THE TRUTH ABOUT BURNOUT: IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOU THINK IT DOES

Burnout has a subtle way of reaching us long before we ever call it by name. It is not always dramatic. Sometimes it is the slow fading of our enthusiasm or the heaviness that settles into places we never expected. It can look like irritability, emotional numbness, loss of creativity, or the quiet sense that everything feels a little too hard. Burnout often hides inside the things we keep pushing through and the responsibilities we feel obligated to carry, even when our spirit whispers that something is off. It can appear as strength to the outside world, but inside, something tender is asking for attention.

The healing begins with honesty. When we pause long enough to acknowledge our weariness, we give ourselves permission to reclaim what burnout slowly drains from us. Burnout is not a personal failure. It is a human response to carrying too much for too long without enough nourishment, space, or rest. Your body knows when the load has become too heavy. Your spirit knows when you have been living in survival mode. The moment you choose to listen is the moment you begin to heal. You deserve care too, and honoring that truth is the first step back to yourself.