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<h3>Not everyone's burnout symptoms are the same</h3>Not such a long time ago, I started hearing the word burnout more and more.I became curious to understand what people really meant when they spoke about it because, truthfully, I wasn’t entirely sure I understood it myself.The more I listened, the more I realised that burnout can mean different things to different people. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition.At the same time, I also began to understand that the drivers behind burnout can often be very similar. And so can the type of person who experiences it.<h3>My first signs of burnout</h3><figure id="figure-k0lpo9xhsmpfivpd7"><img id="k0lpo9xhsmpfivpd7" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/28kK8iGoBRdu675ITqYPlJvtNXZs2kge3apZJ4FwFqto8zNs8FfWlQ2JpK1yknUh.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 20% 20%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="20%" data-positiony="20%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/28kK8iGoBRdu675ITqYPlJvtNXZs2kge3apZJ4FwFqto8zNs8FfWlQ2JpK1yknUh.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 20% 20%;"></figure>I started seeing it more and more in my coaching clients.Women who are deeply passionate about their work. Women who want purpose and meaning in life. Driven women. Ambitious women. Efficient, capable, caring women.Very often, they find it difficult to let go. To delegate. To release control.The thing about burnout is that you do not suddenly wake up one morning burnt out.It creeps up on you slowly. Quietly.You keep taking on more work. Looking after your team. Your family. Your friends.You tell yourself: “This is just who I am.” “I’m a doer.” “I can handle it.”And so you keep pushing harder and harder. Taking on more and more.At the same time, you slowly begin neglecting yourself.You stop making time for the things that matter to you. You don’t go to the gym anymore. You stop meeting friends for coffee. You don’t spend quality time with your family or your partner.Yet from the outside, everything still seems to be working like clockwork.<h3>On the inside symptoms of nervous exhaustion&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Until one day, something shifts within you.You suddenly feel lonely. Tired. Unmotivated. Sad.You begin asking yourself: “What is all of this for?”Everything that once gave you meaning and motivation suddenly feels empty. You feel purposeless. Like a sailing boat without a rudder.You begin questioning yourself. The people around you. Life itself.And what is frightening is how quickly it can happen. Almost from one day to the next.As I started learning more about burnout, I realised that I had experienced it many times in my own life without ever truly acknowledging it.Without recognising the signs. Without pausing to understand what was happening inside me. Without talking about it.I realise now that one of my first experiences with burnout happened during my divorce.At that time, I was working full-time while also being the full-time caregiver for my children.I desperately wanted to be that “super mum” who could do it all.Looking back today, I realise I must have had what I would describe as a mini breakdown.But I never shared how I was feeling with anyone.I didn’t ask for support. I didn’t reach out. I didn’t feel I had anyone I could truly talk to.I felt incredibly lonely and isolated.I was ashamed of how I felt.I wanted to appear strong. Capable. Like I could carry the world on my shoulders.And in many ways, I did.But at the same time, I completely neglected myself.I ignored my feelings. I pushed through exhaustion. I disconnected from my own needs.I realise now that I simply did not know how to take care of myself.That was my first — but not my only — experience with burnout.What I have learned since then is that so many of us make the mistake of pretending that we are holding everything together.The smiles. The laughter. The happy photos.Yet behind those smiles, there can be suffering. Loneliness. Exhaustion. Longing.Today, my message to myself and to others is this:<h3>Balance work life and personal life</h3>Reach out.Put yourself first sometimes.Because if you truly want to be that “super mum,” that successful professional, that strong leader — then you must learn how to take care of yourself too.Invest in yourself.<h3>Leadership coaching supports you to balance career and family</h3>Get support. Speak to someone. Work with a coach you genuinely connect with. Someone you feel safe enough to share your real inner world with.<a href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" data-mce-href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session">Book a Call</a>Share. Talk. Open up.And allow someone to help you reconnect with yourself again.The version of you who understands that looking after yourself is not selfish.The version of you who realises that when you care for yourself properly, you become far more capable of showing up as the best version of yourself for everyone else around you.<a href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/1-1-coaching-2" data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/1-1-coaching-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1:1 Leadership Coaching Programme</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-mce-href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Book a Call</a><a href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/step-into-the-leader-you-are-meant-to-be" data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/step-into-the-leader-you-are-meant-to-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leadership Group Programme</a>WarmlyJohanna<a href="https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon" data-mce-href="https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WHO's explanation of burnout</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetimes.com/business/entrepreneurs/article/i-got-sick-from-stress-at-27-now-i-run-a-1m-smoothie-firm-c0h8b6bz2" data-mce-href="https://www.thetimes.com/business/entrepreneurs/article/i-got-sick-from-stress-at-27-now-i-run-a-1m-smoothie-firm-c0h8b6bz2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read about Elevate founder's Personal Story with burnout</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYeaRr3sgTq/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" data-mce-href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYeaRr3sgTq/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Video - A little of my story with burnout</a>

