There is a particular kind of exhaustion that doesn't come from working long hours or managing too many projects. It comes from carrying responsibilities that somehow always find their way to you.

You become the person who steps in before anyone asks. The one who notices what everyone else has overlooked. The one who takes ownership when things begin to fall apart. You solve the problem, keep the project moving, absorb the pressure and remain calm in the middle of the chaos. People admire you for your reliability and quietly assume that, somehow, you'll make it work.

At first, it feels like a strength. Over time, it becomes an expectation. Without realising it, you become the default person for everything that others don't want, don't notice or don't finish.

Eventually, one question starts repeating itself:

Why does everything seem to end up being my responsibility?

The answer is rarely about…