Burnout Comes in Waves – And That’s Okay

Yesterday I shared a post about what burnout feels like — that slow, creeping heaviness that can sneak up even when you think you’re managing everything just fine. I talked about how it can show up in small ways first — like irritability, exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, or feeling detached from things you normally love. I shared that I don’t have a perfect solution of how to fully heal or stop burnout from happening because the truth is…

Burnout isn’t always avoidable. You can have boundaries, rest days, therapy, and a perfect routine — and still hit a wall. When you care deeply about your work or operate in a high-stress environment, stress compounds. It builds slowly until your body and mind finally call timeout. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong — it means you’re human in a world that often rewards overextension more than rest.

During those periods where burnout puts you in autopilot, self-care has to change shape. When you’re deep in burnout, self-care might not look like time with friends or going on a day trip. It might look like saying no without guilt or eating something simple because cooking feels like too much. Sometimes it’s doing the bare minimum and reminding yourself that the bare minimum is still enough. Watching a comfort show or movie you’ve seen a hundred times because your brain needs something soft and familiar. I personally always opt for a trashy reality tv to give my brain a break. And when the wave starts to recede (because it will) self-care might shift into discovering new hobbies, reconnecting with joy, or creating new habits that actually support you instead of drain you.

The most powerful thing you can do is stop treating burnout like a personal failure and start seeing it as communication. It’s your mind and body asking for care, rest, and a slower pace. Listening to that voice is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. Burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means you’ve been giving too much without enough return. You deserve recovery, softness, and time to rebuild.

If you’re navigating your own wave of burnout, know you’re not alone. I share gentle reminders about rest, boundaries, and rebuilding energy over on Instagram — come hang out and get a little daily encouragement at @s.idneylauren.