My first encounter with burnout and its early symptoms

From Self-Doubt to Self-Leadership The shift that changes how you show up as a leaderYou know what you’re doing. You have the experience. You’ve delivered results.And yet… there are moments.Moments where you hesitate. Moments where you hold back. Moments where, just before you speak or decide, a quiet voice steps in:“What if I get it wrong?” “What will they think?” “Maybe I should wait…”This is the part of leadership that no one really teaches you.Not how to perform. Not how to achieve. But how to lead yourself in those moments — when self-doubt shows up before confidence does.&nbsp; The reality of self-doubt (that most high-performing women don’t talk about) If you’re like many of the women I work with, self-doubt doesn’t look like a lack of capability.It looks like:Overthinking decisions you’re actually capable of making Holding back in meetings, even when you have something valuable to say Replaying conversations long after they’ve happened Questioning yourself — even when others trust you And over time, something subtle but important happens:You don’t just lose a moment. You start losing momentum.Because self-doubt doesn’t only show up in the moment — it follows you after the moment too.&nbsp; This is where the shift begins One of the most important realisations is this:It’s not that you’re not capable. It’s that self-doubt is getting there first.And when it does, it quietly influences your actions:You pause You delay You soften your voice Or you say nothing at all This is where self-leadership becomes essential.&nbsp; The moment of self-leadership In every situation, there is a pattern:Trigger → Inner interference → Choice → ActionMost people never notice the middle part — the interference: The internal dialogue that sounds like logic… but is actually fear.Self-leadership is not about eliminating that voice.It’s about recognising it early enough so it doesn’t decide for you.&nbsp; A practical shift: From reacting to leading In the masterclass, I introduced a simple but powerful tool:A.I.A. — Awareness. Interrupt. Act. 1. Awareness Catch the moment as it’s happening. Notice the hesitation. The overthinking. The pull to stay quiet.2. Interrupt Ask yourself a better question: “What am I actually afraid of?”Because when you name the fear, it loses power.3. Act Not perfectly. Not confidently. But early.One sentence. One decision. One step forward.&nbsp; What changes when you do this consistently You don’t suddenly become fearless.But you become:Quicker in your thinking Clearer in your communication More grounded in decisions Less controlled by “what if” And most importantly:You stop waiting to feel ready.&nbsp; What women often realise in this work From the reflections shared in the session, one theme stood out clearly:“Awareness is key to action.” Not confidence. Not perfection. Not having all the answers.Awareness.Because the moment you recognise: "This is self-doubt speaking" —You create space.And in that space… you have a choice.&nbsp; Self-leadership is not what you think It’s not about always feeling confident. It’s not about removing doubt completely.It’s about this:Not letting doubt make the decision for you.&nbsp; If you recognise yourself here… If you are:Leading others while quietly questioning yourself Overthinking decisions that should feel straightforward Holding yourself back more than others ever would Feeling the pressure of getting it “right” Then this is not something you “fix” with more knowledge.This is something you shift through how you lead yourself.&nbsp; A more personal invitation This is exactly the work I do in 1:1 coaching.Not theory. Not generic advice.But real, grounded work on:How you think in pressure moments How you make decisions How you communicate and show up How you build trust in yourself again A confidential space where you can:Think clearly Challenge your patterns And take practical, consistent action &nbsp; If you’re ready to move from: overthinking → clear action self-doubt → self-trust hesitation → leadershipThen I invite you to explore working together.1:1 Coaching with me A focused space to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and direction — in a way that feels aligned with who you are.Let's chat.<a data-mce-href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session">Book a complimentary introductory call.&nbsp;</a>This is what other's have said about their coaching experience: <a data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/reviews" href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/reviews">Reviews﻿</a>WarmlyJohanna

