Burnout Is Not Your Fault – But Healing Is Your Responsibility
Learn How to Recognise, Reverse, and Rise from Burnout Before It Drains Your Spark!
Let’s start with the truth. The truth is that you were never meant to do it all, hold it all, fix it all, or carry the world on your back. But somehow, along the way, you became the one who always shows up, even when your tank is empty. You became the woman who says, 'I’m fine', while your soul whispers, 'I’m tired'...
And when exhaustion turns into numbness, when the to-do list feels like a mountain, and rest feels impossible (or even guilty), you feel bad. But hear me out - you need the rest. You need to reset. That’s not laziness. You need it because you're experiencing burnout!
Burnout isn’t weakness. It’s a bodily warning. A red flag from your nervous system, waving wildly, begging for change. And if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally flat, chronically tired, or strangely detached from your passions and purpose - you’re not alone.
Let’s Define It: What Is Burnout, Really?
Burnout is more than just stress.
The World Health Organization defines burnout as a 'syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed'. But let’s broaden the scope here - because burnout isn’t just for corporate professionals - it’s happening to mums, caregivers, creatives, entrepreneurs, coaches, and everyday women quietly holding up the world.
At its core, burnout is a disconnect:
From your energy.
From your joy.
From your “why.”
From you.
Burnout shows up differently in everyone, but here are some common signs:
Constant fatigue that rest doesn’t fix
Feeling emotionally drained, cynical, or numb
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Loss of motivation or interest in things you used to love
Feeling like everything is “too much”
Irritability, detachment, or a low-level sadness you can’t shake
Physical symptoms like headaches, gut issues, or tension
If you’re nodding along whilst reading this then take a deep breath. There is nothing wrong with you. You are not broken. But your system - your mind, body, and soul - is trying to get your attention.
What Causes Burnout? (Hint: It’s Not Just Your Schedule)
Burnout isn’t just about being busy, it’s about being chronically misaligned.
Here are a few deeper, soul-level causes of burnout that your planner can’t solve:
1. Living by Other People's 'Shoulds' Instead of Your Own Values
When you live according to what’s expected of you rather than what’s true for you, you leak energy. Constantly performing, people-pleasing, or chasing approval is exhausting. And it builds resentment - especially towards yourself.
2. Chronic Over-giving and Under-receiving
Many women hold the belief that rest must be earned, and that being productive is how we prove our worth. This 'give until you disappear' mindset is a one-way ticket to burnout.
3. Unprocessed Emotions
Stuffed-down feelings don’t go away - they go inward. Emotional avoidance, especially around grief, anger, or shame, can quietly fry your nervous system over time.
4. Living Out of Alignment with Your Purpose
Doing things that don’t light you up (whether it’s a job, relationship, or routine) creates deep emotional friction. You’re not lazy. Your soul is underwhelmed.
The Burnout Loop (and How to Break It)
Let’s name the pattern:
Push → Perform → Deplete → Numb → Crash → Shame → Repeat
Sound familiar?
The key to healing burnout isn’t in pushing through - it’s in coming back to yourself. Reclaiming your energy. Learning to live in a way that’s sustainable, soulful, and self-honouring.
8 Heart-Led Ways to Begin Healing Burnout
Here are eight powerful (and gentle) ways to begin reversing burnout and reclaiming your vitality:
1. Honour What You’re Feeling (Without Judgment)
Burnout isn’t a flaw. Instead of powering through, pause and listen.
🧡 Ask yourself: What have I been ignoring in myself that now needs my love and attention?
“Feelings are much like waves. We can't stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf.” - Jonatan Mårtensson
2. Redefine Rest as a Birth Right, Not a Reward
Rest is not selfish. Rest is how you restore your life force. Schedule rest like a non-negotiable meeting with your soul. When the kids or spouse are ill, what do we tell them to do? We tell them to go to bed and rest, because that is when your body heals.
