I remember how it felt. Like I was stuck in a fog where nothing really got through. My body felt heavy, my head empty – yet my thoughts kept spinning non-stop. Even getting out of bed felt like running a marathon. I was exhausted, both in body and soul.

And yet… somewhere deep inside, a tiny spark remained. A longing to feel better. I didn’t know how – only that I wanted to try. Small, gentle steps.

🌿 One step at a time
The first thing I realized was that I couldn’t “will” myself out of exhaustion. Recovery can’t be forced. I had to begin gently. No big changes – just kind, simple steps in the right direction.

Here are a few of the first steps I took, which actually made a difference:

☀️ 1. Create a morning routine – but keep it simple
I didn’t set my alarm early or plan a long to-do list. I chose one thing: I started each morning with three deep, grounding breaths. Just that. It became a small reminder to my body: You’re here. You’re alive. You get to begin again.

📓 2. Write it out – without pressure
I bought a simple notebook and wrote a few sentences each day. It didn’t have to be beautiful or deep. Sometimes it was just: “I’m tired.” Getting the thoughts out of my head helped ease the pressure.

🚶‍♀️ 3. A short walk
Not exercise. Not performance. Just stepping outside, feeling the ground beneath my feet, and getting a bit of daylight in my eyes. Even if it was just around the house. It helped more than I expected – for both body and mind.

🔁 4. Gentle routines
I started building small routines. Waking up around the same time. Eating regularly. Brushing my teeth right after breakfast. It may sound basic – but to me, they became anchors in an otherwise unsteady day.

💛 5. Self-compassion – not self-criticism
This one was hard. My inner voice had been harsh and judgmental for a long time. But I practiced. When I couldn’t manage something, I told myself: “It’s okay. You’re doing your best.” And I was. So are you.

💬 Good to remember:
– You don’t need to be productive to be valuable.
– Rest is not a waste – it’s essential.
– You’re allowed to start over, as many times as you need.
– You are not alone.

I’m not “there” yet. Recovery isn’t a straight path – but I’m walking it, at my pace. And every little step counts.

If you’re on your way back from burnout too – I want you to know: it’s possible. Slowly, gently, one step at a time. You don’t have to have all the energy now. You just need to begin where you are.

We’re in this together. 💛