The shift from self-doubt to self-leadership

A quiet truth about self-regard From the outside, everything can look fine.You’re capable. You’re managing. You’re achieving. You’re showing up.And yet… underneath it all, there’s a different experience.A quiet voice that questions you. Doubts you. Pushes you to do more, be more, prove more.I know this space well.There were many times in my life where I looked confident on the outside… while privately feeling uncertain, not quite enough, and under constant pressure to prove myself.Even when things went well, I struggled to fully take it in. I would focus far more on what I hadn’t done well than what I had.And that creates something exhausting.A life where you are constantly doing… but rarely feeling it is enough.What low self-regard really looks likeIt doesn’t always look like a lack of ability.Often, it looks like:doubting yourself even when you’re doing well brushing off positive feedback being harder on yourself than you are on anyone else overthinking conversations and decisions feeling your confidence drop quickly when something goes wrong carrying a constant need to prove yourself Sometimes it even shows up as defensiveness or rigidity — not because you don’t care, but because deep down, you don’t feel secure enough.And because many high-performing women learn to function through it… it often goes unnoticed.The part we don’t talk about enough When you don’t truly see your own worth, it affects how you show up.Not just how you feel — but how you lead, decide, speak, and relate.You may:hold back more than you realise question yourself more than necessary put pressure on yourself that never quite lifts struggle to trust your own judgement keep trying to earn something that doesn’t need to be earned And over time, that becomes heavy.Because no matter how much you do… a part of you is still asking, “Is it enough?”What changed things for me The turning point was not “trying harder” or becoming more capable.It was becoming more self-aware.Learning to really see myself — my patterns, my beliefs, my blind spots, and the way I was relating to myself.Understanding where that pressure came from. Why I dismissed the good and focused on the gaps. Why I felt the need to prove myself.And once I could see it… I could begin to change it.Not overnight.But gradually, I moved from:self-doubt to self-trust pressure to steadiness proving to owning reacting to responding And that changed not just how I felt… but how I lived and how I led.A question for you So let me ask you this:Where might you still be trying to prove yourself… instead of trusting yourself? If this resonates, it’s worth paying attention to.Because awareness is often where the real shift begins.If this feels familiar… You don’t have to keep navigating this alone.This is the work I do with my clients — helping them understand themselves more deeply, build real self-trust, and lead with more clarity, confidence, and steadiness.If you’re ready to explore this, get in touch with me. Sometimes the most important shift is not in what you do… but in how you see yourself.And that can change everything.<a data-mce-href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" title="Disccovery Call " target="_blank" rel="noopener">Book a free discovery call let's see how I can help you.</a>

When You're Doing Well .... But Still Don't Feel Enough

There is something reassuring about staying in our comfort zone.It feels safe. Predictable. Controlled.But if I look back at my own leadership journey, the moments that shaped me the most happened outside of that space.For many years I worked in a very male-dominated industry. Early in my career there were countless moments where I had to push myself far beyond what felt comfortable.I remember the first time I travelled on behalf of our company to present our performance to a room full of experienced executives from across Europe — people running large, established businesses.I felt completely out of my depth.My heart was racing. My hands were shaking. And I quite literally trembled my way through that presentation.At that moment the thoughts running through my mind were not particularly kind:Am I really capable of this? What if they realise I don’t belong here? What if I get it wrong?Fear. Self-doubt. Imposter syndrome.Looking back, I realise those feelings were not a sign that I shouldn’t be there.They were simply a sign that I had stepped into my stretch zone.And the only way forward was through it.The more I kept stepping into situations that felt uncomfortable, the more something interesting happened.What once felt terrifying slowly became manageable. Then familiar. Eventually… normal.The stretch zone became my new comfort zone.That is when I realised something very important:Growth rarely happens where things feel easy.At the time, however, I faced many of those moments alone.Coaching simply didn’t exist in the way it does today, and I often felt embarrassed to share my fears. In those environments vulnerability could easily be interpreted as weakness.If I had had access to coaching then, it would have been an enormous support.Because what I have learned over the years — through both experience and formal study — is that stepping beyond our comfort zone becomes far easier when we have the right tools, perspective, and support.Today, through <a data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/1-1-coaching" href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/1-1-coaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1:1 coaching</a> and my<a data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/leadership-women-group" href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/leadership-women-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Leadership Programmes</a>, I support professionals who are navigating those very same moments.Learning how to recognise the beliefs that hold them back. Develop the confidence to step into new challenges. And grow into the leaders they are capable of becoming.So here is a question for you:Where in your life might you already know that growth is waiting — just outside your comfort zone?<a data-mce-href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session" href="https://calendly.com/jpebc/coaching-session">Let's Chat.</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Growth Begins Where Comfort Ends

