode,” where people reduce anything that isn’t essential to immediate survival.

Big life goals aren’t just delayed; they’re being put on the shelf: home ownership, travel, paying off debt, starting a business, even weddings or having children. Financial stress isn’t an abstract worry — it’s directly rewriting life timelines.

What personal goals or dreams have you delayed or given up, if any, due to financial strain? Select all that apply.

When people postpone major milestones, it changes more than finances — it changes identity, motivation, and a sense of future. This is where economic pressure becomes emotional pressure.

Play as a Daily Ritual — Not a Guilty Secret

Most adults who kidult don’t hide it. They may game on their phone before bed, collect figures on their desk, or watch animated shows as comfort TV — and the people around them know.

Some keep play personal and solitary, enjoying it as “time for me.” Others share it with friends, partners, or kids, turning kidulting into a social connector. Game nights, shared fandoms, co-op video games, and family movie marathons are all extensions of this trend.

Importantly, only a very small fraction of adults keep their kidulting completely secret. The shame factor is far lower than stereotypes suggest.

Side Hustles as a Survival Strategy

Side hustles have become a defining feature of the burnout economy. Nearly half of Americans already have an extra job or gig, and many more are considering one.

What used to be a “nice extra” or a creative project is now, for many, a necessity: their way of patching gaps, paying down debt, or simply keeping the lights on. Yet this extra work comes at a cost — usually in the form of sleep, rest, hobbies, and emotional bandwidth.

Work Isn’t Just Draining — It’s Overwhelming

Even for those who have jobs, exhaustion is the baseline. Many workers say they feel physically or emotionally drained often or almost always after work. True rest is rare, and time off — when it exists — is quickly consumed by recovery rather than joy.

How often do you feel physically or emotionally drained after work? Note: If you are unemployed, think back to your most recent role.

This is one of the clearest signals of the burnout economy: work no longer ends at “tired.” For many, it ends at depleted — leaving little capacity for family, health, or life outside the job.

When asked what they’d do with a paid month off, people didn’t dream of hustle or reinvention. They imagined:

• Time with loved ones
• A real vacation
• Restoring their health
• Simply doing nothing and finally resting

If you could take a break from work for one month with full pay, what would you do first? Select only one.

In the burnout economy, aspiration has shifted from achievement to relief. A month off isn’t framed as opportunity — it’s framed as recovery.

Happiness Now Comes Down to Money & Security

Happiness isn’t gone — but it’s fragile.

Many people say they feel less happy than they used to, and when that changes, the main reason is almost always financial: income, cost of living, debt, bills. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness — most people agree on that — but almost everyone acknowledges that constant money stress makes happiness nearly impossible.

In response, Americans are quietly rewriting what happiness means. Instead of chasing big milestones, many now define happiness as:

• Being content with what they have
• Feeling secure and stable
• Having enough peace to breathe

For some, even that feels out of reach right now.

Coping: Quick Fixes Instead of Deep Recovery

How are people coping? Mostly with whatever they can access quickly:

• Sleeping or napping when they can
• Exercising or moving their body
• Comfort food, small treats, or retail therapy
• Scrolling, streaming, zoning out
• Turning to faith or spirituality

What are your go-to coping mechanisms when stress or burnout hits? Select all that apply.

These coping strategies skew toward quick access and low effort — a signal that people are trying to stay afloat, not necessarily rebuilding long-term resilience.

Formal supports — like therapy — show up, but far less frequently. People are largely self-managing their burnout, grabbing bits of rest and comfort where they can, without ever fully recharging.

One of the most striking findings: a significant share of people can’t remember the last time they truly felt relaxed. Not distracted. Not numb. Genuinely at ease.

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

This set of statements captures the emotional center of the burnout economy — where stress becomes normalized, and rest becomes something people can’t reliably access or protect.

Why This Study Matters

The burnout economy is not just an economic story. It’s a mental health story, a work story, a family story, and a future story.

This study reveals:

• How financial stress is reshaping life decisions
• How people negotiate between survival and well-being
• The emotional cost of side hustles and unstable work
• The way happiness is being redefined in real time
• The quiet crisis of rest, recovery, and relaxation

For journalists, policymakers, brands, mental health professionals, and workplace leaders, these findings offer a critical window into what people are actually living through — beyond headlines and macroeconomic trends.

The full dataset dives into:

• Generational and gender differences
• Relationship status and family structure impacts
• Detailed financial segments (thriving vs. surviving)
• How happiness, burnout, and money interconnect at a deeper level