The Truth About Burnout and How to Overcome It

Burnout. We’ve all felt it at some point—whether in our careers, workouts, or life in general. It sneaks up on us, draining our energy and making us question if we’re still passionate about what we do.

But here’s something I want you to remember: Burnout does NOT mean you no longer care. Sometimes, it’s the opposite—it means you care so much that you’ve overextended yourself.

Recently, someone asked me, "How do you avoid burnout?" It’s a great question, and I want to break it down for you today.

1. Recognize the Signs—Your "Check Engine" Light is On

Think about your car. When that check engine light comes on, you have two choices:

• Address the issue before it gets worse.
• Ignore it until your car completely breaks down.

Burnout works the same way. Your body, mind, and emotions send warning signals, but too often, we ignore them. We convince ourselves that we just need to push harder, hustle more, or grind through it.

But let me ask you—what good are you to your team, your family, or yourself if you’re operating at 10% capacity?

2. You Don't Owe Anyone Your Sanity

I know we all have obligations—bosses, deadlines, expectations, and responsibilities. But let’s get one thing straight:

Your mental and emotional well-being are non-negotiable.

If you were completely burned out and someone told you, "Keep pushing, your mental health doesn’t matter," would you respect that person? No. So why do we allow ourselves to think that way?

If you’re running on empty, you have to give yourself permission to step back. Because here’s the truth—if you break down completely, you’re no good to anyone.

3. Identify the REAL Cause of Burnout

When you feel burnt out, it’s not always because of everything in your life. Sometimes, it’s one thing that’s throwing everything off.

Ask yourself:

• Is it a specific event?
• A certain person?
• A routine that’s no longer serving you?
• Am I just doing too much, even if it’s all things I love?

If you don’t identify the real cause, burnout feels like your entire life is falling apart—when in reality, fixing one thingmight bring relief.

4. Your Current Burnout is NOT Permanent

We trick ourselves into thinking that if we feel drained right now, it means we’re no longer passionate about our work, our relationships, or our goals.

But that’s not true.

You can love your career and still feel exhausted.
You can love your family and still need a break.
You can be driven and still require rest.

What you feel right now is temporary—but only if you recognize it and adjust.

5. Unplug for Real

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t truly rest. We say we’re taking a break, but we’re still checking emails, taking work calls, or scrolling social media, letting stress creep in.

Rest means rest.

• If work is burning you out, take a real day off. No emails, no "quick check-ins."
• If relationships are draining you, step back and breathe before reacting.
• If training is wearing you down, take a rest day without guilt.

Sometimes, like a computer, we need a full restart to get back to peak performance.

Don't Wait Until You Break

Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a signal—one you need to listen to before your engine completely gives out.

Be honest with yourself. Identify the real issue. Adjust your approach. And most importantly—give yourself permission to rest, unplug, and reset.

Because a recharged version of you is unstoppable.