We live in a world that rewards action.Keep moving. Keep producing. Keep solving problems.Very rarely are we encouraged to pause.Yet in coaching, one of the most powerful moments often begins with something surprisingly simple: reflection.Not analysing endlessly. Not overthinking.But pausing long enough to notice what is really happening within you.Your reactions. Your assumptions. Your patterns.One of my clients captured it beautifully during a coaching programme:“A very good space to spend some time to pause and reflect, which is something that I wouldn't normally do.”And this is something I hear often.Most people move from one responsibility to the next — work, decisions, family, expectations — rarely giving themselves the time or space to step back and ask:What is really going on here? Why did I react that way? What is this situation trying to show me?Without reflection, we tend to repeat the same patterns. The same thinking. The same responses.Coaching creates a space where that cycle slows down.It gives you the opportunity to step outside the constant noise of everyday demands and look at yourself, your decisions, and your leadership with fresh perspective.And something interesting happens in that space.You begin to notice things you hadn’t seen before.You recognise the beliefs that influence your decisions. You become more aware of how emotions shape your reactions. You see where your strengths are supporting you — and where old patterns may be holding you back.This is where growth begins.Not because someone gives you the answers.But because reflection allows you to see your own thinking more clearly.And when you see something clearly, you can choose differently.Over time, this simple practice becomes incredibly powerful.Reflection builds self-awareness. Self-awareness strengthens emotional intelligence. And emotional intelligence transforms the way you communicate, decide, and lead.It’s often one of the biggest takeaways people discover through coaching.Not a technique.Not a tool.But the discipline of creating space to pause and think more deeply about your own experience.In a world that constantly pushes you forward, reflection invites you to slow down just long enough to gain clarity.And sometimes that small pause changes everything.So here is a question for you:When was the last time you truly gave yourself the space to pause and reflect?If this idea resonates with you, you may enjoy exploring more about how reflection and emotional awareness shape leadership growth in my <a data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/leadership-women-group" href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/leadership-women-group">L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. Programme</a> or through <a data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/1-1-coaching" href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/1-1-coaching">1:1 coaching</a> conversations.Sometimes the most valuable step forward begins with a moment of stillness.

The Power of Reflection: The Power in a Pause

The Leadership Skill No One Talks About Enough: Receiving Feedback We often talk about how to give feedback as leaders.We rarely talk about how to receive it.And yet, the moment feedback lands — especially the uncomfortable kind — is one of the most defining moments in leadership.Because feedback does not usually feel neutral.It can feel vulnerable. It can feel threatening. It can feel like a personal attack.Even the most experienced leaders can feel that internal shift: a tightening in the chest, a rush of defensiveness, the immediate urge to explain, justify, or correct the narrative.This reaction is human.But what we do next is leadership.Why Feedback Feels So Personal Feedback challenges more than behaviour — it often touches identity.If I see myself as competent and capable, and someone questions my communication or my decision-making, it can feel like they are questioning me.Our ego steps in to protect us.We defend. We rationalise. We minimise.But emotionally intelligent leadership asks for something different.It asks us to pause.To separate who we are from what we did.To understand that feedback is not a verdict on our worth — it is information about impact.The Leaders Who Grow Have a Thirst for Feedback The strongest leaders I work with share a common trait:They actively seek feedback.Not because they enjoy discomfort. But because they understand a fundamental truth:Feedback is data. Feedback is perspective. Feedback is growth.They know that without feedback, there is no refinement. Without refinement, there is no development. Without development, leadership stagnates.Good leaders do not equate feedback with failure. They equate it with learning.They are curious rather than defensive. Open rather than reactive.That does not mean they do not feel triggered.It means they have developed the capacity to regulate their emotions long enough to extract the learning.Receiving Feedback Is an Emotional Intelligence Skill Receiving feedback well requires:Self-awareness — recognising your emotional reaction in real time Emotional regulation — choosing not to respond from ego or fear Empathy — understanding the perspective of the other person Accountability — owning your impact without collapsing into shame This is not weakness.This is maturity.And in today’s leadership landscape — where teams expect transparency, growth, and authenticity — this skill is non-negotiable.Transformational Leadership Begins with Self-Leadership If we cannot receive feedback, we cannot evolve.If we cannot evolve, we cannot lead transformation.Inside my upcoming <a data-mce-href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/leadership-women-group" href="https://johannaparnisengland.com/leadership-women-group">L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. Programme﻿</a> starting on 26th February, we will be working deeply on this.You will learn how to:Receive feedback without becoming defensive Regulate emotional reactions in the moment Separate identity from behaviour Turn challenging conversations into genuine leadership growth Because transformational leadership begins with leading yourself first.And sometimes, the most courageous leadership act is simply this:Listening. Without defending. Without attacking. Without shrinking.Just listening.And asking: What can I learn here? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Leadership Skill No One Talks About Enough: Receiving Feedback

Johanna Parnis England