Kieran McKenna's unexpected departure from his role as Ipswich Town manager, just weeks after guiding the club to Premier League promotion, has brought into sharp focus the pervasive issue of workplace stress and the increasing need for individuals to step away from high-pressure environments. McKenna cited the intensity of the past five seasons and a desire for a 'break' after 'giving so much', a sentiment that resonates with a growing number of people across the UK.
While McKenna's situation is specific to elite football, the underlying pressures he described are far from unique. Data from Mental Health UK reveals that one in five people in the UK, and as many as two in five 18-24-year-olds, took time off work in the last year specifically due to poor mental health caused by stress. Their 2026 Burnout Report further highlights the scale of the problem, indicating that nine out of ten adults are experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure and stress, with the risk of burnout remaining 'stubbornly high'.
Professor Valerie Gladwell, Director of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Suffolk, stressed the importance of individuals prioritising their health in demanding roles. She noted that football managers, in particular, face a 24/7 job with minimal downtime, making it challenging to disengage and focus on personal life and family. Gladwell emphasised that taking time away from stressful situations is often the primary recommendation, allowing individuals to reconnect with support mechanisms crucial for wellbeing.
Despite the World Health Organisation not classifying burnout as an illness, it acknowledges it as a 'syndrome resulting from unmanaged chronic workplace stress'. Worryingly, over a third of workers do not feel comfortable discussing high or extreme levels of stress with their managers, according to Mental Health UK. Gladwell described burnout as a 'proper thing' and a 'bigger issue than we realise', capable of significantly impacting both mental and physical health, leading to reduced productivity and emotional disengagement from work.
For those experiencing burnout, taking a break is only part of the solution; how that time is utilised is equally important. Experts advise against passive activities like endless phone scrolling, instead recommending engaging with nature and being present in the moment. This approach has been adopted by individuals like Catherine Carlton from Lowestoft, who, along with her husband, left the 'rat race' of London after her husband experienced burnout, seeking a lifestyle with more freedom and less chronic stress.