How to Recover From Burnout (and Feel Like Yourself Again)

Burnout is something I see in my clients all the time.

Sometimes it looks like long work hours and packed schedules. Sometimes it’s managing kids, aging parents, or one crisis after another. And sometimes it’s quieter than that—just a constant feeling of being tired, overwhelmed, or not quite yourself.

Most people don’t call it burnout.

They call it “just really busy right now"

They tell themselves to push through.

And for a while…that works.

Until it doesn’t.

Because when you stay in that mode for too long, it starts to take a toll—on your mind, your body, and your ability to actually enjoy your life.

And that matters more than most people let themselves admit.

What Burnout Actually Is (In Simple Terms)

Burnout isn’t just stress.

It’s what happens when your body stays in a chronic stress response for too long without enough recovery.

Your nervous system gets stuck in “go mode.” Your body keeps pumping out stress hormones like cortisol. .And over time, things start to wear down.

That’s why burnout doesn’t just feel mental.

It shows up in your body.

Signs You Might Be Burned Out

Some signs are obvious. Others are easy to brush off.

Mental + emotional:

• Feeling overwhelmed or checked out

• Irritable, unmotivated, or just flat

• Trouble focusing or making decisions

Physical (this is what I see every day):

• Constant muscle tension

• Headaches or migraines

• Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix

• Your body just feels…heavy

The quieter signs:

• You don’t look forward to things you used to enjoy

• You feel like you’re always “on”

• You keep thinking, “I just need to get through this week”

  
  

The Kind of Burnout You Can’t Ignore

Early in my career, I worked at a high-end spa in Cincinnati.

It looked glamorous from the outside. Lipstick was actually part of the dress code.

If you know me, you know that’s not exactly my world.

But I stayed because I needed the experience, and the money was good.

My first day should have been a red flag.

I had 10 massages scheduled. No break.

At one point, I remember squatting at the foot of the table working on someone’s feet and laying my head down on the table because I was so exhausted.

I stayed there for two years.

Some days I was completely overloaded. Other days I sat in a tiny room all day with no clients—and no pay.

It was a roller coaster.

And underneath it all was a quiet thought I kept pushing aside:

“I can’t keep doing this.”

Eventually, my body said it louder.

My hands hurt so bad I couldn’t hold my toothbrush.

Not sore. Not tired.

Completely wrecked.

I had to stop working altogether just to let them heal.

That’s the kind of burnout you can’t ignore anymore.

But most people don’t get a moment that obvious.

Most of the time, it starts as a whisper.

A quiet thought like, “I don’t know how long I can keep doing this.”

Maybe it’s the pace you’re trying to keep up with. Maybe it’s the constant mental load you’re carrying. Maybe it’s the emotional weight of everything on your plate.

Nothing has completely fallen apart yet—but something in you knows:

This isn’t sustainable.

The Kind of Burnout That Feels…Good (Until It Doesn’t)

Years later, I experienced a completely different version.

After the pandemic shutdown, I rebuilt my life in a new way.

I didn’t just go back to work after the shutdown, I added more work by adding two more revenue streams:

• my massage practice

• a copywriting business

• an Airbnb

I also moved, which added another layer of transition to everything.

It was a lot.

But it felt exciting.

My days were full in a way that made me feel proud: Up early to work, juggling multiple businesses, walking the dog, cleaning and prepping for guests, seeing massage clients late into the evening.

The thought I had over and over was:

“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.”

It felt like momentum. Like growth. Like I was building something.

But then life shifted, as it tends to do..

A breakup changed everything.

Suddenly, it felt like the floor fell out from under me.

The same life I had been managing before felt impossible to hold together.

Not just because of logistics—but because emotionally, I didn’t have the capacity anymore.

And that’s something I see in clients all the time.

It might not be a breakup.

It might be:

• losing a parent

• going through a divorce

• a health scare

• a new job

• or just slowly losing a sense of yourself over time

Life changes. And when it does, the load you used to carry can suddenly feel too heavy.

What Actually Helped Me Recover From Burnout

This is where most advice falls short.

Burnout isn’t fixed with a day off. Or even a vacation.

Because it’s not just about what you’re doing—it’s about what state your body is living in every day.

What helped me wasn’t one big change.

It was small, consistent shifts.

These are things I still do today—and the same kinds of things I guide clients toward.

1. I stopped constantly pushing

Not quitting everything—but easing up

Letting things be a little less urgent. Letting myself not operate at 100% all the time

2. I got back into my body

• going for long walks in the woods

• doing yoga

• practicing mindfulness by noticing what was around me

Nothing intense. Just reconnecting.

3. I gave myself small daily anchors

• a few minutes of meditation

• a short stretch or exercise session

• writing in my journal

Starting small matters.

If all you have is 2–5 minutes, that counts.

4. I stopped adding more to my plate

No new projects. No “what’s next?”

Just maintaining.

That alone created breathing room.

5. I looked at my life as a whole

Not just work.

Burnout isn’t just about your job.

It’s about everything:

• your relationships

• your environment

• your time outside

• your social life

• whether you’re doing anything that feels like you

  
  

What I Do Differently Now

I still work hard.

But I don’t live in “push through” mode anymore.

Now I:

• build in unscheduled time

• don’t overfill my days

• prioritize sleep

• get outside every day

• say yes to things that feel fun

• get regular massage—and extra when I need it

But the biggest shift?

I let things be easier.

I don’t sit there thinking about how long the day is or how much I have to get through.

I stay present.

And somehow, that gives me more energy than pushing ever did.

If You’re Burned Out Right Now

Start smaller than you think you need to.

Seriously.

If life feels like too much, the answer isn’t to overhaul everything overnight. It’s to make things just a little easier.

Try this:

• Take a 10-minute walk (or even 5)

• Sit outside and do nothing for a few minutes

• Go to bed earlier than usual

• Cancel one thing that doesn’t actually matter

• Do something small that feels enjoyable—not productive

  
  

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It just has to be doable.

Where Massage & Wellness Planning Fit In

Burnout lives in your body.

So recovery has to involve your body too.

Massage can help:

• reduce tension

• calm your nervous system

• help your body shift out of stress mode

Sometimes that looks like getting on a regular massage schedule. Sometimes it’s just booking an extra session when you feel like you’re starting to run on empty.

And if you feel stuck on where to even begin, a wellness planning session can help you figure out what actually makes sense for your life right now.

Final Thought

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re doing life wrong.

It usually means you’ve been carrying too much for too long without enough support.

And the goal isn’t to push through it.

It’s to come back to yourself.