You’re Not Lazy—You Might Be Burnt Out
There was a time in my life—working in high-pressure humanitarian settings—when exhaustion became my norm. The kind that sleep doesn’t really fix. My brain felt like it was always on alert, but my body was super heavy, and my emotions numb. I watched talented, passionate people around me fall into the same spiral: overgiving, overstretching, and eventually burning out. We were making a difference, yes—but at what cost to ourselves?
That’s the nature of burnout. It creeps in slowly, disguised as dedication, disguised as “just one more deadline” or “a little longer until I take a break.” Until the body and heart scream: ENOUGH! S.O.S
What Is Burnout?
Burnout is more than just feeling tired. It’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental depletion caused by prolonged stress, overworking, or a sense of disconnect from purpose. It’s your system waving a red flag—asking you to pause, to listen, to restore.
Common Signs of Burnout
You don’t have to be in a crisis zone to experience burnout. It can affect anyone, especially those who care deeply—parents, corporate professionals, caregivers, creatives, entrepreneurs.
Here are some common signs to look out for and things I wish I knew sooner:
Constant fatigue, even after resting
Irritability, anxiety, or emotional numbness
Hard time concentrating or feeling scattered
Frequent illness or lowered immunity
Feeling distant from your work, purpose, or relationships
Lack of motivation
Insomnia or disrupted sleep
Digestive issues or tension in the body (especially shoulders, jaw, and gut)
If more than one of these feels familiar, take a breath. It’s okay, you're not broken—your body is simply asking for something different, and is in need of a recharge.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It
When we ignore burnout, we risk more than just performance or productivity—we compromise our health, relationships, and joy. Left unaddressed, burnout can lead to chronic illnesses, mental health challenges, and a long journey back to balance.
But there’s good news: burnout isn’t the end. It’s a powerful wake-up call. A message to realign with what truly nourishes us.
How to Start Healing
Healing burnout is not about doing more. It’s about doing less—with intention. It’s also about incorporating some small habits into your days that your body and mind will thank you for.
As a holistic health coach and energy practitioner, I support women in reconnecting with their inner calm, vitality, and wisdom. Here are a few simple ways to begin:
1. Pause and Breathe
Even 5 minutes of conscious stillness a day can begin to reset your nervous system. Breathwork, meditation, or just resting your eyes and doing nothing—these are all valid forms of rest.
2. Nourish Your Body
When you’re burnt out, your adrenals and gut are often overworked. Choose grounding, whole foods and herbs that restore rather than stimulate. Drink warm herbal teas and eat meals you feel emotionally safe with. I’ll write a separate blog on the most helpful herbs for this!
3. Reconnect with Joy
What lights you up? A walk in nature, dancing in your room, journaling, silence? These aren’t luxuries. They’re simple additions that honestly don’t take much time either, although you are worth that time.
4. Receive Support
You don’t have to do it alone. Healing happens in safe, supportive spaces—whether that’s through energy healing, coaching, therapy, or my favourite - Community! Gathering and connecting with others on a level you don’t usually get to.
5. Tune Into Your Energy
Burnout often disconnects us from our own energy body. Practices like Reiki can help you return home to yourself—gently clearing blocks, restoring flow, and bringing your system back into balance.
A Final Note
If you’re experiencing burnout, know that you're not failing. It is always about small, achievable and more importantly ENJOYABLE actions that you can sustain, and they can sustain you. Because you deserve to feel uplifted, inspired and at your best. Because I’ve been there, I know how heavy it can feel. But I also know how possible it is to return to lightness, softness, and strength and do things a little differently this time around. If you're ready to explore your own healing journey, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
You don’t have to wait until you break to begin again.
