S1 E12: When Ambition Turns Into Exhaustion

Episode Summary:

In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming calls out the quiet epidemic plaguing high-achieving women: invisible burnout. With stats from McKinsey, Deloitte, and the American Psychological Association, she reveals how career pressure, emotional labor, and unspoken grief are silently draining women dry.

Jessica shares her own wake-up call and what it took to stop performing wellness and start reclaiming real energy, joy, and connection. She breaks down the neuroscience of numbness, explains why “pushing through” backfires, and offers practical, science-backed recovery strategies—starting with the Power Pivot Daily Journal.

If you’re exhausted, disconnected, or just feel like you’re going through the motions—this episode is your permission slip to stop pretending everything’s fine and start choosing you.

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🕐 Chapters + Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to We Are Women, Unapologetically

00:18 – The Exhaustion Epidemic: Understanding Burnout 01:54 – The Silent Struggle: High Achieving Women and Burnout

07:29 – Personal Story: A Wake-Up Call

11:07 – Recognizing Burnout: Subtle Signs and Symptoms 14:30 – Recovery and Rest: Practical Strategies

21:39 – Conclusion: Embrace Change and Choose Yourself

Key Takeaways:

• You’re not lazy—you’re running on empty. Most high-achieving women are managing personal and professional crises simultaneously.

• Numbness is not weakness. It’s your nervous system’s survival response.

• Burnout is not just about stress. It’s about disconnection—from yourself, your joy, your purpose.

• Recovery isn’t a vacation—it’s a rhythm. Real rest is strategic, consistent, and multifaceted.

• Small hinges swing big doors. One daily check-in can change everything.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• 2024 McKinsey Women in the Workplace Report

• Deloitte’s Women at Work Study

• Harvard Business Review + APA Burnout Data

• Dr. Emily Nagoski – Author of Burnout

• Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith – Sacred Rest & 7 Types of Rest

• Journal of Applied Psychology research on recovery cycles

Download the Free Power Pivot Daily Journal

Start with a daily check-in that helps you track your energy, name your season, and reclaim your clarity.

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Final Note:You don’t need to hit rock bottom to shift. You don’t need to explain how tired you are. You just need to choose yourself.