#25 How to Heal From Burnout w/ Saskia Mardi
“You should take the rest of the day off and see a doctor”. My boss was kind of a micromanager. So in the rare moment he excused me from work, I began to realize that something was actually wrong with me.
I thought it was just bad allergies at first: sneezing, runny eyes, stuffy nose. But then it escalated: hundreds of hives appeared all over my back, my shoulders and my thighs. My skin was red, tender and inflamed. And so damned itchy!
But I, the self-proclaimed overachiever, could work through pretty much anything. I was proud of myself for coming into the office, despite looking and feeling like my body had been rampaged by a giant mosquito colony recovering from famine.
External remedies didn’t seem to work: I changed my laundry detergent, eliminated favorite foods from my diet and lathered myself in anti-itch cream. I still couldn’t sleep nor could I focus. WTH was going on?
Short answer: I was burned out. I didn’t know it at the time. I wasn’t even sure what the term burnout meant.
I had long ignored the (not so) subtle symptoms: anxiety, exhaustion, getting sick, isolation, procrastination - to the point where my body revolted. And eventually I got support, began to practice self care, and enforced boundaries in my personal and professional life. 🙌🏽
In my conversation with Saskia Mardi, she shares her experience with being burned out in Bali - something that most people don’t believe can happen. But after experiencing it for myself, I can attest that burnout is real and it will creep up on you if you’re not careful - yes, even on a tropical paradise island.
Saskia is a wife, mother, entrepreneur and breadwinner of her family. She is a business minimalist who helps her clients get the right things done, with less stress and more joy. Kinda like Marie Kondo, but for your professional life.
Saskia grew up in Australia, moved to the Netherlands after meeting “a boy” (who became her life partner) and immigrated to Bali right before the pandemic. I hope you find delight, inspiration and wisdom through hearing her story like I did.
Listen to Episode #25 Now
Have you ever experienced burnout? Going through it now? You’re not alone. Studies show that burnout levels are accelerating fast since the onset of the pandemic. There are plenty of tips that might be helpful for you in this podcast episode. And if you’re looking for more resources, I recommend you reach out to a mental health professional or seek comfort through self care practices or your support system.