9. When Life is Life-Ing Too Hard but You Still Have To Work

In this episode, Ellen gets real about what it means to show up at work when life outside of it is falling apart. From grief and caregiving to the dishwasher breaking again, she unpacks what happens when stress becomes your default state—and how to interrupt the cycle before burnout takes over. You’ll learn the basics of the stress response, how to complete the stress cycle, and three small but powerful steps to take when you’re overwhelmed and still expected to perform. This one’s honest, human, and for anyone who's ever had to keep going when they really needed to stop.

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Keywords: burnout symptoms, stress cycle, parasympathetic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, how to recover from burnout, workplace overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, boundary setting at work, nervous system regulation, how to cope with stress at work, honest leadership, trauma-informed work, stress management, self-regulation at work, women and burnout, compassionate leadership