So many women in caring roles find themselves running on empty — unsure whether what they’re feeling is simply burnout or something deeper. This article explores the Big Four: burnout, empathy fatigue, vicarious trauma, and moral injury — what sets them apart, how they overlap, and why understanding the difference can bring both clarity and compassion.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion — it’s feedback. It’s your body and mind saying, “The way you’ve been responding isn’t working anymore.” In this post, I explore how psychological flexibility — a key skill from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — can help midlife women soften, adapt, and realign with what truly matters. Through six gentle pathways, you’ll learn how to respond differently to burnout’s lessons and take small, meaningful steps back toward yourself.

So many midlife women I work with are endlessly compassionate to others — yet struggle to turn that same care inward, or to receive it from those around them. Over time, that imbalance leaves us running on empty. The three flows of compassion — to others, from others, and to ourselves — are what keep us nourished, balanced, and connected. When they’re unblocked, compassion becomes not just a gift we give, but an antidote to burnout and a way back to ourselves.

When we think about psychological distress, terms like burnout, stress, and PTSD often come to mind. But there’s a less talked about—and equally impactful—experience called moral injury that’s gaining recognition, especially among healthcare workers, first responders, and military personnel.

If you’ve been feeling more irritable lately — snapping at the small stuff, resenting the things you used to just tolerate — you’re not alone. You might call it frustration. Annoyance. Being “a bit short.” But here’s the thing: You’re probably angry. Not irrational. Not hysterical. Not hormonal. Just angry. And you might have every right to be.

What if the discomfort you’re feeling isn’t a crisis—but a summons?

In Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, James Hollis invites us to confront the deeper questions that often stir in midlife—the ones we usually avoid, but can no longer ignore.

In this reflective review, I take up Hollis’s invitation and share my personal responses to some of the core questions the book explores.

Through the lens of midlife burnout and soul inquiry, this piece offers a glimpse into what it means to move beyond the life you’ve been living—and toward one that feels more true.

When we hear the word burnout, most of us tense up. It carries the weight of shame, fear, panic. Our inner voice might whisper: “I can’t afford to stop,” or shout, “What’s wrong with me?”

We’re taught to view burnout as a failure — a personal flaw, a weakness to overcome. But what if that’s not true?

What if burnout isn’t a crisis to fix... but a message to listen to?

Vulnerability in midlife isn’t about falling apart—it’s about finally allowing ourselves to be. To drop the mask. To speak the truth. To grow into the version of ourselves we’ve long ignored but deeply needed.

In this blog, I explore how embracing vulnerability can become a turning point in our midlife journey—not a sign of weakness, but a source of strength, connection, and self-reclamation. If you've ever felt like you're carrying too much, or wondering who you’re becoming as everything shifts around you, this one’s for you.

✨ It might just be the gentle nudge you’ve been waiting for.

You’re not imagining it—your phone might be stealing your energy.

If you're experiencing burnout or creeping exhaustion, your mobile habits could be playing a bigger role than you think. I’ve seen the impact firsthand in my own life and in the lives of those I help in burnout recovery.

Four years ago, early in my midlife life, I made one of the hardest and most life-altering decisions of my life. I walked away from the career that consumed my life and identity: clinical psychologist in private practice. I didn’t have a clear roadmap ahead, but I knew one thing for certain: I needed help. The weight of expectation, the exhaustion, the burnout—it all became too much. And so, I stepped away.

As the year winds down, it’s natural to pause and reflect. Each experience—whether joyful or challenging—shapes our growth. This post invites you to take a moment to honour the lessons of the past year, embrace the changes ahead, and explore how meaningful and intentional rest can provide the foundation for supportive transformation. Let’s explore together how creativity, intentional pauses, and forward-thinking can guide us into the new year.

Midlife can be a time of significant change, where many find themselves questioning their paths, purpose, and overall satisfaction. These feelings can arise from what’s commonly referred to as a midlife crisis, burnout, or sometimes a mix of both. Though they can feel similar, burnout and a midlife crisis stem from different sources and require distinct approaches to overcome. Here, we explore how to differentiate between the two and provide steps for navigating these challenging times with clarity and self-compassion.

Burnout is more than just exhaustion—it’s a profound experience that can lead to either temporary recovery or deep, long-lasting change. In this post, we’ll explore the concept of burnout growth, drawing from Nick Petrie’s research, and how this transformative path can not only help you recover but also create a new, more fulfilling way of living.

Welcome to the final chapter of our series on mindfulness and burnout recovery. Throughout this journey, we’ve explored the core of mindfulness, its powerful role in burnout recovery, and how mindfulness-based therapies can offer support. Now, let’s shift gears and get practical.

In the first two parts of this series, we explored what mindfulness is, how it works, and its role in supporting burnout recovery. Now, let’s dive into the various psychotherapies that incorporate mindfulness to enhance mental health and well-being. Below, we’ll take a closer look at some prominent mindfulness-based therapies and their contributions to burnout recovery.

In the first part of this series Escape the Burnout Trap: How Mindfulness Can Help, we explored what mindfulness is and how it works. Now, let’s dive into the next question: How does mindfulness support burnout recovery?

When dealing with burnout, one powerful tool that can offer relief and recovery is mindfulness. But what exactly does mindfulness entail? Let’s start with the basics.

Why Measure Progress in Burnout Recovery?

When considering the question, “Am I getting better?” it’s crucial to understand that our brains can be quite tricky, especially under stress, depression, or anxiety, which often accompany burnout. During these times, our minds tend to focus on the negative, making us biased and subjective in our self-assessment. Consequently, relying solely on our perceptions when stressed or anxious may lead us to believe we’re not improving, even if we are.

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, but it has this uncanny ability to feel like it does. It sneaks up on you! According to Nick Petrie and his team, burnout is a progressive condition that has different levels of burn. Petrie’s research on workplace burnout revealed three degrees of burnout, each representing a different level of stress and impact on one’s ability to function.

Burnout is a challenge that often sneaks up on us, and we frequently don't see it coming until it's too late.

The Boiling Frog Syndrome describes the effect on a frog being put into boiling water and being slowly boiled alive. A frog suddenly put into a pot of boiling water, will jump out to save itself.. But if the frog is put in lukewarm water with the temperature slowly rising over time, it will not perceive any danger and will be cooked to death.