Fatigue at work became one of the biggest search trends entering 2025, as employees looked for explanations behind their persistent exhaustion and rising emotional strain. Glassdoor confirmed the trend when mentions of “fatigue” on the platform increased 41% year-over-year, signaling a deeper pressure workers felt both inside and outside their roles. From political tension to economic uncertainty to the rapid rise of AI, the forces shaping today’s workplace have intensified at a pace few expected. This article unpacks the six major factors that made fatigue the workplace story of the year—and what employees can do to protect their wellbeing.

Political Tension Created New Forms of Workplace Fatigue

Politics showed up in offices in ways employees could no longer ignore, and mentions of “inauguration” on Glassdoor soared 875% year-over-year. Even neutral gestures, like a simple “I Voted” sticker, became conversation flashpoints that drained emotional energy. Workers described feeling caught between wanting to stay informed and wanting to keep the peace with colleagues. The constant pressure to navigate political conversations—whether invited or not—added an unexpected layer of workplace fatigue. Setting boundaries around when and where political discussions occur became essential to maintaining focus and psychological safety at work.

Economic Stress Made Daily Work Feel Heavier

Behind the scenes, financial pressure intensified the emotional weight employees carried. Mentions of “stagflation” tripled, reflecting how rising costs and stagnant salaries chipped away at workers’ sense of stability. Annual raises struggled to match real-world expenses, leaving professionals feeling perpetually behind no matter how hard they worked. This economic disconnect amplified frustration during routine tasks and made every challenge feel more difficult to manage. In response, many workers began researching market rates, renegotiating compensation, or exploring secondary income streams to ease the psychological burden.

AI’s Rapid Rise Accelerated Anxiety and Uncertainty

The pace of AI adoption in 2025 left many workers feeling overwhelmed, and mentions of “agentic” surged more than 2,200%. Employees feared not just learning new tools but falling behind entirely as roles evolved faster than they could retrain. AI no longer felt like a distant trend—it felt like a daily pressure to stay relevant. This anxiety was especially evident among workers who worried their jobs could shift or disappear before they had time to adapt. Building complementary human skills, experimenting with AI for small tasks, and joining peer learning groups became effective ways to regain confidence and reduce fear.

Job Security Fears Held Workers in Place

Even in sectors showing signs of recovery, the emotional residue of layoffs lingered. Many professionals described a constant tension between wanting better roles and fearing the instability of the job market. This stuck-in-between feeling created a cycle of fatigue that drained motivation and made long-term planning difficult. Workers began updating résumés more frequently, reconnecting with mentors, and building emergency savings to strengthen their sense of control. These small but strategic actions helped reduce the dread that often accompanied job security conversations in 2025.

The News Cycle Made Focus and Regulation Harder

For 78% of professionals surveyed, the relentless news cycle directly impacted their energy at work. Breaking headlines, global crises, and high-stakes political updates created an atmosphere where emotional regulation required constant effort. Even individuals who tried to limit consumption often found themselves pulled back into the cycle by notifications or conversations with coworkers. This drip-feed of stress made concentration harder and left workers feeling depleted before the workday even began. Establishing intentional news consumption habits became one of the most effective tools for reclaiming mental bandwidth.

The Pressure to “Seem Fine” Added Invisible Weight

Perhaps the quietest force behind workplace fatigue was the expectation to appear composed no matter what employees were actually experiencing. Many described spending more energy managing perceptions than managing their workload. This performative composure created emotional distance, reduced trust, and increased burnout. By practicing selective vulnerability, setting clearer boundaries with managers, and normalizing realistic timelines, workers began to reclaim some of the energy lost to pretending. Honest communication shifted from a perceived risk to a meaningful strategy for staying afloat.

A Year of Fatigue—but Also a Year of Adaptation

While fatigue defined much of the workplace experience in 2025, it didn’t strip people of their resilience. Glassdoor noted that emoji use shifted from red flags and shock reactions early in the year to more humor and optimism as workers found healthier ways to cope. The pressures are real, but so is the human capacity to recalibrate through boundaries, connection, and honest reflection. Fatigue may have been the word of the year, but the underlying story is one of adaptation—not defeat.