It’s Friday morning and our first text reads “TGIF”. It’s Monday morning and we think “Do I have to?”
In between those days we’re in this race with ourselves to meet the unrealistic expectations we set while we neglect the needs that fuel us.
And when we hear the question “How are you doing?” we feel the exhaustion deep in our bones… “tired”.
I know this girl well – and so do you.
I had all the classic symptoms of burnout: digestive issues, brain fog, insomnia, emotional exhaustion.
Then came the shocking diagnosis: Lyme Disease – It didn’t make sense. I was placed on a long-term antibiotic and the pain quickly progressed. “You’ll feel worse before you feel better” they’d say, and I became terrified of not knowing just how much worse it would get. Then four weeks in, I lost the ability to walk and was told I had suffered a severe allergic reaction to the medication that caused extreme inflammation resulting in loss of function and damage to my legs. Oh, and I was misdiagnosed. I laid in bed shaking uncontrollably, feeling a wave of extreme physical and emotional pain, in complete disbelief that this was my story.
Apart from the countless doctors’ visits and endless testing, the next year became focused on healing. My #1 goal, bring the inflammation down. Now, I’ve always been health conscious and mindful of what I eat, but this was different. My body needed me to be disciplined in order to heal. So, I transitioned into an anti-inflammatory diet and started creating recipes that supported my gut health and balanced my hormones. But there was one persistent challenge: sugar. Our arch nemesis, always tempting us with quick satisfaction and leaving us with sugar imbalances, inflammation, and cravings. With a passion for baking, I was now on a mission to develop treats I could enjoy while healing with recipes that supported my health and had minimal processed sugars.
I’d be wrong to think the moment I spiraled was when I couldn’t walk because the question we choose to ignore in the face of our exhaustion is, how did we get so burned out in the first place? Many of us millennial women have lived with chronic stress for longer than we can remember. Some might even say we’re addicted to it. So, how do we recover? Once I acknowledged the emotions my physical symptoms stemmed from, I allowed myself to feel and release. I poured my thoughts into journaling, cried extensively. I made movement and self-care a priority. I created a routine that allowed me to feel a sense of control and made lifestyle changes that created the space necessary to heal. And within that space, I found strength and clarity.
After regaining about 80% of my mobility, I was ready. I cannot wait to get my back to my old life, I thought. Then eight months into my new job, I quit. And this is where the last piece of recovering from burnout came into play, are we aligned with our careers?
Do I secretly wish we could all travel and sip coffee from cute cafes full time? Yes. Until then, we want to be able to identify if we need a break, a career change, or how to take practical steps before making the decision. What I personally felt was “persistent disconnect” where I was no longer aligned to my purpose. So, I went back to school to study integrative health & nutrition and started my own business where I could put all of these tools to practice by helping my clients recover from burnout and feel exceptional and energized at the same time. After all, the “B” in Boss Babe does not stand for burnout.
Alessandra
Navigate
Socialize
Join the list for exclusive offers, free resources, and tips to keep you motivated – because balance shouldn’t be harder than your hustle.
