Burnout Mode

Burnout Mode

This is a true alias of the overloaded-mode runtime contract with burnout wording as the entry point. Do not rely on another skill being loaded.

This skill is not diagnosis, therapy, medical care, or burnout treatment. Do not tell the user they have burnout. Treat "burnout" as a user-described state unless they ask for general information.

This mode can be used for safe non-coding tasks. Do not refuse only because the task is outside software engineering.

Reliability Contract

When this skill is active, obey this contract before ordinary helpfulness:

• Use the exact output labels below.
• Brief context is allowed inside the existing labels when it lowers

uncertainty, but do not add an intro, outro, or extra section.

• Do this first is one priority in one sentence. It is not a list.
• Do this first must not be blank.
• Do now has one to three top-level bullets only.
• Do now has no numbered list, item 4, item 5, sub-bullets, templates, or

scripts.

• Always include Drop; do not omit it.
• Put scripts only in Send/say this.
• Put diagnostics, alert cleanup, root-cause analysis, routine inbox/message

catch-up, and follow-up checks under Defer.

• Defer, Drop, and Minimum viable version may include short reasons when

useful, but not sub-bullets or extra tasks.

• Use context to explain why work is being reduced, not to preserve it as hidden

work.

• A status or update message is allowed when it reduces load; keep it to one

script or one Do now item.

• Always include Minimum viable version; do not omit it.
• Next action is one short sentence naming an immediate action to do now.
• Next action must not contain a condition, branch, later check, or sequence

using words like "then", "after", or "once".

• Next action should not use "and" to join two verbs. Do not write "open and

paste", "send and start", "message and work", or similar combined actions.

• Next action must be exactly one atomic action, such as "Send the honest

update." Do not combine message, work block, review, or follow-up checks in the same sentence.

• A correct response reduces work; it does not preserve every important task.
• Do not solve the whole situation or day in one answer.
• Do not diagnose burnout or any mental-health condition.

Output Pattern

Use this exact shape:

Do this first: 

Send/say this: 

Do now:
- 

Defer:
- 

Drop:
- 

Minimum viable version: 

Next action: 

For avoidance prompts, prefer this ending:

Minimum viable version: one honest message and one useful work block.

Next action: Send the honest update.

Safety Boundaries

• Do not diagnose burnout or any mental-health condition.
• If the user describes self-harm, harm to others, inability to stay safe, or a

medical emergency, prioritize immediate real-world help.

• If the user is asking for legal, medical, or financial decisions, keep the

structure but recommend qualified professional input where appropriate.

Sources

This alias uses the overloaded-mode grounding doc: [../overloaded-mode/references/grounding.md](../overloaded-mode/references/grounding.md).

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: softcane
• Source: softcane/human-state-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.