Burnout: What it Really Looked Like for Me (and why I’m sharing it now)
Burnout can sneak up on you. You think you’re just a bit tired, a bit busy, just need a weekend to rest. But before you know it, you’re running on empty – and even rest doesn’t seem to help.
I wanted to share what burnout looked like for me, in case you need the reminder that you’re not on your own – and that what you’re feeling might have a name.
Here’s what it looked like behind the scenes…
I was tired most of the time. Not just a bit sleepy – I’m talking completely drained. Physically, mentally, emotionally. And yet, I couldn’t sleep properly either. I’d be wide awake at 3 or 4 in the morning, mind racing, heart fluttering. There was this constant buzz in my brain – like I couldn’t switch off, even when I desperately wanted to.
I started shrinking into myself. I wasn’t showing up in the ways I used to – not with my friends, not with my family. I was irritable with the boys, and it broke my heart when my eldest noticed and called me out on it. I didn’t feel like me anymore.
Even little things – the things I usually enjoyed, like planning birthdays or getting excited about something coming up – just felt like too much. I was in full-on survival mode. Barely eating properly, not exercising, pushing myself through the day with a head full of dread. And Sunday nights? Awful. The Sunday scaries turned into weekday overwhelm, starting the second I opened my eyes.
I tried to take action. I took a week off. I cut my hours back. I told myself things would feel better soon. But truthfully? It didn’t make much difference at first.
Because burnout isn’t just about being overworked – it’s about being overloaded in every sense. And when you’re used to being the one that keeps things running smoothly (hello fellow chaos-coordinators), it’s hard to admit that you’re the one who needs support.
I also started noticing little things that I now think were stress-related. My hair wasn’t happy, my skin flared up, and my stomach was in knots more days than not.
Looking back, the signs were all there – I just kept pushing through. Because that’s what we do, isn’t it? We get on with it. We tick the boxes. We hold it together for everyone else.
But if any of this feels familiar, please let this be your gentle nudge to check in with yourself. Burnout isn’t a badge of honour. You’re not weak for feeling this way. You’re human.
There is a way through – but it starts with slowing down enough to notice how you’re really doing.
And if you’re in the thick of it right now, here are a few simple things that helped me start to feel like myself again:
A few gentle tips that helped me ease out of burnout:
Set real boundaries – not just on paper, but in practice. Close the laptop. Put your phone in another room. The world won’t end if you don’t reply instantly.
Get outside every day – even if it’s just five minutes. Fresh air is magic.
Eat something that makes you feel good – and do it sitting down, not at your desk.
Talk to someone – not just about work, but how you’re actually feeling. A friend, a coach, a voice note to yourself – whatever helps.
Lower the bar – some days, “good enough” really is enough.
Notice the dread – not to judge it, but to ask where it’s coming from and what you might need.
Start saying no – even if it’s just once this week. Practice makes progress.
If this blog spoke to you and you’d like more calm, honest chats about what it’s really like behind the scenes of running a small business (with tips to help make it all feel lighter), I’d love to have you on my newsletter list.
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