Sara’s View of Life, with Sara Troy. On air from July 14th
There are times when we think we’re pacing ourselves. We tell ourselves we’re saying no more often, taking breaks, and not overloading our schedule. Yet somehow it still catches up with us. Why? Because we often forget that it isn’t only physical activity that drains us. Emotional energy, mental stimulation, and constant engagement can exhaust us just as much as physical work.
I’ve done many shows on pacing yourself, and yet recently I became my own lesson. I went away for five nights and six days. It was wonderful. I spent quality time with my son, my daughter-in-law, my daughter, and my best friend. We laughed, talked, connected, and made beautiful memories. Although I rested here and there, my normal routine was completely disrupted.
When I returned home, I thought I would have a day to recover and find my equilibrium again. Instead, I went straight into Nana mode. The grandchildren arrived, and for four days in a row I was right back into family life. By the fifth day, my body simply stopped cooperating. My legs felt like they had turned to steel. Every muscle hurt. I could barely walk.
That’s fibromyalgia. After living with it for over thirty years, my body and I have learned to communicate. Usually it gives me warnings, but this time I ignored them. My body was saying, “I let you enjoy those wonderful days, but you forgot to rest afterward.” Eventually it shut me down completely.
The truth is, our bodies always speak to us. Mine happens to speak through pain and stiffness, but yours may communicate differently. Perhaps it’s overwhelming fatigue, emotional burnout, anxiety, brain fog, headaches, irritability, or simply feeling like you cannot cope anymore. Whatever form it takes, those warning signs deserve our attention.
Overstimulation affects everyone differently. People living with autism, ADHD, ADD, OCD, fibromyalgia, or other conditions often reach their limits more quickly because their nervous systems are already working harder than most people realize. But even if you don’t live with those challenges, everyone has a breaking point. We all have limits.
The important question is this: How do you recognize your own warning signs before your body forces you to stop?
If we don’t take time to rejuvenate ourselves, burnout is inevitable. Whether it’s emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual exhaustion, we eventually pay the price. We need to learn our own personal limits and respect them. When life taps us gently on the shoulder, we need to listen before it hits us with what I call the “cosmic two-by-four.”
One of the simplest and most powerful things we can do is… nothing.
Not meditation. Not listening to a podcast. Not checking our phone. Simply sitting quietly. Sit outside and watch the birds. Listen to the wind in the trees. If you’re lucky, perhaps you’ll see hummingbirds, deer, squirrels, or simply watch the clouds drift by. There is an incredible art in doing absolutely nothing.
Those quiet moments allow your mind, body, heart, soul, and spirit to settle. They restore your equilibrium. They calm your nervous system. They replenish the energy you’ve been spending without even realizing it.
We also need to hydrate properly. Our bodies need water to function efficiently. Water lubricates our joints, supports our muscles, nourishes our brain, and keeps everything flowing as it should. Sometimes the simplest acts of self-care make the biggest difference.
Learning to say “no” is another act of self-care. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your family or care about your responsibilities. It means you’re honouring your own capacity. If we stretch ourselves too thin, we’re no longer effective for anyone else.
I know how difficult that can be. When it comes to my daughter and my grandchildren, saying no has never been one of my strengths. But this weekend, after spending a little more time helping out, my body finally said, “Enough.” I had to spend the rest of the weekend resting because there simply wasn’t another choice.
Sometimes we also need to ask for help. We hesitate because we don’t want to inconvenience others, but that’s what community is for. One person may not be available, but another might gladly pick up groceries, watch the children for an hour, or lend a helping hand. We have to allow others the opportunity to support us, just as we would support them.
Caregivers, in particular, need to hear this message. You are no good to anyone when you are completely burnt out. You cannot continue pouring from an empty cup. Rejuvenating yourself is not selfish—it is essential. It allows you to show up fully for the people who depend on you.
I’ve learned my lesson once again. My body reminded me that even joyful experiences require recovery afterward. Overdoing it doesn’t have to come from stress alone. Even happiness can become exhausting if we never pause to recharge.
So please, pay attention to your own warning signs. Listen when your body whispers instead of waiting until it screams. Give yourself permission to say no. Delegate when you can. Ask for help when you need it. Take a “me day” without guilt.
Most importantly, learn the beautiful art of doing nothing.
Because it takes far less time to prevent burnout than it does to recover from it. As the old saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine.
May you honour yourself. May you listen to your body, your mind, your heart, your soul, and your spirit. And when they ask for rest, may you give yourself permission to simply stop, breathe, and rejuvenate.
Your future self will thank you.
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