The burnout economy

Today Explained explores the growing crisis of burnout in modern work culture, tracing its roots back to Henry Ford's introduction of the five-day workweek a century ago. While the intention was to boost productivity through rest, today's workers remain exhausted—leading to a booming market for solutions like executive function coaches and sleep tourism. The episode examines how executive coaches help clients overcome procrastination by breaking tasks into micro-steps and neutralizing shame, offering temporary relief but not addressing systemic issues. Meanwhile, the $600 billion sleep tourism industry reveals a cultural shift: people are now willing to pay thousands for luxury sleep vacations that promise deep rest through science-backed environments. Reporter Peter Balanon-Rosen tests one such experience at Equinox Hotels, undergoing IV infusions, sound therapy, and a fully automated sleep lab—but concludes that while the experience is restorative, it's impractical and unaffordable for most. The episode ultimately argues that these solutions are band-aids on a broken system, highlighting a societal reckoning with the myth of constant productivity and the urgent need to revalue rest as essential, not indulgent.