From Burnout to Balance: How I Rebuilt My Relationship with Exercise
Originally shared on the Not So Typical Fitness podcast
The Breaking Point
I used to be that person who never missed a gym session. I tracked every rep, every calorie, every step. From the outside, I looked like I had fitness figured out—strong, disciplined, consistent.
But underneath? I was running on empty.
My mental health was tanking, my energy was nonexistent, and my motivation had completely abandoned me. Yet I kept pushing because I believed stopping meant losing everything I'd worked for.
Eventually, my body made the decision for me. I didn't choose to rest—I was forced to stop. And when I did, the guilt hit harder than any workout ever had.
Have you ever reached that point where your body or brain simply said "no more"? If so, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Learning to Rest Without Guilt
Here's what nobody tells you about burnout recovery: rest doesn't feel good at first. It feels like failure. It feels like giving up.
But rest isn't quitting; rest is rebuilding.
I had to completely rewire my thinking:
My worth isn't determined by how productive or fit I am
Skipping workouts isn't a slippery slope to disaster
Resting doesn't mean never starting again—it means giving myself space to come back stronger
There were countless days when I'd lie in bed thinking, "Why can't I just do the thing? Just move? Just try?"
The truth is, when you've burned out hard, your body doesn't trust you yet. Recovery isn't just physical, it's emotional and mental too.
What would it look like for you to rest 10% more without the guilt? Start there.
The Power of Tiny Steps
When I was finally ready to move again, I didn't leap back into intense workouts. I started small:
5-minute walks after my morning coffee
Stretching while watching Netflix
Dancing in the kitchen while doing dishes (and counting it as movement)
These tiny actions helped me reconnect with my body, not in a punishing way, but with genuine care and curiosity.
I replaced "I should" with "I could." I swapped "do it perfectly" for "just show up."
Eventually, I made it back to the gym. But this time was different. I moved because I wanted to, not because I was trying to control or fix myself.
Your Next Small Step
If you're in the messy middle of burnout right now, exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected from your body, know that this isn't permanent.
You don't have to hustle your way back. You can rest your way back.
When you're ready, your body will meet you there. And when that happens, start with something so small it feels almost silly:
Take a 2-minute walk around the block
Do some gentle stretches before bed
Put on music and move however feels good
These moments count. They all count.
The Bottom Line
Building a sustainable relationship with exercise isn't about perfect consistency or crushing every workout. It's about listening to your body, honoring your energy levels, and moving from a place of self-care rather than self-punishment.
Your worth isn't measured by your last workout. Your value doesn't decrease when you need rest. And your future fitness isn't determined by your current capacity.
Show up, stay you, and go gently. You're doing better than you think.
What's one tiny, joyful movement you could add to your week? Something that feels more like care than control? Start there.
