How to overcome burnout in 2025

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I started this year on a different note, burnout is not a part of my New Year’s resolution. A few years prior I used to set unattainable goals, goals that I so badly wanted to achieve in a short time and somehow making a vision board convinced me that I could reach them within a year. But in just over a month I would get overwhelmed by everything I was trying to do. I couldn’t take it one step at a time, with all the goals I had planned for the year, I had to sprint! 

This happened every year until I decided to stop going around in circles. 

The vision boards didn’t stop, but I did start thinking realistically when I planned for the years ahead. 

As I matured, I realized that, one, my goals don’t have to be the same as everybody else’s. I don’t have to set a million and one goals to feel like I’m being productive. Two, goals take time, and three, whatever happened to rest and taking time for ourselves? Why are we rushing through life as if we’re running out of time?

Since our generation likes to follow trends, how about we follow one that prioritizes self-care, mental health, and physical health? What if we focused on setting healthy boundaries and taking time to rest? What if we took just 5 minutes out of our morning to just be? And maybe not rush out of the house. And that’s with everything else. We need to ground ourselves and it’s nobody’s responsibility to remind us. It should come from you. 

Seriously, think about it. How will you be productive if you’re burnt out all the time? You probably have hobbies you would like to start but can’t because of your busy schedule. And I understand, that not everyone can get a day off. We have responsibilities and bills to pay. But you can’t continue to work yourself into exhaustion every day for the rest of your life. 

Life is meant to be lived. And I don’t mean having only 2 weeks out of the year where you get to relax. You deserve more days and more time for yourself. You deserve peaceful mornings and restful nights. It may seem like a luxury, but it shouldn’t have to be.

Overcoming Burnout in 2025

This is how you’re going to overcome burnout this year.               

Set Boundaries and Prioritize rest.

Learn to say no to things that drain you and protect your time. Create time to rest, to relax, with no commitment, no obligations, just time for yourself, doing nothing. Permit yourself to have lazy days, with no guilt attached to them. Do this as often as you can to help with burnout. As I’ve mentioned before, resting should not be a luxury. Normalize rest and boundaries. 

Make time for what fills you up

Keep doing things that you enjoy. We need hobbies more in our adult lives since we get so consumed by our everyday lives, that we forget to tap into the very thing that brings us joy. Try hobbies that don’t necessarily require you to use your cellular device or the internet. Try something like gardening, hand embroidery, reading nonfiction books, or playing chess. We consume so much content daily, that it’s important to take a break from it and have fun in other ways. 

Work smarter, not harder.

Avoid last-minute stress by planning. Observe and make note of the things that make your daily life difficult. And find a way to make it easier for yourself. For example, for me to have an easy week, I have to meal prep, do laundry twice a week, keep areas clean around the house, like dishes washed and packed away daily, and keep the living area clean before heading to bed. I also iron enough work clothes for the week so I don’t have to do that daily. Find ways that will help you maximize other things other than work. 

Move your body and get outside.

A simple walk, stretching, or even just sitting in the sun can make a big difference in how you feel mentally and physically. You don’t have to do intense workout routines to feel like you’re doing something, it’s not for everyone. And sometimes, you have to start slow and gradually build up the strength and confidence to do more. So, take it easy and enjoy the process.

Check-in with yourself regularly

To avoid burnout, you have to take the time to check in with yourself. Recognize when you’re not okay, and talk yourself through why you’re feeling that way. Learn what your triggers are, what makes you uncomfortable, and what you’re going to do to help yourself get out of that. It’s also important to recognize the things that make you feel happy and excited and to build a habit of focusing on that. 

Ultimately, the best way to overcome burnout is to prioritize yourself as much as you possibly can. If that’s 15 minutes in a day or a whole day in a week, however, that works for you. I talk about it here as well, choosing a soft, quiet life. 

Do it. Life is so short. 

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