You’re Not Broken—You’re Just Burned Out: A Slow-Living Guide to What’s Next

Mar 31

A woman looks into the distance at some mountains and wonders if she's ready for something more

Feeling stuck in your job? Wondering if burnout, anxiety, or frustration are signs that it’s time for a change—but too overwhelmed to know what comes next?

You’re not alone. So many of us reach a point where the job we once worked so hard to get no longer feels like a good fit. The joy is gone. The motivation is missing. And the spark that once made it all feel worthwhile… has quietly faded.

If that’s where you are, take a breath. You’re not broken. You’re not behind. You might just be burned out—and it might be time to slow down and listen to what your life is trying to tell you.

So let’s start there—with a quiet reflection on what’s changed, and why it matters.

You worked so hard for your job.

You did everything “right.”
You followed the path.
You proved yourself.
You kept showing up—even on the days when it drained you.

But now? It just feels… heavy.

Draining.
Off.
Like something’s shifted—and not in a good way.

You’re exhausted. Unfulfilled.
And maybe, if you’re honest, a little lost.

The job that once felt like stability or success no longer feels like it fits.
But you don’t know what would feel better.
You just know it’s not this.

You’re Not Broken. You’re Just Ready for More.

Let’s get something out of the way right now: This isn’t your fault.

You’re not broken.
You’re not behind.
You’re not asking for too much.

And you are definitely not the only one feeling this way.

So many of us reach a point where the systems we once trusted no longer feel supportive. We’re doing everything we were taught to do… and still ending each day exhausted, numb, or wondering, “Is this all there is?”

I’ve been there, too.

For me, one of the biggest moments came after I’d spent years earning my Ph.D., following what felt like a true calling into teaching, and finally landing a coveted tenure-track professorship. On paper, I had made it.

But behind the scenes? Academia didn’t feel like the nurturing, inspiring space I’d imagined. It was political. It was exhausting. And it didn’t feel like me.

Letting go of that identity—one I had worked so hard to build—was terrifying.
It meant walking away from the version of success I thought I was supposed to want… to make space for something better. Something more aligned.
It took courage. It took grief. And it took a whole lot of permission to start listening to my own intuition instead of everyone else’s expectations.

So if you’re standing in that fog right now—questioning, aching, unsure of what comes next—I want you to know:

You’re not alone.
And you’re not broken.

Take a breath.
It’s okay to want something more.

What You Really Need Right Now: Space, Not Solutions

When you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out, the world tends to hand you a list of quick fixes:

Buy a new planner.
Try a time-blocking app.
Make a five-year plan.
Push through. Figure it out. Be grateful.

Or (OMG) go back on the job market.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t need a new productivity system.
You need space.

Space to breathe.
Space to untangle what’s real.
Space to hear your own voice underneath all the pressure and proving.

This is the slow-living way.
Not rushing to “solve” your life, but gently reconnecting with what matters most—and letting that guide your next step.

A Gentle Reflection Practice: Reconnecting with Your “Why”

If this is stirring something in you, I invite you to pause and spend a few quiet minutes reflecting—not to find a perfect answer, but simply to come home to yourself.

Try asking:

Why did I take this job in the first place?
What did I hope it would bring me—freedom, purpose, stability?
Is any of that magic still there—or has something shifted?
If I could do anything else (without fear or guilt), what would it be?

Let your answers be messy. No judgment.
No pressure to fix anything today.

This is just the beginning of listening.
And sometimes, that alone is the breakthrough.

Your Next Step Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect. It Just Has to Be True.

When the life you’ve built starts to feel like it doesn’t fit anymore, it’s easy to panic. To feel like you’ve wasted time, made mistakes, or missed your window.

But you haven’t.
You’re not stuck.
You’re standing at a threshold.

The next step won’t always be clear or linear. It may not come with a map.
But it can come with more peace. More clarity. More truth.

Let yourself move toward what feels nourishing.
Even if it’s just a tiny shift.
Even if it’s just the decision to listen.

What’s Next?

If this resonates, stay close. I’ve been quietly creating something new—a cozy, intentional space for 1:1 mentorship that helps you get clear on what’s next in your life or work… without the pressure to have it all figured out.