The title could just as well be: how to re-enter your life after spending years building a business. 😀
Several months ago I reached the end of a two-year sprint of building my business and I was completely burned out. What began as a creative outlet and a way to reclaim some identity beyond being a stay-at-home mom turned into the very thing that drained me. I loved working and creating, but I’d pushed myself beyond what was sustainable. Night after night of getting four hours of sleep finally caught up with me, and I started sliding into a deep, unfamiliar exhaustion that felt like depression. I don’t usually struggle with depression, but when you wear your body down for long enough, your mood and thoughts can take a nosedive. I even began imagining physical ailments because I was so desperate for a break.
I remember sitting at a service ministry event with other women and feeling dizzy and foggy, like I was intoxicated. It finally became undeniable: the years of chronic short sleep and relentless work were going to seriously harm my health if I didn’t change course.
How did the one thing I let into my life to make it better become so damaging? I hadn’t been taking care of myself while pouring everything into the business. This experience taught me that even a passion can become detrimental if you ignore your own needs. Below are practical steps I used to recover — things that helped me regain balance, energy, and joy.
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When things were at their worst I had to make deliberate, often small changes that added up and moved me out of burnout. Here are five suggestions that helped me recover and reclaim my life.
5 Suggestions for Overcoming Burnout and Getting your Life Back
1. Prioritize sleep — aim for at least 6 hours a night. I’ve never been someone who values sleep naturally; I treated it as lost work time. But chronic short sleep undermines cognitive function, mood, and health. I started using my phone’s bedtime reminder and gave myself permission to stop working and go to bed. Even if tasks weren’t finished, they would still be there in the morning when I was rested and more effective. Consistent sleep became one of the simplest, most powerful ways to recover energy and clarity.
2. Reintroduce things that bring you joy, like music. After my oldest child developed preferences around age two, I joked that the radio had been replaced by children’s shows in my life. I had stopped allowing myself small pleasures like listening to music I love. Music moves me and lifts my mood, so I started intentionally listening again — rediscovering old favorites and exploring new songs. This small habit felt rejuvenating and reminded me how important it is to make time for simple pleasures.
3. Set clear work priorities and schedule them. I began defining the three most important tasks for each day and scheduling focused time to complete them. Once those priorities were done, I would close the laptop and be present with my family. That boundary helped me enjoy real downtime without the work guilt that had kept me mentally checked out during family time. I even took an entire weekend off and went away with my husband for the first time in over two years — a much-needed reset that reminded me how restorative unplugging can be.
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4. Rediscover hobbies you love and make time for them again. I love to cook — trying new recipes and baking brings me joy. For a long time I restricted myself to quick meals to save time, but I decided to carve out time for more thoughtful cooking. That renewed creative outlet improved my mood and made family meals something I genuinely enjoyed preparing. Finding ways to prioritize passions, even in small pockets of time, restores a sense of identity and pleasure outside of work.
5. Move your body — start gentle and build consistency. I hadn’t exercised regularly for years and was dealing with lingering postpartum aches. One day I could barely walk from one room to another without pain, which frightened me. My husband helped me arrange physical therapy, and I learned I needed to start slow. Instead of jumping into high-intensity classes, I focused on walking, swimming, and light strength work. Gradual, consistent movement improved my strength and reduced pain, empowering me to take on daily life with more ease.
These steps helped me bring balance back into my life and actually enjoy the people I work so hard to spend time with. Small changes — better sleep, reclaiming hobbies, clearer work boundaries, movement, and simple pleasures like music — made a huge difference. When you’re burned out, recovery isn’t about one dramatic fix; it’s about consistent, compassionate choices that restore your energy and sense of self.
How do you manage burnout? What strategies have helped you come back to life and regain balance?
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