When Burnout Sneaks Up On You: My Personal Revelation
The Slow Creep of Burnout
Burnout has a way of creeping into our lives so silently that, oftentimes, we do not realize its presence until it has completely consumed us.
Recently, I found myself in exactly that position — overwhelmed, exhausted, and dangerously close to losing my ability to function at my best, both professionally and personally. The revelation, however, did not come from a moment of clarity during peaceful reflection. It came from frustration, anger, and a short fuse that had become my constant companion.
Balancing Work, Family, and Everything In Between
The past several months had been a whirlwind. At work, I had taken on the invisible weight of protecting my team from external scrutiny while ensuring that every deliverable was top-notch. I had unknowingly shouldered far more than my fair share, rationalizing that it was necessary to shield my team and maintain our high standards.
At home, life was just as demanding — if not more so. As a parent to three active children, my days were consumed with school drop-offs and pick-ups, practices, games, extracurriculars, and training sessions. With basketball season in full swing, our evenings and weekends were spent on the road, in gyms, and at multiple games each week, all while trying to stay present for dance practices and family commitments.
To add another layer, winter brought with it a carousel of illnesses — flu, stomach viruses, and other seasonal bugs that swept through our household one after the other. All of these obligations and challenges were stacked atop our already demanding family business, which operates six days a week and requires constant attention through phone calls, emails, and text messages. It felt as though no space was left for personal time or rest.
The Breaking Point
It wasn’t until my irritability escalated into outright anger that I realized something was seriously wrong. My patience was nonexistent, and the smallest deviation from my expectations felt intolerable. The breaking point came after attending a basketball game where parents from an opposing school threatened our players — middle schoolers — with blatant hostility. At another game, parents from yet another school made racially charged comments, calling our children and parents animals.
The anger and frustration I felt in those moments were overwhelming. As an adult, a parent, and a member of this community, I could not comprehend how grown individuals could verbally attack innocent children. It felt like the unraveling of basic human decency, and witnessing it firsthand — while simultaneously experiencing corporate bullying at my full-time job — pushed me over the edge.
A Middle-of-the-Night Revelation
In the chaos, I did the only thing I knew to do — I prayed. I asked God to show me the path forward, to give me clarity, and to help me understand how to manage the weight I was carrying. That clarity came in an unexpected way. At 1 a.m., I woke up, wide awake and certain of what I needed to do.
I needed to pause.
Knowing Better Doesn’t Make You Immune
What struck me the hardest was the realization that, as someone who has experienced burnout before, I should have seen this coming from a mile away. I am intentional about verbalizing my boundaries and constantly speak about how fiercely I protect my peace — because my well-being is my top priority. But somewhere along the way, those words became just that — words. How could this happen to me? I’ve studied this. I’ve completed graduate-level coursework in mental health and even doctoral-level courses focused on mental health and trauma. If anyone should have recognized the signs, it should have been me. How does someone who knows better — someone who teaches others to prioritize their well-being — still fall victim to burnout?
The Truth About Burnout
The answer is deceptively simple: knowledge does not make us immune to being human. Awareness, education, and expertise provide tools, but they do not automatically shield us from life’s pressures, especially when we are deeply invested in the well-being of others — whether it’s our family, our team, our community, or our clients. Burnout often affects those of us who care the most, who are the first to step in, solve problems, and absorb burdens to protect others. We tell ourselves we are managing because we know the warning signs — but knowing and actively honoring those signs are two very different things.
Burnout doesn’t just come from overwork; it comes from emotional exhaustion, prolonged exposure to stress, and the gradual erosion of boundaries we thought were firmly in place. It creeps in when we convince ourselves that if we just hold on a little longer, if we just get through this next challenge, then we will rest. But life rarely offers that pause unless we demand it for ourselves.
Taking the First Step to Pause
For me, that pause came through an unexpected personal leave from work — I started with one week and committed to taking it week by week, allowing myself the time and space to truly rest and recharge. It was uncomfortable at first, but it was necessary. What I’ve realized, though, is that I am not alone in this. There are parents all over our community — good people, loving parents, dedicated professionals — who feel exactly like I did. Overwhelmed, stretched too thin, and unsure of how to step back without feeling like they are failing someone.
An Invitation to Reflect and Reset
If you are reading this and it resonates, I want to invite you to pause. Take a moment — not just to breathe, but to truly reflect on how you are doing. Not how you are performing, not how others perceive you, but how you are. If your cup is empty, I promise you that you are not alone — but you do not have to wait for your breaking point to do something about it.
A Heartfelt Request for Kindness
And finally, I have one heartfelt request for all of us — please, let us be kind. If every adult in our community could commit to basic human decency, respect, and self-restraint — especially with our words — we could create a safer, healthier environment for our children and for each other. Those ugly incidents at the basketball games, where adults felt comfortable threatening children and hurling racially charged insults, should never have happened.
I am not someone who can sit silently while children are disrespected or threatened in my presence — nor do I believe I should. But I am learning that I cannot always put myself on the front line to protect everyone else while neglecting to protect myself. As a child of God, a wife, a mother, and a business owner, I have a responsibility to preserve my own well-being so I can continue to serve those I love from a place of strength, not depletion.
Let’s collectively do better — for ourselves, for each other, and most importantly, for our children.
💙MonAmie💚
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Mon Amie’s Business, Wellness and Learning Solutions are pioneers in championing mental health awareness and organizational excellence. We specialize in fostering mental health awareness, providing tailored support to individuals and families affected by high stress, anxiety, depression, and neurodivergent disorders, and offering comprehensive workplace wellness solutions and management consulting for small to mid-size organizations.
In addition to our business and wellness solutions, Mon Amie’s also offers K-12 tutoring services in Mathematics, English Language Arts, Literacy, and Organizational Skills Training. Our team of tutors are highly qualified education professionals with certified credentials or advanced degrees in education or related fields.
Our mission is to create inclusive and psychologically safe workplace environments where support and well-being are prioritized. We are dedicated to advancing mental health literacy, eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, and promoting educational equity for students with ADHD. We are committed to the well-being of our community, and we actively address and mitigate factors contributing to trauma and mental health issues within the diverse communities we serve. Through our unwavering dedication, we aspire to create a world where every individual can thrive emotionally, mentally, and academically.
At Mon Amie’s Business, Wellness and Learning Solutions, we believe that the human spirit is resilient and capable of transformation. We understand that the people we are today are a reflection of the experiences we have faced in the past - both the triumphs and the trials. That's why we are deeply committed to a trauma-informed approach, recognizing that healing and growth are possible when we provide a safe space for individuals to explore their past, process their emotions, and embrace their inner strength.
Our team of dedicated professionals combines expertise in psychology, human resources, and management consulting to offer holistic support that nurtures the mind, body, and soul. We understand that mental health challenges can impact every aspect of a person's life, from personal relationships to professional success. Through our tailored services, we guide individuals on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, helping them to overcome obstacles, build resilience, and unlock their full potential.
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