As we get ready to say goodbye to 2024, I want to take a moment to talk about something deeply personal: burnout.
I’m sharing this because I know firsthand how easy it is to gaslight ourselves into thinking we’re fine. Even when we’re running on autopilot, feeling completely empty, and like we might break at any moment, it often feels like we have to just push through.
We tell ourselves that our health isn’t as important as the to-do list or the people in our lives who need us. I know firsthand what it’s like to question whether you’re overreacting. I know how it feels to finally share how you’re feeling with someone and because they might be struggling themselves or just don't understand, they still seem to expect things from you. Maybe they just want you to be your “normal self.” But sometimes, appearing to be that “normal self” is the hardest part of all.
The holidays are beautiful time for so many, but for others, they can exacerbate stress,anxiety, and burnout.
For me, this past year was a difficult one personally, and the holidays have always been hard for me. I'm currently feeling deep burnout! And I think it's important to remember that burnout doesn't just affect our mental health but has physical symptoms as well. Symptoms and severity are different for everyone.
For me, the first signs were intense insomnia, and currently my symptoms include:
🌿 Headaches
🌿 Canker sores in my mouth
🌿 Skyrocketing blood pressure
🌿 Stress-induced skin issues- while many experience breakouts of eczema or psoriasis, I get those tiny painful pimples across my face and back
🌿 Fatigue paired with insomnia
🌿 An increase in dyslexia and ADHD symptoms, along with a general lack of focus
So why am I sharing this? Because it’s normal. It happens to the best of us—even someone like me, who has built a career helping others manage stress and burnout.
If you are experiencing this, give yourself some grace, get the rest you need, put your to-do list down, and listen to your body.
It's okay to not be okay, and remember, self care is never selfish!
Let's head into 2025 taking deep care of ourselves!
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