Pacing Yourself to Prevent Burnout

You wake up, rub your eyes, and make your way to the toilet. You sit — and that creeping exhaustion starts to seep in. Rest doesn’t feel restful at all. Burnout is common, but not permanent. Here are a few ways to pace yourself and recharge!

Define What Balance Means to You

There is no one version of what "rest" should look like. What is calming to some can feel overwhelming to others. Balance is not what everyone else calls 'self-care', but knowing what recharges you. Balance looks different for everyone. Take a moment to reflect and let the definition guide you back

Give Yourself Permission to Go More Slowly at Times

When life gives you lemons, you don’t have to open a lemonade stand overnight. In this fast-paced society, slowing down may feel like falling behind. However, moving slowly still means moving forward and with intention. Ultimately, when you slow your pace, your movements become more intentional, and your decisions become more grounded. 

Having a Minute to Reflect

In society, people are trained not to pause, which prevents us from noticing. The action can be as simple as taking a quiet walk or sitting in silence. The beauty of it comes in just a few minutes. By checking in with yourself, that small pause creates a space for clarity. This allows us to come up for air and set a limitation on what we can actually handle.

Manage Your Expectation

It is understandable to want to overachieve, but you are a human, not a machine. You hold the wisdom as you review your goals and adjust them to life changes - flexibility is not failure. Give yourself space to shift, goals can change, and so can you. 

In the end, burnout signals us to give ourselves space to breathe and reflect, not about doing less but doing things with more awareness.

Written by: Julia

01/2026

References

Neuropsychology Service Torbay & South Devon. (n.d.). Pacing: a guide to managing fatigue due to neurological conditions. https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/uploads/25479.pdf