Spring Is Coming - and You’re Still Tired.
The time change is around the corner. The days are getting longer. The light is shifting, and if you’re a high-achiever you may already be thinking how you can optimize the extra daylight that approaches.
New routines, early mornings, being more productive, being movement…more goals!!
What if this season isn’t just about doing more…and if it’s about recalibrating?
Burnout Doesn’t Magically Reset With the Seasons
Daylight saving time can disrupt sleep, mood, and energy. Even subtle circadian rhythm shifts can impact anxiety levels, focus, and emotional regulation…how familiar are you with seasonal depression as this Winter comes to a close?
As a high-achieving women I’m all too familiar with respond to fatigue by pushing harder. I tell myself “I just need to finish these tasks", “If I just stay up a little later, I can complete my tasks”, “I’ll feel better once I complete my to-do list and then I’ll relax with a nice [insert beverage of choice].”
Then I have to remind myself, chronic burnout isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a nervous system problem.
And spring is actually an invitation to slow down — not speed up.
Spring Energy vs. Burnout Energy
Spring energy is an invitation for blossoming, not frying the flowers before they have had the chance to bloom.
If you try to force the blossom, you’ll end up with some sad looking flowers and those flowers may end up feeling depleted, resentment, fatigue, and guilt…maybe we need to rephrase the questions that we ask ourselves this season.
Instead of asking: “How much can I achieve this season?”
Can you ask: “What must I do to bloom?”
3 Spring Reset Practices for us High-Achieving Women
1. Protect Your Sleep Like It’s your Full-time Job
Research tells us that sleep is crucial as a restorative process for our cognitive functioning and physical health. Having “sleep hygiene” by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, without caffeine, alcohol, or dare I say screens - before bed is helpful to avoid insomnia and daytime fatigue.
2. Audit Your “Auto-Yes” Habits
Spring sometimes means more social plans, opportunities, and even work initiatives, “conference season” as I sometimes hear it referred to as. Before saying yes, PAUSE…then ask your authentic self, “Am I excited about this?” or, am I afraid of disappointing someone?
Burnout hides well behind obligations that we often put on ourselves.
3. Schedule White Space Before You Fill It
High-achievers fill the calendar first and rest second. What if that was done in reverse? Blocking time for nothing, walking, reading, beaching, the quiet.
If it’s scheduled it happens, if “nothing” time is never scheduled then sometimes it tends to never happen.
The Guilt That Comes With Doing Less
If doing less makes you anxious, it’s not because you’re afraid of being lazy. You’ve been conditioned to believe that you’re value came from constantly doing and not loved for being.
Maybe you learned your value came from being helpful, responsible, impressive, self-sufficient. If you slow down, your nervous system interprets that you are at risk! That’s a pattern, not a flaw, and thankfully patterns can change.
This Season Can Be Different
Spring doesn’t have to be a sprint. It can be an opportunity to re-assess your values and create a new stride.
If you’re a high-achieving woman in California navigating anxiety, burnout, and people-pleasing, therapy can help by:
Understanding where the pressure you put on yourself comes from
Learning how to set boundaries without spiraling from the potential guilt that may rise initially
Regulating your nervous system instead of ignoring it
Building success that is sustainable and doesn’t cost you your well-being
You don’t need another self-improvement strategy. You might just need support.
I’m currently accepting new clients in California.
You can schedule a free intro call at the link in my bio!