26/09/2025
Burnout can really sneak up on us. We might be having so much fun coaching our kid's basketball team, work might be really productive and we're catching up, making memories with friends on the weekend.
But then we start to feel run down. A flu might knock our socks off or we might just have a constant low-grade sore throat or fatigue. Either way, we're surviving, not thriving. It can feel like we're in a speeding train and we don't know how to get off!
So how do we pump the brakes?
The first step would be to acknowledge that you're doing too much and that it's not sustainable so the pattern doesn't get repeated.
-If you have sick leave, use it to have a mental health day.
-If a client reschedules, don't feel the need to fill the spot.
-Instead of instantly saying 'yes' to an invitation or taking on an extra job, pause and reply “Let me check my diary and get back to you.” This allows you to come back to them with a “I'd love to but I have too much on my plate at the moment.”
-Talk to your boss about changing your hours or workload.
-Figure out what your ideal hours/amount of clients are each week. It might not happen for a few months if you are booked up or have a project to complete or on a teaching contract but start doing what is necessary to move towards that goal.
In the meantime, support that little nervous system that is working overtime! Go to bed early, ask for help, spend time outside, eat well and listen to your body. You've probably heard of adaptogens like withania and reishi -chat to your naturopath about if that's a good option for you.
Overwhelm is not a pleasant feeling and it's often everyone around us that ends up absorbing our energy. Come up with a plan to make some positive changes to shift your nervous system into a happier place 🙂
Emma the Naturopath xx
Email carrots_and_apples@hotmail.com to book a consult for you or your little one!
