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From the very first classes in grad school, we hear about burnout. It’s introduced as this looming, ever-present threat, something to watch out for, to try and prevent at all costs. We come out of school with well-meaning intentions, ready with our self-care plans and boundaries… until reality sets in.
The truth is, burnout rarely barges in with a warning. It often shows up quietly, sneaking into our routines like a whisper, until one day, we realize we’re exhausted, depleted, or disconnected.
What Burnout Really Looks and Feels Like
We talk about burnout, but how often do we actually define it for ourselves? It’s not just about feeling tired, it’s a slow drain of emotional, mental, and even physical energy. And it can creep in whether you’ve been practicing for ten months or ten years.
Here are a few signs to keep an eye on:
- Feeling unusually irritable or detached from your clients
- Dreading the start of your workday
- Trouble sleeping or unwinding after sessions
- A sense of emotional numbness or disconnection from your purpose
Burnout can be slow and subtle, or it can come on fast. Either way, the key is to catch it early and respond with care.
Preventing Burnout, One Day at a Time
Self-care doesn’t have to be big or fancy. Sometimes it’s as simple as:
- Taking five minutes to sit in your car before starting your day
- Leaving your laptop at the office so you can truly unplug
- Choosing silence on your commute, or listening to something uplifting
- Saying no when you need to protect your time and energy
Preventing burnout is a daily practice, not a one-time fix. It’s about building small moments into your day that help you return to yourself and honoring your own limits with the same compassion you give your clients.
You deserve to feel grounded in the work you do. Take care of yourself, not just because you tell others to, but because you’re human too.
