I turned exhaustion into strength
For about twenty-three years ago, I was studying extremely hard. I completed a two-year course in only one year while also caring for a one-year-old and a five-year-old at home who both needed my attention.
Eventually, I felt as if I couldn’t handle another day of school. I cried and felt completely out of balance. I was fortunate to meet a doctor who immediately understood my situation. After I told her everything and said how sad and exhausted I felt, she simply asked me, “Do you think it’s strange that you feel the way you do?”
Her question caught me off guard, but in that moment, I realized what I had just described and that such a lifestyle, without rest or recovery, was not sustainable. Even if I wasn’t completely burned out, I was deeply exhausted. She prescribed long walks in daylight and rest. I followed her advice and recovered quickly. That experience taught me to listen to my body’s signals so that I would never end up there again.
Later in life, I worked with people experiencing burnout in different ways. I spent time at a health retreat in southern Sweden specializing in green rehabilitation, where most of the participants showed signs of exhaustion or burnout. I have also coached many adult students with similar backgrounds. I know that it’s absolutely possible to move forward and feel well again.
It is also possible to learn new ways of living to avoid falling into burnout once more. Unfortunately, I have seen that pattern too often, people who burn out tend to repeat it because they don’t listen to what their bodies are trying to tell them or what they truly need.
This was one of the main reasons why I decided to become a professional coach certified by the global coaching federation ICF.
I wanted a solid foundation with conversation techniques, exercises, and practical tools to help my clients move from exhaustion to hope.
I know that most transformation begins in our thoughts. We must remember to ask ourselves what we truly need and speak to ourselves in positive and compassionate ways so we can see a future filled with new hope and renewed strength. 🧡