When Joyful Movement Becomes a "Should": Recognizing the Signs of Exercise Burnout

What happens when the movement you love starts to feel like something you have to do?

In this off-the-cuff episode, recorded from a rainy picnic table while camping, I reflect on a week of intense hiking that pushed me—physically and emotionally. Hiking is my favorite kind of movement. It usually brings me peace, joy, and deep connection to myself and the world around me. But on this trip, something shifted. I started to notice the “shoulds” creeping in. The pressure to push harder, to keep up, to prove something—even when my body was asking me to slow down.

This experience led me to a powerful realization: even joyful movement can turn into burnout if we’re not paying attention. And often, it happens quietly. A hike you love becomes a test of endurance. A goal rooted in excitement becomes a measure of your worth. And before you know it, movement stops feeling like freedom and starts to feel like a burden.

In this episode, I explore:

• The fine line between joyful movement and exercise obligation
• How to recognize when your fitness goals are fueling you—and when they’re draining you
• The ways diet culture sneaks into movement, even in healing spaces
• Why listening to your body is the strongest move you can make
• How to reframe fitness goals so they align with joy, not guilt

I also share a few honest questions I’ve been asking myself—and invite you to do the same—so you can reconnect with movement in a way that supports your body and your well-being, not your inner critic.

Whether you’re a hiker, a walker, a gym-goer, or someone still trying to repair your relationship with movement, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and move forward with more intention and more trust.