At some point, “I got this” became the default setting for overachievers everywhere.
We take on more. Push through exhaustion. Wear busyness like a badge.
Until suddenly, one day, we hit the wall.
“I can’t even” becomes the only thing we can say.
Burnout doesn’t always arrive as a breakdown for overachievers. Sometimes, it’s a slow simmer.
- You stop caring about things you used to love.
- Everything feels harder than it should.
- Even small tasks feel monumental.
- You feel heavy and like you can’t physically move without great effort.
- You start fantasizing about disappearing for a week with nothing but snacks, silence, and zero responsibilities.
Sound familiar?
Here are a few ways to start easing out of burnout; not by doing more, but by doing differently:
Overachievers, stop glorifying the hustle
Rest is not laziness. Recovery is not weakness.
Try swapping out your “I should be doing more” mantra with “What would feel supportive today?”
Let the answer guide you; even if it’s something simple, like taking a real lunch break away from your desk or closing your laptop at a sane hour.
Audit your expectations
Are you holding yourself to an impossible standard?
Sometimes the burnout isn’t just from the workload, it’s from the weight of unrealistic expectations.
Start asking: Is this essential? Is this mine to carry?
You’re allowed to put something down and not pick it back up.
Priorities.
Schedule joy like it’s a deadline
Burned-out brains often forget what joy feels like.
Put something fun, nourishing, or restorative on your calendar, and treat it like an appointment.
Creativity and energy flow where joy lives. Don’t wait until you’ve “earned” it.
You already have.
Rest on purpose
Not just collapse-on-the-couch kind of rest after a long day.
Overachievers need intentional, nourishing rest:
- A walk without your phone
- A full night’s sleep
- A morning without screens
- A break that doesn’t end in guilt
Your nervous system needs a breather. Give it one.
Build better boundaries (even tiny ones)
One “no” can protect a hundred “yeses” that matter more.
Saying no is honestly one of the most liberating things you can do for yourself.
Start small!
- No work emails after 7 PM
- No meetings on Fridays
- No people-pleasing at the cost of your peace (I’m looking at a lot of you with this one and you know who you are.)
Your time and energy are not infinite. Protect them like gold.
The truth is, overachievers don’t need more motivation. We need more permission.
Permission to rest.
Permission to do less.
Permission to be human.
You don’t have to earn your worth. You already have it.
Burnout isn’t your fault; but healing from it is within your power.
Start where you are. Breathe. Choose one small shift in your habits.
And if all else fails? Remember: “I can’t even” is a valid feeling; but not your final state.
