I Thought I Was Just Tired: The Day I Realised Burnout Wasn't Normal
A story for anyone who’s told themselves to just push through — until they couldn’t
For a long time, I told myself I was just tired.
Tired from work. Tired from juggling too many things. Tired from being the one everyone leaned on. I figured that’s just what life looks like when you’re busy and ambitious and trying to do all the right things.
I didn’t think of it as burnout.
Back then, burnout felt like a buzzword. Something you read about in HR presentations or articles about overworked executives. I didn’t connect it to myself, even as the signs slowly stacked up.
The afternoon slumps that had me reaching for caffeine and sugar.
The brain fog that made emails take twice as long to write.
The sleep that never felt refreshing, no matter how early I went to bed.
The sharp edge in my moods, especially with the people I cared about most.
The quiet resentment I felt every time someone asked me for something, even if I said yes with a smile.
Eventually, it wasn’t just tiredness anymore. It was exhaustion that lived in my bones.
The Moment It All Changed
The turning point didn’t come in a dramatic way. There was no breakdown or emergency. Just a moment, standing in the kitchen, staring at the kettle, not sure why I had walked in there, then the tears started.
It wasn’t the first time I’d felt blank, but something about that moment made it clear: this wasn’t just tiredness. Something deeper was off.
That evening, instead of pushing through another hour of work, I sat down and Googled "burnout symptoms."
Every line felt like it had been written about me.
The Search for Support That Made Sense
I did what most people do. I tried to “fix it” myself. I downloaded apps, read articles, bought supplements, and made a few changes. I lasted about three weeks before sliding back into my usual patterns.
What I really needed was someone who understood what burnout looked like from the inside. Not someone who would tell me to just “prioritise self-care” or meditate for ten minutes a day, but someone who could explain what was actually happening in my body. Why my energy was so depleted, why my sleep wasn’t helping, and why my mood felt so out of character.
That’s when I found Nicole.
The Power of Being Truly Heard
I booked a clarity call, half-expecting another surface-level chat. But Nicole asked thoughtful questions. She listened without interrupting. And for the first time, I felt like someone actually got it.
She explained burnout in a way that made complete sense — how stress impacts not just your mind, but your hormones, your immune system, your sleep, and even your digestion. She talked about why I kept crashing in the afternoons, why I was waking up at 3am, and why I felt wired one minute and completely flat the next.
More than that, she offered a way forward. Not with a one-size-fits-all plan, but with a steady, realistic approach that felt doable and reassuring.
Rebuilding, Gently
Working with Nicole wasn’t about making big, dramatic changes overnight. It was about starting small, building trust in my body again, and slowly shifting the patterns that had led me to burnout in the first place.
Together, we focused on:
Nutrition that stabilised my energy without overwhelm
Herbal support that helped me sleep through the night
Supplements targeted to the deficiencies that were making everything worse
Simple changes to my routine that gave me breathing space, without guilt
For the first time in years, I didn’t feel like I had to do it all alone.
What I Know Now
Burnout isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet. It’s the slow draining away of your joy, your clarity, your spark. And if you’ve been telling yourself you’re just tired, just busy, just stressed — I see you.
There is a way back. Not by pushing harder or ignoring the signs, but by listening to your body and getting the right kind of support.
If you’re wondering whether burnout is what’s really going on, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep guessing.
