Ever find yourself saying “yes” while your soul is screaming “please no, not again”?
Yep. Me too.
In the dance of work and life, especially as women in midlife, it’s incredibly easy to lose ourselves in the shuffle. We give and give — to partners, kids, clients, colleagues — until we’re running on fumes and wondering when exactly we signed up to be everything to everyone.
The truth is, burnout doesn’t happen because we’re not strong enough. It happens because we’ve been strong for too long without boundaries.
The Burnout Backstory
Let’s be honest — most of us were never taught how to set boundaries. We were taught to be nice. Be helpful. Be accommodating. Which is all well and good until “helpful” becomes habitual self-sacrifice.
The result? We say yes when we mean no, squeeze in that one last favour even though we’re already late, and convince ourselves that rest is a reward rather than a necessity.
Spoiler alert: It’s not.
Rewriting the Story: Boundaries Aren’t Walls, They’re Pathways
Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out. They’re about showing up as your best self — not your exhausted, resentful, spread-too-thin shadow.
Here’s what boundaries actually do:
They protect your time and energy
They make space for what really matters
They teach people how to treat you
They allow you to live in alignment with your values
Scripts for Saying No (Without the Guilt Spiral)
Let’s make this practical. Here are a few gentle but firm ways to say “no” without feeling like the Wicked Witch of the West:
Simple. Honest. And no explaining necessary.
Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m not able to take this on right now.
That doesn’t align with my priorities at the moment, but I hope it goes well!
I’m focusing on fewer commitments right now to protect my energy.
Or my personal favourite:
No, but thanks for asking.
You Don’t Owe Anyone Exhaustion
If you need a reminder, here it is:
-
You are allowed to prioritise your peace.
-
You are allowed to disappoint others to stay true to yourself.
-
You are allowed to take up space, protect your energy, and say no without guilt.
Because burnout helps no one — not your business, not your relationships, and definitely not the version of you that still has big dreams left to fulfil.
Want to see what this looks like in real time? I shared a personal reflection over on The View from the Nexus — a behind-the-scenes look at how a broken button nearly broke me. (Spoiler: It didn’t. But it did remind me of some truths I’d forgotten.)
Loved this post? Ready to make your own transformation?
Get your FREE Reignite 10-day roadmap to reinvention and take action today! No more waiting — it’s time to reignite your life. Click here to download now!”
0 Comments