№ 00·the cover

When you’re worn thin,
we notice.

Tippy tap is a two-minute check-in inspired by a cat named Lila. When her person is burning out, she sits beside them and gently taps their hand with her paw. This is that. A gentle nudge to say “we notice you”. Be kind to yourself. Lower the pressure and choose one doable next step.

Begin the check-in or, help someone else →

№ 01·the check-in page i of v

A short, kind journal.

Five small questions. Skip anything that doesn’t fit.

i. on noticing

How does today feel?

— Tap any that fit. None is also a real answer.

—·archive

Earlier notes.

Kept only in this browser. No syncing, no accounts, no one watching.

— Nothing kept yet. That’s fine, too.

№ 03·for someone you love

Helping without adding pressure.

When a person is burnt out, the best thing you can offer is presence without pressure. Borrow these. Make them yours. Send one — or none.

Copying one is a small kindness. So is sending nothing and just thinking of them.

№ 04·sources

Where this comes from.

tippy tap doesn’t diagnose anything. It tries to take a small handful of well-established ideas about burnout and translate them into things you can actually do in the next two minutes.

  1. The WHO’s definition of burnout (ICD-11, 2019)

    Burnout is formally classified as an occupational phenomenon — not a medical diagnosis — with three dimensions: energy depletion, mental distance from work, and reduced efficacy. The energy and pressure sliders, and the mood chips, are quiet, non-clinical reflections of these.

    read the WHO statement

  2. Maslach & Leiter — six “Areas of Worklife”

    Christina Maslach’s research identifies six areas where a mismatch between a person and their job produces burnout: workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values. The “what can today actually hold?” question is a small intervention on the workload and control dimensions.

    on Maslach’s work, via the APA

  3. Dan Siegel — the Window of Tolerance

    A useful model from trauma research: the nervous system has a workable middle zone, with hyperarousal (frantic, wired) above and hypoarousal (numb, foggy) below. The grounding actions in each plan — feet on the floor, something cold to hold, a slow breath out — are drawn from established practices for moving back into the window.

    window of tolerance, via Psychology Tools

  4. Kristin Neff — self-compassion

    Neff’s three elements — self-kindness, common humanity, and mindful awareness — are the backbone of every closing line in the plan. “Rest doesn’t have to be earned.” “What’s draining you isn’t a personal failing.” Those aren’t decorative. They’re built on twenty years of research.

    Neff’s self-compassion site

  5. Mind UK & the Mental Health Foundation

    Practical, evidence-aligned self-care for stress and burnout: scheduled breaks, time off-screen, a sleep routine, gentle movement, talking to someone you trust. Most of the “reduce” steps in the plan are quiet versions of these.

    Mind UK on burnout

These are pointers, not prescriptions. If burnout has been your weather for a while, please consider speaking to a GP, a therapist, or a service trained for exactly this. The note below has a couple of starting points.

—·a note from us

A clear note about what this isn’t.

tippy tap is a quiet check-in tool. It is not a medical service, therapy, or a substitute for professional care. It can’t diagnose burnout, treat depression, or replace someone trained to help.

If you or someone you’re thinking of is in immediate danger or crisis, please reach out to local emergency services or a trusted crisis line — they exist for exactly the moments tippy tap can’t reach.