I’ve experienced seasons of burnout, and it’s what led me to create this podcast and pursue the work I’m so passionate about today—helping women regulate their nervous systems. Burnout is tough, and if I can help women recognize its onset and teach them how to manage it, that’s a big deal.

Running a multi-7 figure law firm with two attorneys and a few amazing support staff was no small feat. As you can imagine, it involved a lot of volume and pressure. The practice of law, particularly litigation, is not conducive to a regulated nervous system. The contentious nature of the work and the often hostile interactions with other attorneys, who are frequently dysregulated themselves, make the legal industry a prime breeding ground for burnout. I know many of you can relate to working in stressful environments.

The Impact of Chronic Stress on Our Lives

And then, adding kids into the mix—forget it. I was burning the candle at both ends, trying to do it all, too busy to even slow down and ask for help. I didn’t know the warning signs and drove myself straight to burnout.

So, let’s talk about the warning signs of burnout. Burnout isn’t just feeling tired after a rough night’s sleep; that’s simply fatigue. Burnout is the result of prolonged exposure to chronic stress, which alters your nervous system on a physiological level. Chronic stress raises your baseline stress level and affects various aspects of your health, including digestion, mood, stress processing, creativity, focus, the immune system, sleep quality, and socialization.

When we experience stress, our nervous system shifts into a higher gear. With prolonged stress, this buildup in the nervous system causes it to become less flexible and more prone to fight or flight or shutdown responses. Chronic stress deviates your nervous system from its normal resting baseline, leading to burnout—a state where the body cannot cope with stress and becomes mentally and physically exhausted.

Expanding Your Window of Tolerance

When our nervous system is chronically dysregulated, it leads to burnout. The goal over time is to “expand” our window of tolerance so that our nervous system can handle more stress before becoming dysregulated. Nowadays, I manage a law firm, host a podcast, run a nearly full coaching business, help pastor a church, am a mom and wife, work out five days a week, and even clean my own house—all without feeling overwhelmed or burned out.

I’m not saying this to boast but to illustrate what’s possible when you expand your capacity by doing the nervous system work and exercises I teach. Five years ago, without these tools, I’d be a hot mess—constantly looping between anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout. But now, with these practices that literally take me two minutes, I’m doing more than ever without losing it or feeling burned out.

Science shows that it only takes about six weeks of these exercises to heal your nervous system. You’ll see immediate improvements, and by consistently doing five-minute balancing exercises daily for six weeks, you can significantly expand your window of tolerance.

Recognizing 10 Signs of Burnout

Let’s discuss some common signs of burnout. If any of these resonate with you, your body is trying to communicate that it’s chronically dysregulated and needs rest, balance, and healing. Early intervention is key, so pay attention to these signs:

• Low Energy: No matter how much you sleep, you don’t feel refreshed and alert.
• Brain Fog: Difficulty thinking clearly, taking longer to process information, and forgetfulness.
• Apathy: Feeling like what you do doesn’t matter, loss of enjoyment in activities.
• Irritability: Being easily annoyed by everything and everyone.
• Sleep Issues: Trouble sleeping or feeling rested, even after a day off or a vacation.
• Withdrawal: Wanting to be alone, canceling plans because socializing feels overwhelming.
• Frequent Illness: Increased susceptibility to sickness, hair loss, brittle nails, and skin sensitivities.
• Lack of Motivation: Procrastination, self-doubt, and dissatisfaction with your efforts.
• Digestive Issues: IBS, irregularity, and difficulty with bowel movements.
• Chronic Pain: Persistent muscle tension, aches, pains, and headaches.

Recognizing these signs is the first step towards healing. By becoming aware of your body’s signals and taking action to regulate your nervous system, you can prevent burnout and lead a more balanced, fulfilling life. Remember, it’s about expanding your capacity to handle stress and maintaining a resilient nervous system.

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