Loving Your Body Through Life’s Changes: Chronic Stress and Burnout – Part 4
This post continues our “Loving Your Body Through Life’s Changes” series—stories and seasons many women move through, from pregnancy and postpartum to perimenopause and recovery. In this blog, we’re talking about chronic stress and burnout: how it feels in a real body, what might be happening beneath the surface, and gentle ways to reconnect to yourself.
What this season can feel like
Burnout rarely arrives all at once. It creeps in through long to-do lists and short nights. You might notice:
Waking up tired, even after “enough” sleep
A short fuse or tears that sit right behind your eyes
Brain fog and decision fatigue (even small choices feel heavy)
A body that’s “tired and wired”—restless but exhausted
Workouts that used to help now leave you flat or achy
If this sounds familiar, you’re not weak—you’re spent. There’s a difference.
What your body might be doing
Under chronic stress, your nervous system works overtime to keep you going. Muscles stay subtly braced, your breath lives higher in your chest, and recovery (from workouts, from work, from life) gets slower. Hunger and cravings can swing. Focus drifts. None of this means you’re “failing.” It means your body has been protecting you for a long time—and it’s asking for a new kind of support.
How to love your body in burnout
Burnout changes the metric for “success.” Instead of bigger, faster, more, try kinder, steadier, enough.
Choose minimums, not maximums. One nourishing meal. Ten calm breaths. A short walk at lunch. Tiny, repeatable actions rebuild trust.
Let movement be relief. Trade all-out intensity for rhythm—walks, gentle strength, mobility that makes you feel more like yourself when you’re done.
Make rest practical. A 20-minute earlier bedtime, phone away during the first and last 15 minutes of your day, or a quiet pause between tasks.
Feed recovery. Simple, regular meals; a little protein at each one; water you actually drink. (Perfection isn’t required.)
Ask for help—early. Delegating is not giving up; it’s building capacity.
Talk about it. Naming what’s hard often brings relief—and better options.
Support looks different in this season
Sometimes support is a friend who walks with you after work. Sometimes it’s boundaries at the office. Sometimes it’s a professional—therapist, coach, or physician—who helps you untangle stress from a health concern. The right support feels like more room in your day and body, not more pressure.
Re-entering movement, gently
If you’ve been white-knuckling your workouts (or skipping them entirely), it’s OK to begin again with less. Start with what you’ll actually do three times this week: a 15-minute walk, a few easy sets of strength basics, five minutes of breathwork before bed. Consistency—not intensity—restores energy and confidence.
When you’re ready, we’re here
If you’re in San Francisco and need a calm place to move at your own pace, Eden Fitness Studio—our Private Women’s Gym with 24-hour access—was built for seasons like this.
If you prefer working out with a trainer, our trainers prioritize privacy, safety, and realistic plans that fit a full life. When you’re ready, we’ll meet you exactly where you are.
Burnout doesn’t get the last word. Small, compassionate changes add up—and your body will feel the difference.
Next in this series: Loving Your Body Through Life’s Changes — Grief, Trauma & Loss (Part 5) — coming September 9.
This article is meant to inform, inspire, and support your wellness journey, not to replace professional medical advice. Please consult with your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or fitness routine.
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