Nursing the System

51: How to Catch Burnout Before It Catches You


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🎙 Episode Overview

This week’s episode is a vulnerable one. I’m sharing what it looked like when I hit the early warning signs of burnout this fall and what I did to swerve before it turned into a full-blown crash. This isn’t a theoretical lesson. It’s a real-time reflection on what burnout actually feels like, what it taught me, and how I’m doing now. If you're starting to feel that low hum of stress in your own life or work, this episode is for you.


🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn

  • The specific burnout symptoms I started noticing in myself
  • Why burnout doesn’t always mean you’re in the wrong job
  • How I started course-correcting in the middle of Q4
  • What it means to “swerve burnout” instead of “bracing for impact”
  • Three ways you can reflect and reset before it’s too late


🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You

  • Burnout is a feedback signal—not a diagnosis.
  • Different people burn out for different reasons.
  • You can love your job and still be running too hot.
  • Recovery systems matter just as much as strategy.
  • Your burnout symptoms are valid—even if no one else sees them yet.


🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode

Listen with a notebook (or your Notes app) open. Track your own warning signs. Pause and jot down what comes up for you—especially if you’ve been brushing off exhaustion, irritability, or that feeling of wanting to delete your calendar.


🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take

  • Make space to think clearly. Block 1–2 hours to reflect without distraction.
  • Rank your current life priorities (1–6) and let the list guide your bandwidth.
  • Re-establish the recovery systems that help you feel like yourself: gym, connection, rest, joy.
  • Write out your personal early warning signs of burnout and share them with someone who can help spot them.
  • If you're in a leadership role, talk openly about how you’re doing—modeling honesty helps the whole system.


📲 Call to Action

  • If this episode resonated, share it with a friend or colleague who might need to hear it.
  • DM me your personal burnout signals—I’d love to learn from your experience.
  • Leave a review if you’ve found value in the show. It helps more nurses find our community.
  • Want coaching support in 2026? Join the waitlist for Changemaker Essentials.


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Nursing the SystemBy Claire Phillips, DNP RN