How I Reclaimed My Peace

Isle of Skye, Scotland

I love fixing things. I love helping people. I love learning and growing.

But eventually… I gave too much of myself to everyone else— to my job, my relationships—until there was nothing left for me. My cup was empty.

In 2023-2024, I burned out.Hard. I was working too much, overstaying in environments that made me feel really anxious, constantly putting out fires. My nervous system was a mess. I had a hard time resting on weekends. I couldn't sleep at night because I kept thinking about what happened at work or what I needed to do for the next day. I felt like I needed to get ahead to prevent unexpected changes, chaos, but it never seemed to stop. 

The little time I spent with friends they commented that I’m such a workaholic and all I talked about was work. I couldn’t deny this because it was the truth. I didn’t really do anything else outside of work.  I lived and breathed work. 

I felt bad taking breaks or taking vacations. I felt anxious when I took time off.  I’d check my emails, Slack/MS Teams messages, even called my friend/colleague for updates before. I believed if I didn’t keep pushing, everything would fall apart.

So I kept pushing…Until my body said: “NO MORE. STOP NOW” 

I started getting constant headaches. I couldn’t think clearly. I was recycling old work just to get by.I was pulling 14–15 hour days and running on little energy

Even when I tried to rest, I couldn’t. My mind wouldn’t stop.

I felt like I was going insane. That’s when I knew something had to change.

I didn’t try to fix it all at once.I honestly couldn’t because I was too tired, too overwhelmed.So I started small.Each week, I picked one goal —

• a 15-minute walk

• a quiet journaling session

• not checking work messages after a certain time

• a staycation where I truly unplugged

  
  

Eventually, I did something big for myself. I took a two-week vacation to Europe and I didn’t reply to a single Slack message. The world didn’t fall apart. I didn’t fall apart.

Instead? I started falling in love with feeling calm, with disconnecting, with not being in constant urgency. I started noticing beauty again and slowly, my outer world began to reflect my inner world.

Now? I feel grounded. 

Peaceful. 

My mind doesn’t spiral like it used to. And most importantly—I trust myself again.

🌸 If You’re Where I Was…

I want you to know that…

You don’t need to change your whole life overnight. You just need one soft step, one small intention.

I resisted rest for years, but over time, through intentional habits, I became a new person. Someone who's confident, calm, and deeply trusting that things will be okay.