Two Years to Heal: My Journey Through Burnout

 It took me two years to recover from burnout. Not a weekend retreat, a month of self-care, or a few good nights of sleep. True healing—deep, soul-level healing—takes time.

If you’re exhausted, wondering if you’ll ever feel like yourself again, I want you to know this: you can heal.

But healing isn’t about going back to who you were before. It’s about becoming who you are now, with the wisdom of everything you’ve experienced.

Burnout Is Your Body Talking—Are You Listening? Burnout is more than tiredness. It’s a full-body shutdown: brain fog, emotional exhaustion, physical pain, disrupted sleep, the weight of the world pressing down on you.

For many women, burnout often sets in after years of giving too much—to work, to family, and to expectations we never questioned. And if you’re in perimenopause or menopause? It can hit even harder.

So, where do you start? Here’s what helped me on my healing journey:

1. Finding Healing Modalities That Spoke to me
Body Burnout isn’t just in your mind—it’s stored in your body. I turned to BodyTalk, massage, and reflexology to shift stuck energy, regulate my nervous system, and bring deep relaxation. Every session reminded me: my body isn’t my enemy—it’s my guide.

2. Talking (And Being Heard)
I needed someone to truly listen—not dismiss my exhaustion as “just stress” or “a phase.” Finding an Integrative Medical Doctor, a holistic doctor who took me seriously, was life-changing. Healing also came from conversations with friends, mentors, and therapists. Talking helped me process emotions I had buried for years.

3. Learning About Menopause Holistically
Burnout and hormonal shifts are deeply connected. No one prepared me for how menopause could impact my energy, sleep, and clarity. I explored nutrition, herbs, energy healing, and breathwork. The more I learned, the more I understood my body instead of fighting it.

4. Resting Without Guilt
Rest isn’t laziness—it’s survival. I used to push through exhaustion, ignoring my body’s signals. Now, I honour my need to rest, whether it’s sleep, quiet moments, walks by the sea, or listening to soothing music.

5. Being Gentle With Myself
For years, I held myself to impossible standards—always striving, always achieving, always putting others first. Burnout forced me to pause and ask: What do I need?
It felt uncomfortable at first. Over time, I learned to honour my needs without guilt.

6. Setting Healthy Boundaries
One of the biggest lessons burnout taught me: “No” is a complete sentence.
I used to say yes to a lot, believing my worth depended on my availability. Now, I protect my energy. I permit myself to prioritise my needs, my peace, my joy.
Setting boundaries doesn’t make you selfish—it makes you whole. Saying “no” more often is saying yes to yourself.

7. Accepting That I Am Not 20 Anymore (And That’s Okay)
I used to chase the energy of my 20s. But I’m not that person anymore—and that’s a gift. Instead of mourning what I’ve lost, I celebrate what I’ve gained: wisdom, self-awareness, and the courage to live life on my terms.

8. The Power of Sleep
If I underestimated one thing, it was sleep. For months, I treated it as a luxury. Now, it’s the foundation of my healing. I’ve created nighttime rituals, reduced stress before bed, and learned to honour my body’s need for deep, restorative rest.

9. Finding Peace in the Present
For so long, I thought happiness would come when I “fixed” everything—more energy, a perfect body. But real peace came when I stopped fighting where I was and embraced it.
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So, if you’re deep in burnout, take a deep breath. Right now, in this moment, you are enough. Healing will come—one gentle step at a time. 

You are not broken. You are becoming.

✨ Takeaway Quote for Empowerment:
"Your exhaustion is not a weakness—it’s your soul asking you to slow down, honour yourself, and step into the power of who you are now."

With Love, Andrea

Andrea Baumann
Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, ​www.andreabaumann.com