Ep. 19 - You Can’t Outwork Burnout (Here’s What To Do Instead)

You've done it. You've built the dream team. Your books are full, the shelves are stocked, the team is mostly running.

But on the inside, you're exhausted. You're so over it, and you're wondering if this is just how things are.

I'm here to tell you: You cannot outwork your burnout. You can, however, recover from it and build a spa that doesn't drain the life out of you.

The Myth of More Hustle

We've all been sold the idea that if we just work harder, things will get better. We've glorified the words "busy" and "hustle."

You keep telling yourself: "Once I hire this person" or "Once I get through this season" or "Once I hit this revenue milestone, everything will be better."

But burnout doesn't fix itself when you reach the next level.

If you currently have a crack, you're only going to grow that crack even bigger. Burnout often gets worse at the next level because now there's more pressure, more people relying on you, and even less space to rest.

If you're doing more and feeling worse, this episode is for you.

Signs You're Past Tired and Heading Into Burnout

You might think you're just having a rough week. But here's how you know it's deeper:

• You fantasize about quitting

• You feel resentful of your business—your clients, your team, even though you love them (totally normal, first of all)

• Your creativity is gone. You're just going through the motions

• You feel like you have to work when your body is screaming at you to rest

• You cry in your car before walking into the spa. Or you get into your car after a long day and cry

Burnout is not just being tired. It's being disconnected from the joy and passion that comes from your job. It's being drained of energy, of purpose.

And it doesn't have to be like that.

I've 100% been in burnout and sometimes I still get to it, even now. But it's okay. The more you do this, the more self-aware you become, the more you'll recognize it before it happens and nip it in the bud.

Burnout Recovery Isn't About Bubble Baths and Candles

It can be, totally can be. But it's also about changing what burned you out in the first place.

Here's what that looks like:

1. Audit Your Own Responsibilities

What are you doing that someone else can own in your business? Get brutally honest.

The spa won't collapse if you don't do inventory for a week, or if not every single DM is responded to within 24 hours.

2. Create White Space on Your Calendar

That means blocked-off time for nothing.

If all you want to do is drink your coffee in the morning or watch the sunrise, no admin, no errands, nothing—do it.

Let your mind wander. You need that mental recovery time to give yourself space to wonder and wander and see what magic can happen when you breathe.

3. Stop Underpaying Yourself

This is something not a lot of people talk about. Burnout hits harder when the payoff doesn't match the effort.

If you're working 50+ hours a week for $1,000 a month, maybe $2,000 if you're lucky, the math alone is pretty demoralizing.

I was 1,000% in that space for quite some time. Once I realized that the effort I was putting in did not match what I was getting out, that's when I realized something had to change.

4. Rebuild Your Boundaries

Here's the thing about boundaries: It's not a boundary if you don't uphold your end of things.

A boundary is not just saying "Stop hitting me." A boundary is: "Stop hitting me or I'm going to go to a different room." And then when they continue, you actually leave the room.

So:

• Say no to clients that are draining you

• Say no to team members who disrespect you or your time

• Say yes to rest, even if it means saying no to revenue for right now

Sometimes you need to slow down in order to speed up.

My Personal Burnout Story

There was a season where I was working six days a week, doing it all. People kept telling me how successful I was. "Oh my gosh, you're doing so well!"

But I was having panic attacks at night. I dreaded falling asleep because I started having nightmares with my eyes open. I was dreading sleep. Then I stopped sleeping. Everything compounded and got to a really bad place.

I dreaded going to work. I was resentful of my own business. I realized I had built something that looked really good on Instagram, but it didn't feel good behind the scenes.

So I restructured.

What I did:

• Stopped seeing certain clients

• Delegated more than ever (and it is the BEST feeling in the whole wide world—it's so addictive!)

• Started saying no as a complete sentence

• Stopped saying yes to everything and everyone other than myself and my family

• Gave myself permission to rest

Start Small: The Shower Test

This might sound silly to some people, but I bet this is going to resonate with a few select people.

If you are bringing your phone into the shower with you and listening to YouTube or podcasts, I want you to pause me, turn me off, and just let your mind be in the moment for the seven-minute shower you're speed-showering through.

I encourage you to start small. Give yourself that little bit of space. Start with the shower. Don't take your phone into the bathroom. Leave it outside of that room.

If You're Reading This With Tears in Your Eyes

If you feel a knot in your stomach or chest, just know: You're not alone. Burnout is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that your systems are not working the way they should be. All systems can be restructured and rebuilt. Take these first steps and stop surviving. Start healing. Start living in a little bit more of a peaceful mindset.

Ready to rebuild your spa so it doesn't drain you?

Fill out this intake form to book a discovery call with me. Let's create a business that serves you instead of burning you out. I hope you're taking care of yourself, my friend. And if not, I would love to help you start doing that as soon as possible.