How to Recover from Burnout: Embracing Radical Rest
A few years ago, I read an article by Brene Brown called Creating Space, and it’s something that really resonated with me.. In it, she shared that she was about to take a 14-week sabbatical and that she was encouraging everyone in her organisation to take an extra four weeks of annual leave this summer. She also eloquently explained why this decision was necessary, acknowledging that in order to make brave decisions and achieve audacious goals, we need breath and space. The post ended with a quote from Michaela Coel: "Do not be afraid to disappear, from it, from us, for a while and see what comes to you in the silence."
Now, you probably know that I am a huge fan of Brené Brown and the brilliant work that she does, but I’ll admit that my first response as I sat at my desk reading that post was a sarcastic "alright for some, hey". I felt defensive and triggered, envious and judgemental. I closed the tab, got back to my to-do list, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her words. After a little while, that initial sting of envy was replaced with something new: a sense of curiosity. Why was I reacting this way? What had this post touched in me? By the time 5.30pm rolled around and I was locking up my office, a new question had crystalised in my mind: how can I get myself some of that breath and space? How can I too swim deep into that silence?
Recognising the Signs of Burnout
One of the most powerful things I learned during my training in psychology is that our first responses are usually our conditioned responses. They’re the reactions we’ve been taught to have based on the belief systems we’ve inherited from society, our communities, or our families. For that reason, our immediate responses can often feel incongruent. I used to feel ashamed that my automatic responses were sometimes judgy or defensive, perhaps even cruel. But learning this fact helped me to be more compassionate with myself.
Nowadays, I pay a lot more attention to the thoughts that come after. I try to see that initial response as a confused child acting out on the playground—I know that they’re not intentionally being unkind, but I try not to give their words too much energy. Instead, I get quiet and listen for what shows up once the tantrum is out of the way. That’s usually where I find the answers, where the learning happens, where the new ideas come, where the epiphany arrives.
Why Rest is the Key to Burnout Recovery
The epiphany upon reading that post from Brené was that I am craving radical rest. Not a long weekend, not a few days of holiday, but deep, nourishing, restorative rest. And I’m going to guess that I’m not the only one. As I sit typing this from bed on a Thursday morning, trying to recoup some energy after a busy workweek, I feel bone tired. I’ve been listing out the reasons I might be feeling this way—perhaps it’s residual jet lag, perhaps it’s the summer cold I’m sniffling my way through, perhaps it’s the fact that life is busier than it has been for a long time.
But I have a sneaking suspicion that even if I were doing nothing but pottering around the house and sleeping for 10 hours a night, this tiredness would still exist. I think this exhaustion has less to do with what’s going on in my life right now and more to do with the cumulative effect of prolonged stress, overwork, and pushing through without pause. My body and brain have done such a brilliant job of keeping me going, of helping me survive, of letting me wear the battery down in order to keep up with work and life. And now, this tiredness is their way of telling me that they need time to recharge.
Creating Space for Radical Rest
So, inspired by Brené Brown (as I so often am), I’m declaring this my season of radical rest. While I can’t take 14 weeks away from work (and I imagine very few of you can either), what I can do is make rest my number one priority in the coming months.
Rest involves so much more than sleep or physical relaxation (as vital as those are). Researchers believe that there are seven types of rest that we need:
Physical rest (sleep, naps, stretching, massage)
Mental rest (taking breaks, reducing information overload)
Sensory rest (limiting screen time, quiet spaces)
Creative rest (appreciating art, engaging in hobbies)
Emotional rest (setting boundaries, seeking support)
Social rest (spending time with supportive people or taking solitude when needed)
Spiritual rest (connecting with something bigger than ourselves, through nature, meditation, or faith)
This season, I want to lean into all of them. I want to take time to appreciate great art, to spend time in nature, to have deep, meaningful conversations. I want to be with the people I love most, to visit new places, to work on projects that nourish my soul. I want to take regular breaks, to leave my laptop untouched for as many days as my commitments will allow. I want to let joyful experiences fill me up again. And yes, let’s be honest—I’ll probably also take a lot of naps.
Are You Ready to Recover from Burnout?
I’d like to encourage you to join me. If you’re feeling exhausted, if you’re running on empty, it’s time to stop fighting it. Burnout recovery isn’t about pushing harder or finding new ways to be productive. It’s about allowing yourself the time and space to heal. It’s about giving yourself permission to rest, to slow down, to take a break without guilt.
So, who’s with me? Let’s embrace radical rest. Let’s make space for recovery. And let’s rediscover what it feels like to be truly energised again.
Wanting to know more about recovering from burnout? Make sure to check out my book, The Hustle Cure, the new approach to burnout and productivity for Women: Tame Your To-Do List and Find Energy, Focus, and Flow in Your Days