it wasn’t that you had done far, far too much
for way, way too long 

that burnout inched up closer…and closer… 
until it charged 
and l-e-a-p-t 
and hobbled you unexpected.

it wasn’t what you did at all
but what you did not do.

when you didn’t acknowledge the ache
lingering beside your heart
and thought if you disregarded it, 
it would one day slip away. 

when you did not notice your natural
human needs growing and piling up 
until they were an unsteady tower, precarious.

when you didn’t listen as your mind and body
grew increasingly unsettled, unfocused
distracted by the chaos of ‘busy’ instead.

so, pause, 
turn towards your heart with courage
recognise your urgent needs
and listen to your helpful body’s request
for calm

if not this instant, today.

        —burnout is not about excessive outward production,
    	    it is dysregulation and all of those niggling internal cues
 	    you’ve ceased to see. trust me, making adjustments now
	    is waaaaay easier than coming back from burnout.