Burnout doesn't just wear you out physically—it scrambles your thoughts, blurs your focus, and leaves you feeling lost in life. Even on days when "nothing big" happened, you can still feel completely drained, overstimulated, and like you're drowning emotionally.

In this solo episode of Don't Cut Your Own Bangs, I share a personal story of navigating one of those days when the noise of burnout got way too loud—and the small but powerful shifts that helped me reclaim clarity and calm.

This conversation is part of my Put Down the Panic: A Kinder Guide to Stress mini-series, created to help you lower the volume on burnout, quiet the noise, and make space to hear your own voice again.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Overstimulation fuels burnout more than we realize. "It's so easy for overstimulation to fuel the burnout we're trying to avoid."

Our brains weren't built for nonstop notifications, interruptions, and mental multitasking. Recognizing overstimulation is the first step toward recovery.

2. Tiny resets create big clarity. "One little notch down in the volume makes it that much easier for you to hear yourself—the truth of your own experience."

Even a one-minute pause or a few minutes of "sensory white space" without screens can help you reset and reconnect.

3. Rest and repair are not weaknesses. "The break I gave myself didn't reinvigorate me—it repaired me. And that was exactly what I needed."

Repair days protect you from deeper burnout. They're just as valuable as days when you feel fully energized.

Resources Mentioned

• The Treasure Journal – a 7-part guided journal and meditation series → The Treasured Journal

• Wrestling a Walrus: For Little People with Big Feelings – my children's book to help kids (and adults) navigate emotions → Wrestling a Walrus

  • Watch the show on YouTube

  • Instagram

If you've been feeling lost in life or thinking, "I feel like I'm drowning emotionally," I hope this episode offers you a breath of fresh air and a gentle reminder: you don't have to earn your peace—it's waiting for you in the pause.

Don't forget to subscribe to Don't Cut Your Own Bangs wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who might need a moment of calm today.