Burnout Isn’t Just “Being Tired”- It’s Emotional Exhaustion with a Side of Identity Crisis
Let’s be real: mental burnout isn’t just feeling sleepy. It’s when brushing your teeth feels like running a marathon. When even your “fun stuff” feels like a chore. When your brain is buffering and your soul is screaming “I need a damn break” that you need to recover from mental burnout.
You don’t need another Pinterest quote or “hydrate and journal” tip (even though, yes, we’re still doing those too). You need a full-on system reboot-and a hug. But since I can’t give you one through the screen, here’s the next best thing.
Burnout is your body saying ‘I’m not okay’… listen before it has to scream. -the blooming niche
Step 1: Call It What It Is (No Sugarcoating)
Stop gaslighting yourself into thinking “I’m just being dramatic.” You’re not. You’re burned out. You’re drained. You’re human. Burnout symptoms hit different for everyone, but here’s what usually shows up:
- You wake up tired-even after 9 hours of sleep
- You zone out while people are talking (no offense to my man)
- You’re either crying over everything or feel absolutely nothing at all
- You’re avoiding texts, calls, responsibilities, and pants with buttons
Say it out loud: I’m burned out. And I deserve rest, not guilt.
Step 2: Romanticize the Reset (Even Just a Little)
No, you don’t have to wake up at 5am and become “that girl.” But you do need a soft reset.
Try this:
- Romanticize the smallest thing. Lighting a candle before bed? Healing.
- Start with one “anchor habit.” Like opening your blinds or chugging water first thing.
- Play main character music while you do literally anything. Washing your face? Boom. Movie scene.
It’s not about being productive. It’s about creating little sparks of joy that remind you-hey, I’m still here.
Need Inspo?
Here’s my self-growth journaling guide (TBD) that’s like therapy… but cuter.
Step 3: Quiet the Chaos (AKA, Your Phone is Not Helping)
If you’re doom scrolling at 1am then wondering why your anxiety’s at an 11 the next day… you’re not alone. But let’s not keep doing this to ourselves.
Some chaos-cutting ideas:
- Mute the people on IG who make you feel like crap
- Unfollow the girl-boss who posts 14 reels a day while looking flawless
- Turn your phone off for one hour and pretend it’s 2002 again
Less noise = more clarity. Period.
Step 4: Feed Yourself Like a Hungover Best Friend Would
You wouldn’t let your best friend stave after crying on the bathroom floor. So why do it to yourself?
Easy wins:
- Keep snacks by your bed (protein bars, nuts, crackers, whatever works)
- Hydrate like you’re prepping for Coachella
- Toss a frozen meal in the oven and call it a gourmet night
You don’t need Pinterest-perfect meals. You need fuel, babe. I rounded up easy kitchen finds (TBA) that make cooking actually doable when you can barely human.
Step 5: Grieve the Hustle Version of You (She Served Her Purpose)
The girl who powered through exhaustion, skipped meals, overcommitted, and said “I’m fine” when she clearly wasn’t? She got you here. But she’s tired now. Let her rest.
You’re allowed to not hustle. To say “no.” To take breaks. To rebuild slowly.
This next version of you? She chooses peace. She doesn’t base her worth on productivity. She protects her energy like it’s her damn job.
Final Word: You’re Not Broken- You’re Rebuilding
Healing from burnout isn’t about snapping back. It’s about moving forward differently. Softer. Slower. With more intention and way less guilt.
You’re not falling behind. You’re falling back into alignment-with yourself.
Check out my previous blog post here!
