Burnout Isn’t Always About Doing Too Much—Sometimes It’s About Doing Too Little of What You Love
“You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you’ve done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
– Alexander Den Heijer
Modern-day burnout doesn’t always look like a dramatic collapse. Sometimes it’s subtle. It’s the constant exhaustion, the short fuse with your kids, the numbness in your body as you push through another load of washing, another packed lunch, another meeting. It’s the ache in your chest when you realise you can’t remember the last time you laughed—really laughed—or felt excited about something just for you.
At Legacy Nutrition, we see this all the time. Women who are capable, smart, and deeply caring—but utterly depleted. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, hormonally, and spiritually. It’s a kind of chronic fatigue that no amount of coffee can fix.
And here’s the kicker: it’s not always because you're doing too much. It’s because you’re doing too little of what nourishes you.
The Unseen Cost of a Life Out of Balance
As women, we're conditioned to believe our value lies in our output—how much we give, how much we get done, how well we hold it all together. But at what cost?
When your days are filled with giving to your family, your job, your partner, your responsibilities—but empty of anything that fills you, the body begins to break down. Not suddenly, but slowly. A creeping fatigue. Mood swings. Gut issues. Brain fog. Sugar cravings. Anxiety. The sense that something’s not quite right, even if all your blood tests are “normal.”
This is the silent burnout we see behind so many of the cases that walk through our clinic doors. And from a clinical nutrition perspective, there’s more going on than just mental exhaustion.
What’s Happening Inside Your Body
When you’re constantly in output mode—especially in a postnatal, perimenopausal, or high-stress season—your body’s resources become depleted. Here’s what that can look like on a functional level:
Cortisol Dysregulation: Chronic stress leads to cortisol resistance or a flattened cortisol curve, making you feel wired but tired, or just plain exhausted.
Postnatal Depletion: If you’ve had a baby in the last few years, chances are your mineral stores (especially zinc, magnesium, and iron) are still running on empty.
Hormonal Imbalance: When the body is under stress, it will prioritise survival hormones over sex hormones—hello, PMS, irregular cycles, and low libido.
Gut Dysfunction: Chronic stress, poor diet, and sleep deprivation disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to bloating, food sensitivities, and poor nutrient absorption.
Mitochondrial Fatigue: Your energy production systems slow down, leaving you feeling like you’re dragging yourself through the day.
These aren’t just symptoms to manage—they’re signs your body is crying out for nourishment, rest, and reconnection.
Reconnecting With What Sparks a Light in You
So what’s the answer? It’s not necessarily doing less—it’s doing differently. It's restoring balance, recalibrating your inputs and outputs, and reclaiming the things that make you feel alive.
From a clinical nutrition lens, that means:
Stabilising your blood sugar to reduce energy crashes and anxiety.
Replenishing your nutrient stores with targeted foods and practitioner-grade supplements.
Supporting your nervous system with minerals like magnesium, adaptogens, and lifestyle changes that lower your stress load.
Improving your gut health, so you can actually absorb the nutrients you’re eating.
Honouring your hormones, especially if you’re postnatal, in perimenopause, or on hormonal contraception.
But beyond the biochemistry, it also means giving yourself permission to return to joy, creativity, solitude, and whatever lights you up—whether it’s painting, dancing, hiking, writing, gardening, or simply being still.
This Isn’t Selfish. It’s Necessary.
As women, especially mothers, we’re often told that taking time for ourselves is indulgent. That rest is lazy. That pursuing joy is frivolous. But here’s the truth:
You can't nourish anyone else when you’re running on fumes.
You can't show up in your life when your tank is empty.
You can't be your fullest, most radiant self when your days are void of what brings you alive.
What if your tiredness isn’t a sign you need to push harder, but a sign you need to come back to yourself?
It’s Time to Rebuild—From the Inside Out
At Legacy Nutrition, we don’t believe in quick fixes or surface-level solutions. We work with women who are ready to dig deeper—to uncover the root causes of their fatigue, hormone issues, gut problems, or mood shifts—and build lasting change.
Whether you're a new mum navigating postnatal depletion, a woman in her 40s trying to balance hormones and career, or simply someone who feels off but can’t explain why, we're here to help you reconnect to the fire inside.
Through functional testing, tailored protocols, whole-food nutrition, and compassionate 1:1 support, we help you do the deep work to restore your energy, health, and joy.
Because you matter too.
And it’s time your body—and your life—reflected that.
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
If this blog resonated with you, it’s not a coincidence. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone either.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call to see if our 12-week 1:1 Reset Program is the right fit for you. Let’s get to the root of what’s holding you back and rebuild your energy, hormones, and gut health—so you can start living a life that truly lights you up.
Click here to book your call now.
You deserve more than survival. You deserve to thrive.
