5 things no one told you about burnout, and you wish you knew sooner
1. Most importantly, the slower you go, the faster the recovery. Healing, especially from burnout, cannot be rushed or forced. Healing is not linear, and it will require a lot of patience on your side.
Unfortunately, recovery from burnout won’t happen over a weekend. Burnout recovery depends on its intensity, or in other words, how badly you’ve been burnt. Remember, there is no quick fix for burnout- what’s needed is a significant lifestyle change to fully recover. Contrary to what social media suggests, there’s no perfect “routine” for burnout recovery!
Remember burnout is not just mental and emotional, in most cases it manifests into physical symptoms. You know why? Because the brain and the body are one, they are connected through the nervous system.
2. When people speak of burnout, they speak of fatigue and exhaustion. However, it’s important to understand that your mind and body, including cells and organs, are depleted. Priorities should be rest (without your phone), self-care, and nourishing your body with quality food. Let me give you an example. Have you ever had your phone’s battery die, and even after plugging it in, the screen stays black? That’s how your body feels during burnout. It takes consistent, long-term self-care and rest, beyond just a nap or good night’s sleep, to truly recharge.
Remember, burnout is not just mental and emotional- it often manifests as physical symptoms. Why? Because the brain and the body are interconnected through the nervous system. So the emotional or mental load that hasn’t been expressed often releases through physical symptoms. Common symptoms include headaches, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, and a weakened immune system, which can lead to frequent illness.
3. When we experience burnout, we often think something is wrong with us and that others are stronger. But there is nothing wrong with you- it doesn’t mean you’re weak, lazy, incapable or lacking resilience. Burnout is NOT your fault, it’s a result of the system we live in.
As human beings, we need love, care, support, and a community in order to survive. When these needs aren’t met, and we’re constantly under pressure or stress-especially in toxic environments-without giving our bodies time to recharge, we eventually reach a point where the body says NO. It’s enough now! Remember, our bodies are intelligent and communicate with us through signals, but we often ignore them.
Next time you are in doubt, take a moment to pause and listen to your body; it always knows what it needs.
Burnout is an opportunity to reinvent yourself and pivot your life in a different direction.
4. Dealing and going through burnout recovery is probably one of the toughest challenges a person can experience. Even though it might not make sense at the moment, try to see burnout as an opportunity-a chance to conduct an internal audit of your life, and make meaningful changes. reflect on what truly work for you, what energises you, and what drains you. Just because something doesn’t work out doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it’s life guiding you toward a different path. Embrace this moment as an opportunity to reinvent yourself and pivot your life in a new direction. I know this is much easier said than done.
5. Surrounding yourself with the right support structure is crucial for recovery. Look, there will be MANY people who won’t understand what you are feeling or going through; some might judge, or react based on their own traumas. It can take some trial and error but unconditional support is essential. Limit your contact with those who drain your energy or don’t feel helpful. Seek out a support network in holistic practices-such as therapy, somatic work, osteopathy, mindfulness, energy healing, yoga, massage therapists, and other modalities. The right people are out there, and ready to help you; you just need to find them.
If this is something that resonates with you, let me know and let’s see how I can best support you. I am just one message away :)