Burnout in Singapore: Why High Performers Are Quietly Quitting and How Career Guidance Can Help
Why High-Income Earners Are Quiet Quitting Their 6-Figure Jobs In Singapore
Burnout is rising fast in Singapore — and it’s not always loud and dramatic. Sometimes, it shows up as quiet quitting: the slow, silent disengagement from a job that looks perfect on paper but feels empty inside.
Think: a polished LinkedIn profile, a six-figure salary, a prestigious job title. But behind the scenes? Chronic exhaustion, low motivation, and the feeling of being emotionally checked out.
It’s the kind of exhaustion that creeps in silently and stays. And in a place like Singapore, where the hustle is normalised and status is often equated with success, it’s far more common than we admit.
As a career coach in Singapore, I’ve seen this firsthand — both as someone who quietly burned out in a high-status job, and now, helping others navigate mid-career burnout and find their way back to fulfillment.
The Hidden Burnout Epidemic in Singapore’s High-Performance Culture
Not long ago, The Business Times published an article showing that Singapore is one of the most burnt-out countries globally. That didn’t surprise me.
We’re a high-performance culture. There’s immense pressure to achieve; to be efficient, excellent, “on it” all the time. And for a while, that adrenaline can feel like motivation. But behind the polished LinkedIn profiles and glowing performance reviews is a silent epidemic: quiet burnout.
I remember when I was working at BlackRock — on paper, everything was perfect. I had the job people dreamed of. I was doing well, earning well, and collecting all the external markers of success. But inside, I was drained, running on fumes.
It was hard to admit that. Harder still to say it out loud. Because the question I kept asking myself was: Is the money really worth it, if I barely have time to breathe? If I don’t feel like myself anymore?
4 Burnout Symptoms Professionals in Singapore Shouldn’t Ignore
How to Know If You’re Burned Out at Work
Wondering how to know if you're burned out at work? These signs are more common than you think:
You feel exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep
You dread Monday — starting Sunday night
You fantasize about quitting, but have no plan
You’ve lost interest in things you used to enjoy
If this feels familiar, it’s not just stress. It could be burnout — and it might be time to explore career guidance in Singapore with a trusted career coach in Singapore. Book a free clarity call with Ctrl Alt Career today.
Is Burnout a Sign You’re in the Wrong Career? Here’s What to Do
Career Coaching for Professionals in Singapore
A common misconception is that burnout happens because we’re working too hard. But I’ve found through my own experience and the stories of my clients who came to me for career coaching, that it’s more often about misalignment.
I had a great work/life balance at BlackRock yet burned out. Why?
Because it’s not about the hours you work but how fulfilling the work is itself.
You can work incredibly hard on something you love and still feel energised.
I always use this example: I can spend 10 hours coaching and listening to people’s problems and feel amazing. But give me one hour doing excel, and I’m drained.
And this might be the opposite case for someone who loves excel work and hates dealing with people.
I remember telling HUPO during an interview:
“I had the kind of job people dream of — great company, great title, great salary. But I just couldn’t shake this feeling of being drained. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to work hard… I just wasn’t working on the right things for me anymore.”
It’s not a matter of working less. It’s a matter of working right.
The Prestige Trap: When High-Income, Prestigious Roles Become Career Prisons
In Singapore, success is often defined by salary, title, and industry.
But many clients tell me:
“I should be happy. I have everything I thought I wanted.”
The truth is, once your career becomes your identity, it’s incredibly hard to admit when it’s no longer working.
That’s where quiet quitting vs burnout shows up — you’re doing “all the right things,” but feel disconnected from yourself. And because you’re successful on paper, you feel guilty even questioning it.
But here’s the truth: You’re not broken — your career might just be misaligned.
Mid-Career Change in Singapore: When It’s Time to Realign
I’ve come to believe that burnout isn’t often a turning point but rather an invitation to realign.
And no, this doesn’t mean dropping everything tomorrow and making a dramatic leap. It starts small; with reflection, clarity, and the courage to listen to what you’ve been ignoring.
That means stepping back to ask:
What kind of work energises me, rather than drains me?
What values or strengths have I been sidelining in the name of success?
What does a fulfilling career look like right now?
What a Career Change Could Look Like
For some, that might mean making a career change within the same industry like finding a role with better leadership, more autonomy, or a different mission. For others, it might mean exploring mid-career switch Singapore options — even ones that feel risky at first.
That’s what realignment is: a strategy rooted in self-honesty, not self-sacrifice.
The Courage to Pivot: For Your Health, For Your Family, For Yourself
We’ve been conditioned to push through, to “make it work,” and to keep going no matter what. But at what cost? Your health? Your family? Your happiness?
Is it worth it?
Sometimes the hardest part isn't the burnout itself but it's admitting that something needs to change.
Quiet Quitting vs Burnout: Knowing the Difference
So many high achievers in Singapore push through exhaustion, telling themselves, “I should be grateful,” or “Maybe I just need a break.” But deep down, there’s a quiet knowing: that what’s being sacrificed isn’t just energy or time, but health, relationships, and a deeper sense of self.
The truth is, burnout isn’t just something you “fix” with a vacation or a long weekend away. It’s a sign that your life, your career, your alignment with what you truly want, is out of sync. And the sooner you face that, the sooner you can take back control.
With the right career guidance, many professionals in Singapore have found ways to pivot without sacrificing financial security or professional reputation.
It’s okay to pause. To ask hard questions. To consider whether what once felt like a dream job is still right for this version of you.
Career Guidance in Singapore: Your First Step to Escape Burnout and Realign Your Career
If you’re feeling burnt out, know this: you don’t have to go through it alone.
At Ctrl Alt Career, our team of career coaches help high-achieving professionals in Singapore navigate burnout, find clarity, and design careers that energize rather than drain.
What Ctrl Alt Career Can Help You With
We don’t push cookie-cutter solutions. We help you:
Identify what’s misaligned
Get clear on your ideal work environment
Make a career change plan that fits your lifestyle and goals
Build a career that supports your health, family, and happiness
Whether you’re exploring a mid-career change in Singapore or just need someone to help you figure out your next step — we’re here.
Let’s Talk: Take the First Step Toward Career Alignment
Burnout isn’t something you fix with a vacation. It’s a sign that something deeper needs to shift.
If you’re done pushing through and are ready to explore what aligned success looks like for you, book a free clarity call with our team today.
You deserve a career that works with you, not against you :)
Ctrl Alt Career — Your trusted partner for career guidance in Singapore.