🧡 Try this: Create a 'nervous system menu' of micro-rest moments: breathwork, lying on the floor, 10 minutes of music, time in nature, no-phone time etc. Pick the tiny habits that work for you, that make you feel good, and make sure you carry them out every day. Some will take a minute, some a little longer, but you need them set into your routine.
3. Set Boundaries That Actually Protect You
If it’s costing your peace, clarity, or health - it’s too expensive. Boundaries aren’t walls; they’re bridges to a better relationship with yourself and others.
🧡 Journal prompt: Where am I abandoning myself to keep the peace or be “nice”?
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” - Brené Brown
4. Give Yourself Permission to Do Less
Simplify. Say no. Prioritise joy and energy over productivity. You don’t need to prove your worth through exhaustion.
🧡 Affirmation: “I am worthy, even when I rest. Especially when I rest.”
5. Reconnect to Your Why
Burnout can feel like spiritual amnesia -you forget what used to light you up. Go gently. Return to curiosity. What makes you feel alive?
🧡 Try this: List 10 things that used to bring you joy or purpose (no matter how small). Reintroduce one per week.
6. Get Real Support (Not Just Surface-Level Advice)
Burnout thrives in silence. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Therapy, coaching, or simply being witnessed in your truth can be life-giving.
🧡 What you need isn’t more hustle - it’s more healing.
7. Nourish Your Body as an Act of Self-Trust
Eat whole foods. Hydrate. Sleep. Move slowly and intentionally. Not to 'fix' yourself, but to honour your body’s sacred wisdom.
“The body always leads us home... if we are willing to listen.” - Dr. Hillary McBride
8. Stop Waiting for Rock Bottom to Choose Yourself
You don’t need to hit a wall to make a change. You can choose differently today, with small, radical acts of self-kindness.
🧡 Future-Self Visioning: Visualise the version of you who is rested, radiant, and grounded. What does she do differently? What does she believe about her time and energy?
The Burnout Recovery Timeline (Be Gentle With This)
Healing from burnout isn’t a weekend retreat, it’s a rebirth.
You’ll go through phases: awareness, grief, resistance, recalibration, and finally, renewal. Some days you’ll feel hopeful; others you’ll feel numb again. That’s okay. It’s not linear. It’s sacred.
The goal isn’t to bounce back. The goal is to rise forward with your new found wisdom, boundaries, softness, and strength.
Let’s Talk Numbers: Burnout by the Stats
Here’s why this conversation matters more than ever:
91% of women report feeling chronically stressed, according to Forbes
60% of working women experience burnout symptoms regularly
Burnout costs the global economy an estimated $300 billion annually (American Psychological Association)
Emotional exhaustion is the #1 predictor of burnout, not workload alone
And perhaps most shockingly:
Women are 32% more likely to experience burnout than men, due to emotional labour, societal expectations, and under-supported caregiving roles.
This isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a cultural one!
Closing Thoughts: You Are Allowed to Change the Pace
Burnout isn’t a badge of honour. It’s not your fault. But now, beautifully and bravely, it is your responsibility to listen to the signals and choose a different way.
A way rooted in self-honour.
A life built on alignment, not adrenaline.
And a future shaped by your truth, not your to-do list.
Because here’s what I know:
You weren’t born to burn out.
You were born to burn bright.
🌿 Gentle Next Step: Try This Daily Burnout Recovery Ritual
A 5-minute practice to reset your nervous system:
Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly.
Close your eyes. Take 3 deep belly breaths.
Whisper this to yourself:
“I am safe to rest. I am worthy of peace. I do not have to earn my value.”Repeat each morning before you pick up your phone.
❤️ You’re Not Alone. And You’re So Needed.
If this post resonated, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Or even better - share it with yourself, again and again.
And if you’re craving guided support, deep healing, and permission to finally choose yourself, my self paced online courses and coaching spaces are built just for that. You don’t have to walk through burnout alone.
