You’re Doing It All—and It’s Slowly Breaking You: Here’s How to Stop Before You Burn Out
You’re doing everything for everyone and no one would even know you’re barely holding it together.
Work’s full-on. The kids need you. The list never ends.
You keep telling yourself it’s fine. You’ve got this.
And deep down you know you’re not fine. You’re tired, both mentally and emotionally.
You’ve become the last person you prioritise.
And I get it. I help high-achieving, smart, capable mums who are juggling so much and slowly crumbling underneath the weight of expectations. Both their own and everyone else’s.
Nothing will change until you decide to pause.
This is not so that you fall apart.
It’s to get back to who you are.
Because when you put yourself back in the frame, that’s when things can begin to shift.
I know if I stop, it’ll all fall apart.
Does this sound familiar?
This is the fear I hear most.
If I stop, if I rest, if I say no, what will happen? Who will pick it all up?
What if I told you, you don’t need to carry it all to prove your worth.
You’ve built your life around showing up for everyone else. It’s become part of your identity.
And when you even think about focusing on yourself, the guilt creeps in.
You’re Not Failing—You’re Just Running on Empty
Let me be crystal clear here, this is not about failure.
This is about expectations. The invisible, ever-growing weight of what you think you should be doing.
You’re trying to keep up with standards that no one could realistically meet. And because you’re so used to handling it all, you’ve normalised your own burnout.
But underneath the organisation and the effort, your confidence is quietly eroding. Your self-esteem is starting to suffer. You’re beginning to question your choices, your parenting, your work and your value.
You don’t need to work harder.
You need to come back to yourself.
As Dame Kelly Holmes said, “You have to put yourself first. If you don’t, how can you be strong enough for others?”
We’re not meant to live permanently in service of everyone else. And yet, for so many women, that’s exactly what life has become.
The Superwoman Costume Doesn’t Fit Anymore
You’ve been sold a version of success that looks like juggling everything perfectly, never dropping a ball, smiling through the exhaustion and never ever asking for help.
It’s no wonder you feel like you’re falling short.
When I work with clients, I help them get under the surface of this. We don’t just talk about goals and time management.
We go deeper.
We uncover why your beliefs about value, worth and success are driving you to override your needs.
Because here’s what happens when we stay in that ‘Superwoman’ mode too long:
- We lose clarity on what we want
- We make decisions from fear, not desire
- We build lives that serve everyone and not our own
This fuels the quiet resentment, constant irritation and the lack of fulfilment even when everything “looks” good.
How to Put Yourself Back on the List
Now, I’m not here to tell you to book a spa day and call it self-care.
I’m here to help you make meaningful, lasting change and that starts with small, intentional shifts.
Ten minutes a day—for you
No multitasking. No guilt. Just time to hear your own thoughts. Whether it’s journaling, walking, stretching or sipping tea in peace. Start here. Show yourself that you matter.
Challenge the expectations
Whose rules are you living by? Are they aligned with your values or someone else’s idea of what your life should look like?
Take the cape off
Superwoman is exhausted. You don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to prove anything. Ask for help. Delegate. Take things off your plate. You are allowed to need space.
Learn to say no with grace and without guilt
Every “yes” to someone else is a potential “no” to yourself. Boundaries are self-respect in action.
Visualise the you who’s thriving and work backwards
What does she believe about herself? How does she spend her time? What does she not tolerate anymore? Let that version of you lead the way.
As Fearne Cotton puts it: “Self-worth is knowing you are worthy without having to earn it.”
That version of you already exists. She just needs space to breathe.
This Is Where the Shift Happens
Now imagine this:
- You’re clear on what matters to you.
- You’re not saying yes to things out of guilt.
- You’re present with your kids and making moves in your career because you’ve stopped running on autopilot.
- You feel confident in your skin again.
- You’re doing life with more intention, energy and clarity.
That’s what we create in coaching.
We take your overwhelm and turn it into a strategy. We turn guilt into clarity. We reconnect you with the confident, grounded woman you know is still in there you’ve just buried her under other people’s priorities.
Ready to Come Back to You?
This is your invitation. To stop crumbling quietly and start choosing differently. To stop surviving and start living.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
That’s what I’m here for.
If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start reclaiming your confidence, time and sense of self, it’s time we had a chat.
Book your free discovery call today to see how I can help you https://meetings.hubspot.com/mummyonabreak
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