Burnout Creeps In: My Deeper Dive Into What Really Causes It

Since the pandemic, burnout has become a common topic of conversation — what it looks like, how it impacts you, how to prevent it, and how to recover from it. But here’s the truth: even if you understand burnout and all the prevention strategies in the world, it doesn’t mean you won’t experience it.

Burnout doesn’t arrive overnight. It creeps in slowly, quietly, until one day you wake up completely drained and wonder, What’s wrong with me?

When "Just Tired" Becomes Something More

At first, you tell yourself:

I’m just tired.

I just need a vacation.

I just need one good night of sleep.

Then the vacation comes — and instead of feeling refreshed, you spend most of it sleeping, too exhausted to enjoy anything. That’s the kind of tired rest can’t fix.

The People Pleaser Pattern

If you’re like me, you’ve probably lived much of your life as a people pleaser. You like to help others, support your team, and be the one others can count on. You take pride in your work. You strive for better — a better job, better pay, better health — but the finish line keeps moving.

You might even make the most detailed to-do lists, feel a spark of excitement… and then stare at the list, completely overwhelmed, unable to start.

Burnout doesn’t come out of the blue. It builds from years of saying yes when you should have said no. Years of trying to please your manager to get that promotion or the perfect year-end review. Years of setting your own needs aside because someone else “needed you more.”

And often, you don’t realize you’re deep in burnout until it’s too late.

When You Push Past Your Limits

For me, the real crash didn’t happen overnight — it was the result of years of self-neglect. I ignored the warning signs. I told myself I could handle one more project, one more course, one more long day.

At the time, I was working full-time and completing my nutrition studies part-time. My body was screaming for rest, but I didn’t want to fall behind my classmates. I had decided I had to graduate on time. Looking back, I wonder — why did that matter so much?

Sometimes, the lessons you most need are the ones you have to live through.

I had a wonderful naturopath who warned me multiple times that I was heading toward burnout. I believed her — but I also believed I could push through and rest after. Eventually, my body made the choice for me. It shut down.

When Burnout Takes Over

Simple tasks became monumental. Cooking dinner felt like running a marathon. I would leave taps running, forget to turn on the stove, or drive distracted — I even got into a small accident because I couldn’t focus.

My battery was below zero. The lights were on, but no one was home. I was dealing with mental fatigue, chronic pain, chronic illness, and zero energy to simply exist.

Why I Chose to Focus on Burnout

My own experience is what led me to this work. I’ve lived burnout — deeply and painfully — and I know how long recovery can take when you ignore your body’s signals.

It took me nearly three years to fully recover. Burnout recovery isn’t just about eating well and getting rest — it’s a complete rebalancing of your nervous system, your mindset, and your sense of self.

I chose to focus on burnout because I don’t want anyone else to be dragged to the depths I was. I want to help others recognize the warning signs before their body forces them to stop. Because when you come back from burnout, you’re not the same person you were before — and that’s not a bad thing. It’s growth.

Moving Forward

If any of this sounds familiar, please know there is a way out. Recovery takes time, compassion, and boundaries — but it’s possible.

If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or unsure where to start, I currently offer one-on-one sessions where we can work together to identify your burnout triggers and start rebuilding your energy and resilience.

Because you deserve more than just surviving. You deserve to feel alive again.