Overwhelmed and Stuck: The Struggle with Burnout
For as long as I can remember, I have felt overwhelmed by my job. I have worked in different roles over the years, but that heavy feeling never really shifted. I would lie awake at night thinking about the emails I had not replied to, the deadlines creeping up, or whether I had missed something important. I would get this sinking feeling in my stomach, heart racing, palms sweaty, like I was bracing myself for something all the time.
​
It was relentless.
​
Evenings and weekends, I had no break — they were just quieter times to worry. I could not switch off. I felt like such a failure as a mother and the overwhelm would stress me out to the point I felt like I could not be present for my daughter and the thought of doing something for myself? That felt impossible.
I was in a bad place. Then came the pandemic and working from home. Imagine the above feelings intensified! I had started a new role (which I was so looking forward to) and I hated it with a passion. Having constant access to my case management system meant I was working up to 12 hours a day. My body was under immense stress, and at times, it felt like it was shutting down. There was no work / life balance. I would go to bed and wake up almost every hour, start work at 8am and log off at 8pm. Home schooling - what was that! I would put dinner on and forget about it because I was too focused on my work. I remember emailing my manager in those early days saying how much I hated the position and I wished I had never accepted the role - although this was something I had really wanted to do. I struggled but I felt like nobody understood what I was going through.
A Shift in Perspective: Finding Support Through Coaching
It took me a while to realise that I was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. But nothing changed. I came to the realisation that if nothing changes, nothing changes! Over time I had got myself a life coach that helped me with my confidence and boundaries. I hate to admit this, but at that time, I didn't even know what boundary setting was! I slowly started developing small changes. A pivotal moment came when I participated in dry January. Over 3 years later and I have not drank a drop of alcohol. In that same month, I also started training in the gym with a personal trainer. In addition, I was reading a lot of personal development books, and this time, I was putting the lessons into action.
No alcohol, a focused mindset, and digesting relatable information gave me a new outlook on life. While I never had an alcohol problem I believe it really clouded my judgment and enabled my fixed mindset, with an alcohol free mind and me getting stronger by the week in the gym - I was able to see things much clearly.
These changes made me want to continue becoming a better person.
From Surviving to Thriving: The Power of a Growth Mindset
Now! Here I am, sleeping much better through the night. No longer waking up and experiencing anxiety about tasks that are out of my control. I have a healthy work / life balance and while I may still work late on the odd occasion I feel at ease. My mindset has completely shifted from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. I’m now always looking for new opportunities—something I would never have done previously. This change has opened so many doors for me, both personally and professionally, and has shown me that the possibilities are endless when you allow yourself to grow. To the point where I have been able to build my own coaching business helping those in the legal industry - just like you!
As well as now having a healthy work / life balance I am able to spend time working on my coaching skill set by continuously working with mentors and I am also pursuing a degree in psychology to help my clients the best I can. More importantly, I spend time with my daughter almost every evening catching up or watching some of our favorite programs on tv. In coaching - they say you’re your own first client. I have learnt to become emotionally intelligent by acknowledging my emotions, taking time out for myself and setting boundaries.
This has given me a whole new lease on life. Years ago, I felt a deep sadness I could not explain to others. I felt lost and empty. But these last few years have been the happiest I have been in a long time. I am finally doing something for myself and feel like I have rediscovered my identity, not just as an employee and mother, but as me.
Feeling seen? Heard? Understood?
If my story resonates with you and you are ready to explore how coaching could help you create the balance, boundaries, and clarity you need, then let’s talk.
​
Click below to book a complimentary discovery session, and let’s see how we can work together.