Burnout or Just Tired? Five Signs to Know the Difference

"I thought I was handling it all, but in reality, I was running on fumes and didn’t even know it."

I vividly remember my twenties and what it was like in a fast-paced job with constant deadlines and that endless feeling of being “on.” I worked in graphic design as a Graphic Designer. I traveled overseas, pulled 12–14 hour days, and often slept in the office just to keep up with the crazy deadlines.

On the outside, it looked like I had it all together; on the inside, I was completely running on fumes. I was fatigued all the time. Looking back, it was burnout. My body and mind were sending urgent signals that I simply didn’t understand at the time. I want to share my story to help others facing the same challenges in their lives.

Here are five signs your tiredness might be burnout, and needs to be addressed:

1. You’re Exhausted Even on Your Days Off I remember trying to sleep in on weekends, thinking I would “catch up,” but it never worked. I would wake up still exhausted, my mind buzzing and unable to switch off. That is a classic burnout sign; when your adrenal system is overstimulated for months on end, rest alone is never enough to recover.

2. Your Body Starts to Break Down Burnout isn’t just mental exhaustion; it impacts your whole body. For me, it showed up as constant digestive issues, worsening eyesight, and catching every flu that came my way. My energy felt drained all the time, and even small tasks became exhausting. Chronic stress and adrenal burnout were quietly disrupting multiple systems in my body, leaving me vulnerable to illness and fatigue. My body was trying to tell me it couldn’t keep up with the relentless pace and impossible deadlines, and my health was paying the price.

3. Anxiety Becomes Chronic I had chronic anxiety that I could not shake. Small problems felt enormous, and my mind was constantly spinning. When your stress response remains on high alert for months, it becomes the “new normal,” which is exhausting and can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself.

4. Your Eating Habits Slip During that period, I relied on sugar—for me muffins, takeaways, and snacks grabbed between deadlines. I felt lost, disconnected, and desperately trying to find meaning in my work, but I couldn’t. Poor nutrition compounds burnout and leaves you even more depleted. It’s a vicious cycle.

5. You Feel Like You’ve Lost Yourself Most painfully, I felt like I was no longer me. My energy, spark, and joy all disappeared. That sense of disconnect is a common sign of burnout and goes beyond just feeling tired.

I realised I needed help, and that moment became the start of my journey into natural medicine. I began by studying remedial massage and later added herbal medicine to my growing list of qualifications. With over 20 years in natural therapies, I have seen how chronic stress and burnout can take a toll on women’s bodies and lives. I now use my experience and natural therapies to support women like you, helping calm your nervous system, support your adrenals, and restore your energy and digestive health so you can feel like yourself again.

The care and, knowledge Leonie brings, and follow-up make me feel important and, most of all, ‘heard.’

It took two years away from that job for me to truly recover. Through lifestyle adjustments and herbal remedies, I gradually regained my energy, clarity, and emotional balance. My goal now is to help women avoid the long, exhausting path I went through, so they can feel like themselves again without waiting for a total breakdown.

A Gentle Solution So if you’re always feeling tired, anxious, overwhelmed, or physically run down, please don’t ignore your body’s symptoms like I did.

Your body is asking for support. Herbal medicine, combined with small daily habits, can help you:

• Calm your nervous system

• Restore steady energy

• Support your digestion and immunity

• Recover your mental clarity

• Feel like yourself again

Next Step If you’re feeling like you’re on the verge of burnout, or trying to recover from it, I’m here to help and can create a simple herbal tonic to support your adrenals, restore your energy, and ease your stress.

Remember, I offer a free 15-minute call where I can answer any questions you might have, or if you’re ready, we can discuss booking an initial consultation. I’m available for online bookings, making it easy to connect in your busy life.

#BurnoutRecovery #WiredAndTired #ExhaustedToEnergised #CalmYourNervousSystem #EnergyReset #BrainFog #AlwaysTired #OverwhelmedAndExhausted #FromWiredToCalm #CalmAndClear #TiredMumLife #HerbalMedicine #HerbsForStress #AdrenalSupport #NaturalHealing #PlantBasedWellness #HolisticHealth The information provided in this blog is for your personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. It should not be considered as medical or professional advice. We recommend you consult with a GP or other healthcare professional before taking or omitting to take any action based on this blog. While the author uses best endeavours to provide accurate and true content, the author makes no guarantees or promises and assumes no liability regarding the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information presented. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this blog are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this blog is done at your own risk.  Any third-party materials or content of any third-party site referenced in this blog/article/handout do not necessarily reflect the author’s opinion, standards or policies and the author does not assume any liability for them whatsoever.