How Did I End Up Burnt Out?

I’ve been focused on burnout recovery for about 8 years now and I’m so glad to be able to see more people recognise when enough is enough for them. Learning that sacrificing their well-being for a paycheck or to fit into society may not be worth it.

My focus began after my own burnout while I was still a Personal Trainer in the busy city of Singapore, my home country. With a growing list of physical symptoms from my body’s inability to stand/walk for more than 20 min, menstrual issues, hair loss, insomnia, and increasing allergies to deepening depression and strong mental fog I decided enough was enough. 

I quickly dove into how to truly help someone like me with exercise and nutrition. Someone who was energetically more sensitive than the average person and had a different threshold for stress.

Over the decade of working closely with energy management, here’s a short list that describes some of the more typical ways a person can spin into or stay stagnant in a burnt-out or survival-type state:

1. Physically

Neglecting health for an externally created form of success is an extremely common factor that brings awareness to many. The tangible body is often a great place to start the burnout recovery journey as it is the vehicle that carries us along. Not understanding how to work with our vehicle can also quickly cause mismanagement of energy and so building the awareness and practices that uniquely works for you through your unique phases is extremely important for your personal performance, intrinsic motivation and health. 

2. Emotionally

Emotional instability can be a whirlwind of fire and highly exhausting for the individual and those around them. Not understanding how to manage emotions can create chaotic decisions that lack clarity. Needless to say, the way society treats being emotional usually leaves many disliking themselves for being “too much” when really, those who are quite emotionally charged have a fire that simply needs channeled.

3. Mentally

Overthinkers and high-achievers tend to allow their mental process to drain their energy. Learning how to manage our mind can release us not only from the heavy mental pressure and the consequences that brings but also allows us to utilize the mind as a tool for success.

4. Spiritually

When depleting energy begins to affect our identity, we can begin to have a pang of hopelessness within us. Hopelessness can make everything seem so much harder and life becomes so hollow and empty. It is important for us to understand where we need to pay attention to our spiritual health so that our identity can evolve past survival and into thriving.

Each of these factors do not work alone, they work holistically and one affects the other in a positive or negative spin. If there is a pattern of burnout recognised in one area, then it is almost definitely in the other areas as well. 

Understanding what to look for can be tricky and overwhelming when you’re already in a fatigued, frustrated state. It’s common to see many stuck in a loop for years trying to willpower their way through or think in circles before their body gives out (my personal experience by 25).

The patterns of burnout show that a person is not able to fully live out in their best way of being, which causes the world to miss out on their magical capabilities that they were designed for. 

Imagine if we took the time to learn and educate each person on how to find what best works for them in the tangible body and in the mental, emotional and spiritual body as well. Our world would be a different place.

I truly believe that and that’s why I love doing what I do.