I’m a decade in... too senior to be junior, not remotely close to partner, and I'm suddenly questioning everything. I’m good at what I do, but the excitement is gone, and every day feels like déjà vu. It’s unsettling because I don’t know if this is the infamous mid-career plateau or just burnout wearing a different mask. I’m not unhappy, but I’m not energized either. How do you tell the difference between a plateau and real burnout?

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If you are happy with “just a job,” that’s fine. I think a lot of people got sold on “chasing your passion,” and when they lose the “passion” they think it’s a bad thing. But for generations, people were happy to just have a job that they were proficient at and that paid the bills. It’s okay if that’s what law practice is for you. But if you’re instead feeling a sense of dread about going into the office, that’s more like burnout.

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A plateau often feels like stagnation, while burnout feels like depletion. Tracking energy, not output, can help you see which one you’re facing.

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