top of page
Search

6 Shifts to Move from Burnout to Freedom

By: Kim Brooks

As the seasons change from winter to spring, nature reminds us that renewal is always possible. Just as the earth shifts from stillness to growth, you, too, can transition from exhaustion to energy, from burnout to freedom.


As an educator or service-driven professional, you pour so much of yourself into your work. But what happens when you feel exhausted, unfulfilled, and stuck in survival mode?


This is a feeling I know far too well. And I know that when you're in that state, you are not showing up as the best version of yourself, the free-spirited, fun-loving, creative, nurturing soul that you are.


The good news... you don’t have to stay there!


Small shifts can help you move from burnout to a life of ease, flow, and joy.


Most people think ease, flow, and joy require you to have lots of money, no responsibilities, or you need to be a certain age...


But that’s just not true.


 Even if things feel like they're crumbling around you, you can start now.


You don’t have to quit your job, hop on a plane, and move to an island. (But you could...)


Here are six powerful shifts to help you reclaim your energy and step into more freedom and flow.




1. Creating Space for Rest


Pushing through exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a fast track to burnout.


  •  Are you allowing yourself to be still and dream? 


  • Are you listening to the little nudges from the universe that are pushing you closer to your vision of a more easeful, joyful life?


Prioritize sleep, take mindful breaks, and give yourself permission to slow down and rest during the day, even if you didn't finish your to-do list. When you create space for stillness, you allow clarity and creativity to flow.


Creating space on your calendar is important, but also take a look at the physical spaces where you work and rest, do they make you feel calm and inspired?


2. Shift from Saying Yes to Everything to Protecting Your Energy


Your time and energy are valuable. If you’re constantly saying yes to others, when do you say yes to yourself?


Look at your calendar for the next month.


  •  What can you release to create more freedom?


  • Where can you delegate or say no?


If your schedule is packed and your mind is cluttered, there’s no room for joy and ease to enter.


Practice setting boundaries and honoring your own needs. The more you protect your energy, the more you can show up fully for what truly matters.


3. TRUST Yourself


The fear of “what if” keeps so many people stuck. But what if things actually work out better than you imagined?


Trust yourself.


You have the wisdom, strength, and resilience to navigate change. Every new step is a chance to align with a life that feels better for you.


Your body and mind need to feel safe before real change happens.


Breathwork, movement, energy work, and meditation are a few of the practices that can help shift you out of survival mode and into expansion.


4. Find the Right Support


You were never meant to carry it all by yourself.


Whether it’s a mentor, a coach, or a supportive community, surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference.


Seeking guidance isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign that you’re ready for growth.


  • Determine what support would look like for you.

  • Who can you delegate tasks to or ask for help?

  • Get to know yourself on a deeper level, so you can communicate your wants and needs, as well as get the right kind of support.


Trust that the right support for you is out there whether it's in a group activitiy or individual, personalized support, or maybe a bit of both!


5. Do What Lights You Up


Pay attention to what energizes you and what exhausts you.


Who and what makes you feel alive?


Make more space for what fuels you and start letting go of what doesn’t.


Try new hobbies, join a meetup group, or take group classes!


You deserve to live in alignment with your value and do what truly lights you up.


6. Take Aligned Action


There will never be a perfect time. The only time is now.


You don’t have to figure everything out at once. 

Start with one small shift today that moves you toward this vision.


Small, intentional steps create big transformations.


Listen to the nudges, trust your inner wisdom, and start moving toward the life you desire today.


Every day ask yourself, “If I was living with more ease, flow, and joy right now, what choice would I make?” Where would I go? What would I eat? What would I wear? Who would I spend time with? How would this version of me tackle this to-do list?


I'd love to hear what shifts you'll take this season! And if you need support on this journey, I'm just a few clicks away.


 

The Power of Journaling:


To start getting clear about what you want for your life and how you want to feel, you can start by journaling.


I used to wonder, what people wrote in journals. I used prompts to inspire me (and still do!). Then I started writing whenever I traveled or had an experience I didn't want to forget.

Then I started writing whenever I felt angry or frustrated.


Now it's a daily practice of writing about whatever is running through my brain. I get my best ideas when I set aside time to free-write. It's my connection with myself, my inner wisdom, and with Source, the divine, God, or whatever resonates with you.


Research by Pennebaker and Beall (1986) shows that expressive writing improves psychological well-being by helping individuals process emotions and reduce stress. Journaling also boosts self-awareness, creativity, and problem-solving skills.


To inspire you on your writing journey, download my free Mindfulness Journal! It’s designed to guide you through daily reflections and help you cultivate a deeper connection with yourself.


Click here to grab your free journal.


 

“Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going inside ourselves.”


 

In Case You’re New Here:


Hi! I’m Kim, a well-being coach, who helps teachers and service-driven professionals break free from the physical symptoms of chronic stress and burnout- not by adding more to their plate, but by helping them rewire their body and mind to release stress at a nervous system level and clear deep energy blocks.


They’ve done the work—they’ve explored mindfulness, movement, self-care, and personal growth. But something still feels off… like no matter how much they do, stress keeps creeping in, draining their energy.


That’s where I come in.


Through my Energetic Freedom Framework™, I guide my clients to:


·         Release built-up tension and emotional stress stored in the body.

·         Rewire their nervous system for deep healing.

·         Reclaim their power with unshakable boundaries and self-leadership.

·         Receive & flow into a life that feels balanced, fulfilling, and effortless.


As a result:


✔ They wake up feeling refreshed, energized, and pain-free—instead of dragging through the day. 

✔ No more tension headaches, tight shoulders, or exhaustion that lingers no matter how much rest they get. 

✔ Feeling calm and centered instead of reactive or drained by stress becomes a natural state of being.

✔ Making decisions easily and confidently without second-guessing or overthinking. 

✔ Trusting their intuition and body’s signals—knowing when to rest, when to set boundaries, and when to step forward. 

✔ Feeling mentally sharp instead of foggy and scattered.


They are more than just “managing” stress, they finally feel FREE. They’re no longer just “getting through the day”—they’re thriving.


Feeling present and joyful with their family, friends, and themselves—without work stress always lingering in the background.


 

Are you ready to shift from burnout to freedom?


Just as spring invites new possibilities, this is your time to embrace renewal and step into a season of ease, balance, and joy.


I’m offering a free Energy Activation Session for a limited time to anyone ready to break free from stress and step into more alignment.


During the session, we’ll explore what’s draining your energy and how to shift into more ease and balance. 


You’ll…


✨ Identify the habits and patterns keeping you stuck

✨ Shift your energy from overwhelmed to empowered.

✨ Gain clarity on your personalized path to more flow, ease, and balance.



If this sounds like something that would support you right now, claim your spot!


Ease, balance, and joy are waiting.


Just like spring, it's your time to bloom!🌸






Join my community of readers to receive well-being tips and information about upcoming opportunities that aim to support you throughout the year sent straight to your inbox!





Did you find this blog post helpful?

Let me know in the comments how you're blooming this Spring or anything else that resonated!


And I'm always up for hearing what you're reading or where you are traveling next!!


Share this blog post with someone you care about who wants to start making some shifts (big or small!) to a more joyful life of ease and flow.



 

Other Resources and Press:


In this VoyageBaltimore magazine interview, I share a bit about my journey from teaching to entrepreneurship.


In this Canvas Rebel article, I share some of the risks I've taken, lessons I've learned and advice I'd give to others taking the road less traveled.


If you like podcasts, here are a few that I’ve been featured on:



For more well-being tips to guide you this Spring, check out some other blogs I've written:

Comments

bottom of page