Editor’s Note: This candid essay was written by Olawunmi Adewole, MD who is a general surgery resident in Nigeria. Her wise words are applicable across the surgical specialties and are especially true for training in orthopaedic surgery. It is published with her permission.
Training should stretch you.
It should not hollow you out.
Burnout is subtle.
It rarely begins with collapse during ward rounds.
It begins quietly.
Snapping at people you love.
Feeling indifferent to good news or bad news.
Waking up tired and already dreading the day.
You’re still functioning.
Still showing up.
But something feels off.
In medicine, and many demanding professions, we often confuse endurance with strength.
We say: “I can handle it.”
“It’s part of the process.”
“It will pass.”
But fatigue affects judgement.
Exhaustion narrows thinking.
Chronic stress erodes empathy.
And that matters a lot.
Burnout isn’t just being tired.
It’s what prolonged depletion does to your decision-making, your relationships, and your sense of self.
If we don’t name it, we normalize it.
Discipline and sustainability are not opposites.
You can be reliable, effective, and still protect your capacity.
The goal is sustainable excellence, not heroic collapse.
