“Stop Faking It at Work, Start Feeling Human Again”

Stop Faking It at Work, Start Feeling Human Again isn’t just a catchy phrase; it captures something so many professionals are quietly experiencing. More and more people are waking up to the realization that the exhausting performance of pretending to be someone they are not draining not just their energy, but also their creativity and well-being. We live in a time where toxic positivity has been widely challenged. Studies from Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence have shown that suppressing emotions or forcing false ones creates higher stress levels and can even hurt decision-making. Pretending to be overly enthusiastic in meetings or faking an upbeat personality when you are struggling inside is not just a harmless façade; it can have real consequences on your mental and physical health.

The question we need to ask is: why do we keep doing it, and what would happen if we let go?

The Illusion of Professional Enthusiasm

For decades, workplace culture has quietly rewarded people who appear endlessly cheerful, bubbly, and “team-spirited,” regardless of whether those traits were authentic. Corporate America still carries traces of this unspoken rule: smile in meetings, nod with energy, make every idea sound like the best one you’ve ever heard.

But research suggests that constantly forcing yourself to display emotions you don’t feel, what psychologists call emotional labor, creates a dangerous gap between your inner state and your outward presentation. A landmark study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology linked surface acting (faking positive emotions) to burnout, insomnia, and even cardiovascular strain.

Think about that. Every fake laugh at a joke that didn’t land, every time you dialed up enthusiasm for a project you didn’t believe in, your body was keeping score.

Letting Go of Fake Energy

Letting go of the exhausting performance doesn’t mean abandoning professionalism; it means embracing authenticity. If you walk into a meeting feeling neutral instead of wildly excited, showing up as your real self creates more trust than plastering on an exaggerated grin. Of course, authenticity at work doesn’t mean unloading every raw feeling onto colleagues or treating the office like a therapy room. Professional boundaries still matter, and part of being effective is knowing what to share and what to keep private. The goal isn’t to abandon professionalism; it’s to stop wasting energy on fake cheer that drains you and doesn’t help anyone. Authenticity here means showing up in a way that feels real and sustainable, without forcing a mask that eventually cracks.

When Zoom meetings became our new normal, many people reported “Zoom fatigue,” a phenomenon now studied by Stanford researchers. It wasn’t just the screen time; it was the endless effort of trying to look engaged, upbeat, and available through a camera lens for hours on end. Pretending to be “on” without pause is simply unsustainable.

Why Faking Upbeat Energy Backfires

The pressure to appear “crazy upbeat” at work has roots in hustle culture, where energy is equated with competence. Yet recent surveys by Deloitte on workplace well-being show that younger professionals, especially Gen Z, are pushing back against this outdated standard. They value authenticity and balance over relentless optimism.

Ironically, faking energy makes us less effective. A Harvard Business Review study found that leaders who showed vulnerability and honesty built stronger teams than those who kept up a façade of constant positivity. Colleagues don’t connect with a forced cheerleader; they connect with someone real. Forcing yourself to be “on” all the time actually sends a subtle message of distrust, it suggests you don’t believe your workplace can handle your humanity. Over time, that erodes culture rather than strengthening it.

Embracing Authenticity Amid Concerns

While it’s essential to embrace authenticity, it’s also important to recognize the concerns some may have. Critics might argue that professionalism demands a certain level of emotional control, and that showing vulnerability could burden colleagues, especially in high-stakes environments. However, true professionalism can coexist with authenticity. By allowing ourselves to express genuine emotions, we foster a supportive environment where team members feel safe to share their thoughts, which ultimately enhances collaboration.

Moreover, while cultural expectations around emotional expression vary, the fundamental human need for connection transcends these boundaries. Companies can cultivate spaces that respect cultural nuances while encouraging authenticity. Some may fear judgment for being open about their feelings but fostering a workplace culture that values honesty and vulnerability can alleviate these concerns over time. It’s about creating an environment where emotional expression is welcomed, not shunned. Lastly, while there may be worries that embracing emotional authenticity could lead to distractions or inefficiencies, allowing individuals to express their feelings can result in a more cohesive team, ultimately enhancing productivity.

Reclaiming Energy Through Authenticity

One of the most profound benefits of giving up the performance is energy reclamation. By no longer pouring mental resources into pretending, you have more left for creative thinking, genuine problem-solving, and even joy that arises naturally. A simple practice like journaling before work can help you identify the difference between how you feel and how you present yourself. Writing even a few lines about your actual emotional state helps you enter the day more grounded. Reclaiming authenticity isn’t about oversharing or unloading personal struggles on colleagues. It’s about dropping the mask of constant enthusiasm and letting your natural range of human expression show up.

Lessons from Real People Who Stopped Faking It

Take Maria, a mid-level manager in San Francisco who shared her story in a recent panel on burnout. For years, she forced herself to sound hyper-engaged in every meeting, often speaking louder and faster to seem enthusiastic. Eventually, her body rebelled, and she developed anxiety symptoms that led her to medical leave. When she returned, she made a choice: she would no longer fake her energy. She spoke up calmly, contributed thoughtfully, and stopped apologizing for her natural pace. Her boss later admitted he respected her more for her authenticity.

Or consider Ahmed, a software engineer in Toronto. He had always been the “office hype man,” joking and smiling through every meeting. When remote work blurred boundaries, he realized he was exhausted from maintaining this persona. He decided to show up with less performance and more honesty. Surprisingly, his team responded with relief, they had also been tired of faking it, and his example gave them permission to ease up.

These stories underline a simple truth: authenticity doesn’t weaken your professional image; it strengthens it.

The Bigger Trend Toward Human Workplaces

We’re seeing a cultural shift. Companies are starting to understand that people cannot thrive when forced to maintain masks. Initiatives around psychological safety, employee wellness, and even the four-day workweek are part of this larger move away from performance culture. The conversation is timely because burnout rates remain high. Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace Report shows that only 23 percent of employees feel engaged at work. That number doesn’t reflect laziness; it reflects exhaustion with environments where showing up authentically is still not safe. The innovation of the future workplace isn’t another software tool or productivity hack; it’s building spaces where people can drop the act and still be valued.

Bringing Humanity Back into Meetings

Meetings are the perfect place to practice authenticity. Instead of forcing yourself to cheerlead ideas, try asking thoughtful questions. Instead of pretending to be “pumped” when you’re not, try naming what you are feeling in professional terms: curious, concerned, or even uncertain. Leaders can model this shift by replacing “Let’s ALL get excited about this” with “I know not everyone may feel energized by this project, but your perspective matters.” Creating room for emotional range makes meetings not just more real but more productive.

Conclusion: The Freedom of Dropping the Act

Stop faking it at work, start feeling human again. Dropping the performance is not about lowering standards, it’s about building workplaces that honor reality over illusion. It is about freeing up the energy we waste pretending, so we can invest it in creativity, collaboration, and genuine connection. The real power is not in faking crazy enthusiasm but in showing up as our professional selves. If you’ve been silently exhausted from pretending, maybe it’s time to ask: what would my workday look like if I showed up as me?

I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever felt the weight of pretending at work? How did it affect your energy, relationships, or sense of self? Share your story in the comments, I think a lot of us are ready to start having this conversation honestly.