Hey Friends!
It’s been a while. Thanks for your patience.
Honestly… I’ve been flat out. And, a little bit burnt out. Yes, the irony isn’t missed. Classic “do as I say, not as I do” moment.
But the truth is, I do know the signs. I’ve been here before.
And luckily for me, I’ve got the tools, the language, and the awareness to catch it before it snowballs.
For me, burnout doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps in.
I get a bit more irritable than usual.
I want to spend more time alone.
My sleep gets lighter, more broken.
I stop wanting to move my body.
I stop wanting to eat well.
I crave just one more coffee… and maybe a glass of wine or two.
And I start feeling it in my body, aches and pains, and feeling run down.
These are my signs. You’ll have your own.
But knowing what to look for, that’s half the battle.
The funny thing is, everything in my life was going really well.
Work was meaningful. Opportunities were flowing.
But even when everything you’re doing is your dream, if you’re doing too much and/or not taking proper care of yourself…
You won’t be able to enjoy it.
It’s like your nervous system hits a limit.
You can still tick the boxes, but the joy fades.
And that’s when I knew I needed to pause.
So I looked at my calendar and got honest with myself.
I had a lot on my plate. Good stuff, important stuff, but still, too much stuff.
So I made some space.
I kept the commitments I’d already made.
But I stopped saying ‘yes’ to new things, and I shut my calendar down for a while.
And I prioritised the basics: rest, movement, food, breathing, sunlight.
I did what I had to do… and let go of what could wait.
One of those things was this newsletter.
Part of that full plate was a big, exciting run through the US.
I spoke at the World Economic Forum Global Technology Retreat (who knew how controversial that would be… I lost a few subscribers for that one!).
I joined a panel on mental health at Comcast.
And I ran some leadership workshops for NBCUniversal.
It was intense, energising, and genuinely meaningful work.
But it also took a lot out of me.
Right now, I’m in Kerala, India, at Indimasi Healing Village.
I’m here for a few weeks, doing an Ayurvedic detox —
slowing down, clearing out, and giving my nervous system the break it’s been asking for.
Early mornings, warm oils, simple food, lots of silence.
It’s not always comfortable… but it’s exactly what I needed.
I’ve also decided to take a full digital detox.
The more I slowed down, the more I realised how edgy and unsettled I feel after too much time on my phone.
Even when I’m “resting,” the notifications, the scrolling, the constant stimulation… it all adds up.
So, for the next week, I’ll be stepping away from email, socials, and all screens apart from my Kindle!
No tech, no multitasking, no inbox.
Before I go fully offline, I wanted to leave you with something simple.
A quick 3-step check-in you can use anytime to spot the early signs in yourself — and course-correct before things snowball.
1. Body - What feels tight, tense, or tender? Neck, jaw, gut, shoulders? That’s your system whispering to you.
2. Behaviour - Are you craving more caffeine, sugar, or wine than usual? Skipping the basics that usually keep you steady?
3. Bandwidth - How easily are you getting irritated? How much joy or calm can you actually feel right now?
Just take 60 seconds to check.
And if things feel a bit off — don’t wait. Make one small shift today.
It doesn’t need to be big. Just kind and doable.
What are your early signs?
What does it look like when your system starts heading toward burnout?
Is it in your body? Your sleep? Your habits?
And if you’re not sure yet… just start noticing.
Sometimes it begins with something small: a sigh you didn’t know you made, or a craving you can’t explain.
That’s your body talking. It’s worth listening.
Once I’m back in Sydney, I’ll be sharing more regular emails, new tools, and maybe some reflections from this whole experience.
Also — a bit of exciting news.
I’ve been quietly building something behind the scenes (another thing that contributed to my stressful workload!).
A new app that brings together meditations, courses, and community — all in one place.
It’ll be in the App Store and Google Play soon.
I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks for sticking with me, and if there’s one thing this season has reminded me, it’s this:
We don’t need to push through everything.
Sometimes, the most courageous thing to do is pause.
Take care of your nervous system, and it’ll take care of you right back.
Much love 💙
Chibs
