• Do you feel like you’re doing too much? Is your tank running on empty?

• Are you constantly exhausted and still feel unrested after you sleep?

• Are you growing increasingly irritable, unmotivated, or apathetic?

• Are you missing a sense of joy or fulfillment in your life?

The Problem

You can’t do all the things. In today’s world, there are so many opportunities to pursue — from career aspirations to creative ventures to peer/romantic/family relationships to travel to hobbies. There are also societal pressures in the Western world telling us we have to do more — buy this product, enroll in these fitness programs, perform this job for [x] number of years.

These things are not bad in and of themselves, but problems arise when we pursue these things at the cost of our physical & emotional wellbeing.

Burnout arises when we hyperextend ourselves past our human limits and need for rest & recovery. It can also arise from feeling an incongruence between our present circumstances and our personal values or hopes for life.

Common symptoms of burnout include:

• Chronic fatigue or exhaustion (mental & physical)

• Not feeling rested, even after sleeping

• Irritability, anxiety, or depressive symptoms

• Isolation or strained relationships

• Loss of pleasure or purpose

• Increased frequency of illness

You may be a student juggling coursework, a job to pay the bills, and peer relationships. You may be a business owner wearing all the hats of your start-up. You may be an athlete feeling lost in the day-to-day grind of training and performing at a high level.

Humans have a resilience to keep moving forward through multiple life stressors. However, when stressors accumulate to a point where it’s too much for us to cope with, that’s when burnout can ensue.

The Path Forward

As nice as it would be to take an extended beach vacation, that may not always be the most feasible. However, it is possible (and necessary) to create new structures that allow for rest & recovery in your day-to-day life.

First, we take a holistic look at your physical wellness — sleep, fatigue, energy levels, focus, etc. At the base of Maslow’s hierarchy pyramid are physiological needs; without this foundation, all other needs (e.g., relationships, self-actualization) are unattainable. Learning about your self (sleep needs, nutrition/hydration, physical activity, social needs, etc.) helps you know what you need to care for yourself well.

Next, we examine your current lifestyle and see what gets in the way of creating space for rest. How does this compare to your physiological needs and the values of how you want to live out your life? You may need to set new boundaries or say no to certain activities. Together, we can workshop and help you implement small, doable adjustments that are more congruent and sustainable for you.

Along the way, we can process the feelings of overwhelm and help you develop practices to regulate your stress. Recovering from burnout is a process of small, intentional steps; and part of the process is giving yourself grace to be where you are in this present moment and permission to recover at your own timing.

Over time, it is possible to move out of burnout and towards a life of purpose, energy, and presence.