Burnout is a funny thing.

We're taught to work ourselves into the ground for someone else's goals. Hustle harder. Push through. Show up no matter what. And for what? More work. Less recognition. More exhaustion. Less joy.

Eventually, that kind of life catches up with you.

For me, it did—hard. I became so burnt out at my job that my doctors finally said, "There is nothing more we can do. You're only getting worse."

That was the moment I took medical leave for the first time ever.

The Fog Begins to Lift

During the first two weeks of my 12-week leave, I noticed something remarkable: my brain fog started to lift. For the first time in what felt like forever, I could breathe again. I was singing silly songs to my dog, Isabel, laughing, feeling lighter...feeling like me.

That tiny spark reminded me: I had always wanted to be my own boss.

I couldn't stand knowing I would never make more than the CEO of the company I was working for, no matter how hard I worked. And during that medical leave, the pull to finally break free and become my own boss became too strong to ignore.

I knew—in every cell of my being—that I would not only be ok, I would thrive.

A Sign from the Universe

As the end of my leave approached, I asked the universe for the one last sign to make the leap. And wouldn't you know it...it delivered.

I had cleaned up a process at work so efficiently that no one really knew where I fit in anymore.

That was it. One week later, I gave my notice.

On December 22, 2023, I walked away from my corporate job—and I have never looked back.

Healing Isn't Instant

Here is the thing no one tells you about burnout: leaving the job doesn't instantly heal the damage.

I thought, Hey! I am out of there! I am good to go!

But it wasn't that simple.

I was still carrying the habits and beliefs that led to burnout in the first place—years of saying "Yes when I wanted to say No", years of overriding what my body and soul needed. I had to relearn how to listen to myself.

Healing has taken time; it is still taking time.

Finding My New Path

In May 2024, I launched a Virtual Assistant business because I figured, "Well, I have done assistant work before—I can do that!"

But my very first client laughed and said, "You're not a Virtual Assistant...you're an Online Business Manager."

LOL. And just like that, I upgraded my title.

That same client later helped me uncover something deeper. Through our work together, I fully realized I had a gift for helping people figure out why they are stuck and how to get moving again. I had the ability to see beyond the surface—to get to the heart of what was really holding them back.

Full Circle: Accountability

And then one day, on a networking call, someone casually said, "You should be an Accountability Coach."

A Bam—there it was. Full circle.

I had a whole business idea around accountability months ago but put it aside. Now it was back—louder, clearer, and aligned with everything I had gone through and loved doing.

I have been an accountability partner for years in my personal life. I love helping people reach their goals, step into their passions, and build lives they truly want. Now I get to do that professionally—and it lights me up in ways I never imagined.

What Burnout Taught Me

Burnout taught me a lot.

It taught me that I was saying "Yes when I needed to say No"

It taught me that I wasn't living the life my soul was craving.

It taught me to listen— to my energy, my body, my truth.

It taught me that settling is the ultimate betrayal of self.

So no more settling. No more playing small. No more living by someone else's narrative.

This is my life—and I am building it on my terms now.

Have you ever experienced burnout? What lesson/s did it teach you? I would love to hear what your experience was like with burnout or any of the key lessons that you resonate with on what I learned.