Tired Vibes

This afternoon feels like one of those quiet moments where the truth sneaks up on you.

You’re at your desk, typing progress notes, side-eyeing the spiral notebook like it personally owes you something. It has to be 5×8, obviously. Spiral. Bonus points if the cover is cute. The to-do list never ends. It just… rolls over. Tomorrow. And the next day. And the one after that.

You’re not just doing the work.
You’re holding the work.

Owner. Operator. Supervisor. Scheduler. Problem-solver. The person everyone calls when something goes sideways. When you double-book yourself or don’t even have time to pee, there’s no admin to blame, because you are the admin. And the clinician. And the business brain. And the emotional container for other people’s lives.

Then your mind drifts (because it always does) to the women who do all of this and go home to kids. Another full-time job waiting after the workday ends. And you feel the awe… and the exhaustion just thinking about it. Because honestly? You’re already tired.

You start to think about all the people you’re disappointing by not having kids, but that’s another rabbit hole reserved for a different day…

Yes, you just got back from California.
Yes, travel throws you off.
But also, this tired feels deeper.

The kind that shows up as insomnia.
The kind that feeds itself.
The kind where your body is exhausted but your nervous system won’t shut the hell up.

And here’s the kicker: you know how to take care of yourself. You’re a therapist AND certified yoga instructor. You used to do hot yoga 3–5 times a week. And now? Zero. Not because you don’t value it. Not because you forgot how good it feels.

Because you’re tired.

This is the cycle no one really prepares us for.

Work.
Pay bills.
Maintain the business.
Be available.
Stay “on.”
Repeat.

Modern life doesn’t just ask for productivity. It demands sustainability without rest. The cost of living rises. The pressure to succeed tightens. And somewhere in there, fun becomes optional. Health becomes “when I have time.” Wellness turns into a checkbox instead of a lived experience.

Some people would call these excuses.
And honestly? They’re not entirely wrong.

But they’re also not entirely right.

Because two things can be true at the same time:

• These are choices.
• And the system makes better choices harder to access.

Add the macro chaos in the form of global uncertainty, social tension, and constant information overload… Your nervous system never really gets the signal that it’s safe to exhale.

No wonder you’re tired.

The burnout sneaks in quietly

Burnout isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it looks like:

• Losing access to things you love
• Sleeping poorly even when exhausted
• Feeling productive but not nourished
• Being “fine” but flat

It’s not that you don’t care.
It’s that your system is overdrawn.

A few gentle, realistic tips (not the preachy kind)

1. Shrink the self-care window
If yoga feels like too much, that’s data, not failure. Ten minutes counts. One class a week counts. Lying on the floor and breathing counts.

2. Protect one intentional moment of joy
Separate from achievement or output. Music. Sunshine. Laughter. Something that simply feels good.

3. Stop waiting to feel rested first
Energy doesn’t always precede action. Sometimes action (tiny and imperfect) creates energy.

4. Audit what’s truly urgent
Everything feels urgent when you’re the one holding it all. It isn’t. Some things can wait, and using tools like the Time Management Matrix, popularized by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, can help.

5. Name the season you’re in
This might not be a “thrive” season. It might be a “maintain and don’t burn the place down” season. That’s still valid.

And maybe most importantly:

You don’t need to earn rest by being more exhausted.
You don’t need to justify your tiredness.
You don’t need to have kids, or be sicker, or busier to be allowed to slow down.

You’re allowed to be tired and thoughtful.
Capable and human.

Now… maybe close the notebook for a second.
That to-do list will still be there tomorrow.
But you? You need a moment too.

-LC