I’ve avoided writing this for months—because sharing my truth feels vulnerable, even a little scary. I felt ashamed to admit I was burned out. I was completely drained, with nothing left to give. Looking back, it was probably already evident to others. I was showing up as a shell of myself, or canceling commitments altogether. I avoided saying yes to anything. And in those rare moments of quiet, I would crash, completely check out. Even simple things—household chores, daily routines, work tasks—fell to the bare minimum.

For years, I casually used the word burnout after an exhausting week or a too-packed schedule. In those times, all I needed was a day off, a little extra sleep, or some self-care to bounce back. But what I’ve been walking through these past several months went far deeper than that.

What Burnout Really Is

Burnout is the result of prolonged, excessive stress. The “stress cycle” happens when a stressor triggers alarm, the body resists, and then—ideally—recovers. Burnout occurs when we’re unable to complete that cycle, stuck in resistance without release. It’s often tied to work, but it isn’t only about work.

I’ve always thrived in a high-pressure corporate job. It energized me. I loved the pace, the challenges, the excitement. But over the last two years, my job demands became secondary to something far greater: helping my parents navigate serious health issues, supporting one child through divorce and another through the devastation of a house fire, grieving the loss of friends and family to illness and cancer. Not every stressor was tragic—we also celebrated a child’s wedding, milestones with grandchildren, and long-awaited dreams fulfilled. But whether joyful or heartbreaking, the weight never seemed to let up.

How Burnout Felt

Burnout is hard to explain. I was overwhelmed, unable to process one event before another arrived. It was a bone-deep exhaustion—one that sleep, vacations, or spa days couldn’t touch.

I woke up exhausted, if I slept at all. I dragged myself through each day on autopilot, numb to my emotions. Work that once took minutes stretched into hours. I made careless mistakes. I was irritable, anxious, overwhelmed. Even the things I loved—yoga, nature, kayaking, time with my husband, grandchildren, travel, friends—all became obligations, just more items on a never-ending to-do list.

Eventually, burnout showed up in my body—weight gain, headaches, muscle pain. And then came the 911 call. In the middle of a virtual meeting, chest pain started. My breathing became shallow; the room began to spin. Certain I was having a heart attack, I called for help.

What Helped Me Heal

Recovery from burnout is not one-size-fits-all. What has helped me may not work for everyone, but I share these practices in case they offer comfort or inspiration:

Sensory Meditation & Journaling
Sitting in nature, I notice each sense: What do I see, hear, smell, taste, feel—physically, emotionally, spiritually? This practice grounds me in my body and eases anxiety.

Therapy
My therapist has been instrumental in helping me process suppressed emotions and build healthy coping tools.

Rest and Movement
At first, I thought I only needed rest. But true rest was impossible because my body was still carrying the stress cycle. Movement helped me release it—walking, more vigorous yoga, pickleball, decluttering my home, even yard work. Once the energy moved through, I could finally rest—reading, swinging in a hammock, binge-watching a show, or meditating.

Prioritizing Self-Care
I had abandoned the very practices that sustained me: slow mornings, daily walks, exercise, meditation, reading. Bringing them back into my life has been essential.

Learning to Say No
“No” is a complete sentence. Every yes is also a no to something else. I’m learning to align my yeses with my deepest values and priorities.

Time Off
One of the most important parts of my recovery was being able to take time off from work to focus on my health and my family. Having that space lifted the daily pressure and gave me room to breathe and begin to heal. I know this isn’t possible for everyone—time away isn’t always paid or accessible. But even if you can’t take long stretches off, finding small pockets of time to step back from work and truly rest is just as important. Prioritizing your mental health, even in little ways, matters

Where I Am Now

I wish I could say I’m fully recovered. The truth is, I’m still in recovery—and may be for some time. But I’m learning to give myself grace and compassion. Life will always bring waves of stress—both gentle ripples and powerful storms. The work is not in avoiding them, but in learning how to ride them without losing ourselves.

A Note from Me

If you are walking through burnout—or even just feeling the early signs of it—please know you are not alone. So many of us carry invisible weights while still trying to show up for everyone around us. At the Om Well Collective, my hope is that you feel this is a place where you can set those burdens down, even for a little while. Whether you come to move, to breathe, to rest, or simply to be in community, you are welcome exactly as you are.

With love and compassion,
Beth

Additional Resources

If you’re experiencing burnout, you are not alone. These resources may help:

Articles

• Burnout: Signs, Causes, and How to Recover – Mental Health America

• Signs You’re Burned Out – Psychology Today

• 5 Signs You’re Experiencing Burnout — And Why It’s Not Just Stress – Forbes

Books

• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski

• 7 Steps to Burnout Management Simplified: A Compassionate Guide for the Overworked, Exhausted, and Quietly Hoping for a Life That Feels Normal by Brian Erwin (local author)

• Burnout Sucks – Life Doesn’t Have To: Because Healing Isn’t The End, It’s the Start of Recovery by Brian Erwin (local author)