The Quiet Weight of Caring – What Wellbeing Professionals are Carrying Behind the Scenes
- Brainz Magazine
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Gemma Hunter brings clarity, calm and strategic insight to business owners, individuals and entrepreuners navigating growth and change. As the Founder of Hunter & Co, she's passionate about intergrating mental wellbeing into business success, recognising that a healthy mind fuels a thriving enterprise.
A reflective article exploring the emotional labour carried by wellbeing professionals. It highlights the quiet burnout behind supporting others and invites a more compassionate, sustainable approach to business and care.
I have been exploring the often-misunderstood concept of mental health within the business world, drawing insights directly from wellbeing professionals. Through in-depth research and conversations, one thing became clear, even those dedicated to promoting wellbeing are navigating their own inner landscapes. The feedback was honest, layered, and deeply human, revealing just how vital it is that we continue to dismantle the quiet taboo surrounding mental health in professional spaces.
When I asked these professionals, “What’s the one part of your physical or mental wellbeing you’re still figuring out?” their responses revealed something powerful. Not just what they’re working on, but how they relate to themselves.
A community that knows what it needs, yet struggles to allow it
The responses showed a shared struggle to find equilibrium and self-compassion in everyday life, even among professionals who teach it.
One person shared, “I’m learning to be more comfortable and confident in myself.” – Emma Carline
Another wrote, “With ADHD, I’m now learning how to work with myself, not against myself.” – Lisa, IPHM
These are individuals who are deeply self-aware, yet often running on empty.
It’s not that they don’t know they need rest, boundaries, or softer expectations of themselves, it’s that granting themselves permission to slow down feels loaded with guilt.
This is where the real tension lies, the battle between achievement and recovery, that unspoken pressure to be “the one who has it together.”
The emotional weight behind wellbeing work
Many described how the line between caring for others and caring for themselves has blurred. Some shared the emotional fatigue of supporting loved ones with mental health challenges.
Others spoke about parenting under strain, navigating chronic conditions, or healing from past trauma that still shapes daily life.
One respondent reflected, “How to stay calm in the chaos of SEND parenting.” – S. Olmi
Another said, “People assume I’m the strong one. But some days, I just want someone to hold me together for a while.” – (Anon)
For some, wellbeing isn’t a lifestyle choice, it’s survival. It’s the slow process of reclaiming themselves after years of depletion.
This isn’t just about habits, it’s about emotional boundaries, identity, and the deeply personal work of belonging to oneself again.
We still ask leaders to be unbreakable
When asked what they wish leaders admitted more often, the answers were unanimous:
“That they are not perfect.” – Emma Carline
“That they have doubts and vulnerabilities too.” – Find Your Happy Well-being
We still live in a world where strength is often defined as composure, output, and self-sufficiency. But those definitions are outdated. True leadership is the courage to stay human in front of others.
A shift toward gentler, more sustainable support
Taken together, these insights show a community stretched thin:
People know what they need, but guilt holds them back.
Many are learning to work with who they are rather than trying to constantly fix themselves.
Emotional boundaries are blurred by care, work, grief, and expectation.
And for some, wellbeing is about healing wounds others cannot see.
This is where a quieter, slower, more humane way of working is emerging, one that challenges the old blueprint of burnout disguised as success. It’s a shift from survival to sustainability, from performing to prove our worth to creating with intention.
Businesses and individuals alike are beginning to ask, "What if enough really is enough?"
This “enoughness” mindset doesn’t mean lowering ambition. It means redefining it, measuring success not by constant acceleration but by alignment, balance, and longevity. It values care as a strategy, not a soft skill. It recognises that sustainable work isn’t just about doing less, but doing things differently, with space for rest, reflection, and real connection.
What’s emerging is a culture that no longer glorifies exhaustion as dedication but sees wellbeing as a foundation for creativity, productivity, and genuine impact. It’s a quieter revolution, and one that begins with awareness, compassion, and the courage to work at a human pace.
What these conversations revealed is that wellbeing isn’t a destination we arrive at, it’s something we learn to return to, over and over, in different areas of our lives. Even the people who hold others need somewhere to lay their own weight down. Even the strongest among us deserve rest, softness, and room to be human.
Remember this:
There is nothing weak about needing support.
There is nothing indulgent about slowing down.
There is nothing unprofessional about being honest about your limits.
If anything, these are signs of a life that is deeply lived and deeply felt.
We don’t need to strive for perfection, we need to create spaces where we are safe to simply be, in all our complexity, tenderness, and unfolding.
May we move toward a culture of care that starts with ourselves. May we choose gentleness over urgency. And may we remember that we were never meant to carry all of this alone.
This article was shaped by the voices of those who shared their lived experiences with me. Thank you for your honesty, your depth, and your courage. Your contributions remind us that we are never alone in the work of being human.
Read more from Gemma Hunter
Gemma Hunter, Founder of Hunter & Co. Administrative Support
Gemma Hunter is passionate about helping business owners protect their mental wellbeing and reclaim balance in their lives. Drawing from her own journey through burnout and fatigue, she understands the pressures entrepreneurs face. That's why she's committed to lightening the load by steamlining operations and embedding smarter systems that free up time, reduce stress, and restore clarity. With Gemma's support, business owners can feel more grounded, confident and equipped to thrive both professionally and personally.
