Good morning,

“Is this normal?”

That’s what I asked myself every morning as I stood in front of the mirror, desperately trying to cover the red patches of hives creeping across my chest. 

My body was crying out for help, but I was so consumed by the grind that I couldn’t hear it.

Even as I woke up every morning dreading another day at a toxic job — back in my early NYC days, crying before work, lying awake at night, and feeling utterly trapped in a role that drained every ounce of energy I had — I just kept pushing forward, pretending everything was fine.

It wasn’t until my doctor gave me a frightening wakeup call that I finally realized I had to make a change.

"You need to take leave or significant PTO — immediately. If you don’t make changes now, this will affect your long-term health.” 

My doctor’s tone was firm as she reviewed my chart. She wasn’t smiling. She was serious.

I laughed it off at first — not because it was funny, but because I was in complete denial about how bad things had gotten.

When you’re buried so deep in the grind, it’s hard to recognize just how much you’re struggling. But I couldn’t ignore her words. 

Burnout wasn’t just exhausting me — it was robbing me of my health, my relationships, and any hope I had for the future. 

Something had to change, and it had to change fast.

I wish I could say I marched in with a grand speech to hand in my two-week notice, but I didn’t even have the emotional capacity to step foot in the office again. Instead, I emailed my resignation and knew, without a doubt, that I was never. going. back.

(It’s not the approach I’d recommend, but in my situation, it felt like the only option I had left.)

Burnout was my breaking point, but it also became a turning point. 

It’s your body and mind’s way of saying: Something in your life is out of sync. This isn’t sustainable — something needs to change.

If any of this resonates, take a deep breath — you’re not broken. You’re simply ready for something better.

Burnout, when acknowledged, can guide you toward a career—and a life—that energizes instead of depletes you. 

If you’re ready to explore what that could look like, let’s talk. Together, we will map out a career that aligns with your values, restores your energy, and makes you excited to wake up again.

Stay tuned—next Monday, I’ll be sharing more about the 5 types of burnout and how to spot them in your own life.

Here’s to burnout sparking something better,

JOB SEARCH STRATEGY

In case you missed my Instagram post last week, here’s a reminder about Why Putting Yourself Out There Takes Strength - more than you think.

Here’s How to Strengthen Your Professional Brand and take accountability for your professional reputation so that you can get the results you deserve.

Ready to revamp your resume? Here are Korn Ferry’s 5 Resume Resolutions for 2025 to help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers in a competitive job market.

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