12 Months Before Burnout: Significant Strain and Denial

Hey you

Let me share a little from about a year before burnout hit for me. Back then, I was starting to feel worn out, but I told myself it was just a “busy season” and kept pushing through. I’d feel low-energy for a week or two, only to get a burst of motivation, then slide back down again. Each time I convinced myself it would pass.

This stage is like a warning light flickering on and off. You’re still holding it together, but there are these moments—days or even weeks—where things just feel heavier. A wave of exhaustion hits, then fades, only to come back again. 

Sound familiar? 

Here are a few early signs that burnout’s setting in, even if it hasn’t fully taken over yet.

Flip-Flopping – From “Hell Yes!” to “What Was I Thinking?”  

Around this time, you might notice your emotions swinging back and forth. One minute, an idea feels like a big “Hell yes!”—an exciting project or goal. But just as quickly, doubt and fatigue sneak in, leaving you asking, “Wait, what was I thinking?” 

This flip-flopping is burnout starting to tug at your energy. Those adrenaline bursts of excitement are often followed by a sudden drop, leaving you tired and questioning everything.

This isn’t just a mood swing; it’s a pattern that’s building up. Right now, these highs and lows might only show up occasionally, but they’re your body’s way of saying, “Something’s not right.” 

Overthinking Has Started to Settle In  

During the day, all you want is a chance to sleep. But once you finally crawl into bed, your mind wakes up, rehashing every conversation, every unfinished task, every small detail. 

For a few days, you’re managing fine, then suddenly, overthinking becomes your new nighttime companion. It’s not every night yet, but it’s happening often enough to notice.

This isn’t just worry; it’s your nervous system stuck in a cycle. Your mind, tired as it is, keeps spinning, and “rest” becomes harder to find.

Your Immune System is Starting to Feel the Strain  

By this stage, maybe you’ve started catching every bug going around. It feels like just as you’re getting over one cold, another one comes along. You might have been to the doctor more than usual, trying to figure out why you feel so “off.” 

Maybe they’ve mentioned things like fatigue or even suggested medication, but nothing seems to fully resolve the issue.

It’s easy to shrug this off as a normal seasonal illness, but it’s also a signal. Your body is giving you hints that it’s worn down and can’t keep up the way it used to.

Craving Sleep, But Struggling to Get Quality Rest  

Exhaustion has started to become a frequent guest. You dream of falling into bed all day, but when the time comes, you lie awake, mind buzzing. Some nights, you’re out like a light; other nights, sleep is nowhere to be found. The craving for sleep is real, but your nervous system has other plans, and restful sleep slips further from your reach.

It’s not every night yet, but it’s happening enough to make you notice. You’re realising that your mind and body are no longer on the same page.

A Hint of Cynicism and Detachment

Remember when you used to feel connected to your work or your passions? At this point, that connection starts flickering in and out. Some days, you’re all in; other days, you find yourself asking, “Why am I even doing this?” Projects that once gave you a sense of purpose now feel flat, and that spark you once felt is fading.

You’re not completely checked out, but a certain numbness is creeping in, showing up more and more often. It’s burnout dipping its toes into your energy reserves, draining your enthusiasm in small but noticeable ways.

Why We Ignore the Flickering Red Flags  

So why do we brush off these early warnings? Because we’ve been taught that strength means pushing through, and that rest is something we have to “earn.” But here’s the truth: running on empty isn’t sustainable—it’s burnout’s doorway.

🧡 The Pressure to Keep Up  

We live in a world that glorifies busyness. Slowing down feels like falling behind, and pushing through is celebrated. But this “strength”? It’s just wearing you out faster. Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a necessity.

🧡 The Perfectionism Trap  

I know it well—I used to think, “If I can just handle it all, then I’ll finally be doing enough.” Perfectionism convinces us that 100% is the baseline, even when we’re out of gas. And telling ourselves, “it’s just this busy season” only stretches burnout’s grip further.

🧡 Adjusting to Exhaustion as the ‘New Normal’

The more we get used to being tired, the less we question it. That heavy, drained feeling? It starts to feel normal, even expected. But exhaustion isn’t proof of strength; it’s burnout tightening its grip.

The Tipping Point – Here’s How to Keep From Slipping Further

If you’re starting to notice these signs showing up, it’s not too late to make a shift. You don’t have to wait for burnout to fully settle in before changing things up. Here’s where to start:

🧡 Break the Cycle of Overdoing  

The urge to “do more” won’t get you “caught up”—it’s just digging you deeper. If you’re constantly overcompensating, take a step back—even if just for a moment. You’re not here to prove anything to anyone, least of all to the expectations you’ve set for yourself.

🧡 Let Your Body Set the Pace

When was the last time you really listened to what your body was asking for? Those signals it’s sending are smarter than your to-do list. If it’s asking for rest, lean in—even just a bit. You’re not here to power through; you’re here to live fully.

🧡 Reconnect with What Lights You Up  

Burnout’s cruellest theft? It steals your joy! But joy isn’t gone forever. 

Find what makes you feel alive again—whether that’s being in nature, painting, or just sitting still. Give yourself permission to enjoy life again.

This Is Your Wake-Up Call  

Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight; it’s a slow slide. If you’re seeing these signs flickering in and out, take them as your chance to reset. You don’t have to wait until burnout has fully taken over to make a shift.

Your #RebelMoment Starts Now  

Burnout doesn’t have to define your story. It’s your cue to take life back, right now. Don’t wait until you’re completely empty to make a change.

The real rebellion? It’s in saying “no” to the grind and choosing a life that energises you instead of drains you.

Let burnout be your guide to Reset Realign + Rise.

Life feels lighter when your nervous system is your ally.

Ready to Break Free from the Cycle of Overdoing + find your FLOW?

On The Mat with Nat isn’t your typical yoga class. Forget sun salutations and standard sequences — that’s not how we do yoga here. These are practices to reset your nervous system so you can actually focus, feel clear, and move through the week like the superstar you are!  

Ready to ditch the tight shoulders, busy mind, and endless doing? Jump In

Hungry for more than just an hour’s session?  

The Seasonal Slumber Party is your secret weapon to hit pause before you hit the wall. It’s where high-achieving people like you stop hustling and rediscover what it feels like to drop into that flow state. Sign Up Here

Sick and tired of the grind? Lost that spark and not even sure why?  

It’s time to talk. I’ve been there, and I got you! Let’s Chat.

Not sure and want to dip your toe in first? I get it.  

Subscribe to Nat’s Natterings for weekly reminders to step off the hamster wheel and start living from a place of calm inner power. Get on the List.

About Nat

Nat Creasy, aka Your Burnout Bestie, doesn’t sugarcoat the hustle—she calls it out for what it is: an exhausting lie that’s making us all sick. As a Nervous System Mentor, Nat shows people how to break free from the cycle of exhaustion and overthinking, helping them operate from a place of power, flow, and clarity — meditation in motion.

She gets it. After 18 months knocked flat by burnout, Nat learned the hard way that constant striving is a trap. Now, she’s all about flow—teaching people that the real win isn’t about doing more; it’s about learning how to ride the waves of life with ease, in flow. Meditation In Motion. It’s about listening to your body, resetting your nervous system, and coming at life from a place of easeful power that fuels lasting success.

Tired of running on empty? It’s time to Reset Realign + Rise 

www.littlesoulshack.com