Little Fires Everywhere: A Mid-Year Reflection on Burnout and Chronic Stress
Somehow, we are already halfway through the year, and if I’m being honest, most days it feels like I am on fire.
In some moments, I feel momentum building. For example, I know I am moving through something. Other times, I’m unsure if I even have the energy to keep going. Yet, the race continues, and yes, I am in it for the long haul. But my approach? It’s different now. Not just because I want it to be. But, because it has to be.
Have you ever had those moments where you pause, look around, and say, “Hey God, something has to give here!” Almost like your very own “Dear God, it’s me Margaret” moment, except it’s grown up, worn out, and whispering (or maybe screaming, or even sobbing) from the edge of burnout.
Because this current race, this frantic pace, this high stress mode of survival living, it is no longer sustainable.
And, if you’re nodding your head right now?
You are not alone.
Each week I sit across from clients navigating intense grief, heartbreaking loss, major transitions, soul-deep depression, and the relentless churn of anxiety. People who feel like they are drowning, stuck in survival mode, unsure of how to come up for air. Burnout is not just a buzzword. It is a lived experience.
And I know it, too. Personally.
So, how does the shift happen?
How do we move from barely surviving to reclaiming even one breath of peace? How do we decide what needs to change, or what has to change?
We start small. Just one thing at a time.
I call it my non-negotiables list. Some people call it a self-care tracker. Others might feel fancy and name it a “nurture management kit” (I just made that up. Kind of cute, huh?) Whatever you name it, the goal is the same: to ground yourself in daily acts of care that remind you, you matter.
Here’s how I break mine down:
Basic Self-Care
These are the foundational things that keep you functioning. Drinking enough water. Getting consistent sleep. Making sure your environment isn’t chaotic. For one of my clients, it is doing her skincare routine every night because that is a moment of connection with herself. A ritual of care.
Emotional/Psychological/Spiritual Self-Care
This is about tending to your inner world. It might include journaling, therapy (yes, therapists absolutely need therapists too), prayer, or meditation. For me, it’s reading something that nourishes my spirit. It’s showing up for myself in the ways I often encourage others to do.
Relational Self-Care
This one matters more than we realize. Healthy connection. Community. Touchpoints that fill your emotional tank. This could be a phone call with a friend, a lunch date, or an intentional moment of laughter with someone you trust. Note: I said healthy and reciprocal. Don’t just reach out to anyone. Some connections will drain you more than they fill you. (Whew, that’s a whole blog post in itself. More on that later.)
Physical Self-Care
This is about what helps your body feel alive and whole. Walking, stretching, dancing in the kitchen, yoga, breath work, or that workout playlist that makes you feel like you’re preparing for the Carter Act III. Whatever it is, let it feel good, not punishing. Let it feel restorative.
As we commit to putting out these “little fires everywhere",” I invite you to ask yourself:
What is one non-negotiable area of care I can commit to, for me?
Even if the world still feels chaotic. Even if nothing around you changes right away. You get to be different. You get to reclaim your time, your peace, your joy. One small act at a time.
Keep those promises to yourself. They matter.
You matter.
And you are so worthy. So worthy of the love and care you so freely give to everyone else.
This time, let it start with you.
