Burnout Wears a Business Suit
I didn’t always know I was burned out.
At first, I thought I was just tired.
Not enough sleep, not enough water, too many things on the list.
But the tired didn’t go away. Not after a weekend off. Not even after a vacation.
That’s when I knew I wasn’t just tired. I was bone-tired.
I was burned out.
And the tricky thing? Burnout doesn’t always show up with a meltdown or a broken deadline.
Sometimes, it looks like color-coded to-do lists and an inbox that never sleeps. Sometimes, it wears heels, makes payroll, shows up early, and even remembers to send the birthday cards.
Burnout wears a business suit.
The Myth of “Busy Means Better”
It took me years (and a few spirals) to recognize that my high-functioning hustle was hiding something deeper.
I wasn’t just managing projects. I was managing myself away from stillness. Because if I slowed down? I’d feel things.
And I had built a world where feeling too much made it hard to function. So I leaned into planning, organizing, and performing. Like many of us do.
But eventually, the doing caught up with me.
My brain got foggy. My joy got quiet. Even music didn’t move me the same way.
It wasn’t dramatic. But it was real.
My Anchor Points: A Burnout Recovery Practice
When I finally admitted I was burned out, I didn’t rush to fix it. I took the tiniest step I could:
I named it.
Then I started building what I now call anchor points.
Anchor points are tiny resets I plant throughout my day; little reminders that I’m not a machine.
That my worth isn’t in my output.
That I can pause, even if just for a few minutes, and be.
Some of my anchor points:
- A specific mug I only use for slow sips
- A mid-afternoon dance break to a favorite Picklist* track
- Writing in a notebook with no lines
- A 5-minute walk with no phone
These may sound ordinary, but they helped me come back to myself.
And over time, I got back part of my rhythm.
A Pebble Practice for You
If you’re reading this and nodding along (maybe a little too much), then here’s a gentle exercise:
- Think of 3 times in your day when you tend to feel stretched thin.
- Pick one of them.
- Choose a single anchor point you can try in that moment this week.
Final Thought
I’m still recovering. Still choosing myself over my task list. Still remembering that even if burnout wears a business suit, I don’t have to.
Be gentle with yourself.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, start here:
- Name it
- Add one anchor point
That’s it. That’s your pebble.
Because the smallest stone still makes a ripple.
To your success always,
Paula
Your Numbers-Believin’, Rhythm-Holdin’, Pebble-Droppin’ BFF
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