That "Fine" You’re Feeling? It Might Be Burnout in Disguise
That "Fine" You’re Feeling? It Might Be Burnout in Disguise
You’re getting it all done. The appointments. The work. The school drop-offs. The check-ins. On the outside, it looks like everything is running smoothly.
But on the inside? You’re running on fumes.
The joy is low. The resentment is high. And that go-to answer—“I’m fine”—feels like a lie you’re telling yourself just to get through the day.
If this sounds familiar, you're not broken. You're not lazy. You're likely dealing with something very real: burnout in disguise.
Burnout Doesn’t Always Look Like Collapse
We tend to think of burnout as dramatic—calling off work, hiding under the covers for three days, dropping the ball in some big, visible way.
But for many high-functioning women, burnout is far sneakier. You’re doing it all, and people even praise you for it. But it costs you—emotionally, mentally, and physically.
You might notice:
Feeling numb or disengaged from things that used to light you up
A short fuse with the people closest to you
Constant fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix
A low-grade resentment that simmers under the surface
A sense that something’s “off,” but you can’t name what
These aren’t personality flaws. They’re symptoms of depletion.
What Burnout Really Is
The World Health Organization defines burnout as a result of “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” — but for women in transition, that “workplace” often includes life itself (Source: World Health Organization).
Burnout can emerge from caregiving, parenting, emotional labor, or carrying invisible loads that nobody else sees. It’s not just from doing too much — it’s from doing too much without enough support, clarity, or rest.
According to a 2022 report from the American Psychological Association, women are significantly more likely to experience chronic stress and emotional exhaustion, particularly those in caregiving or transitional life roles (Source: APA Stress in America Survey).
Burnout is your system telling you something has to change.
The Lie of “I’m Fine”
Many women in burnout become masters of the emotional mask.
You smile through meetings.
You manage your kids’ needs like a pro.
You keep saying yes because you can, even when you don’t want to.
But underneath? You’re drifting further away from yourself.
That version of you who used to feel energized, connected, and grounded? She’s not gone—she’s buried under layers of responsibility, self-sacrifice, and expectation.
Saying “I’m fine” keeps things moving. But it also keeps you disconnected from what you actually need.
Burnout Loves High-Achievers
Here’s the kicker: burnout doesn’t pick on the disengaged. It shows up most in the capable, competent, high-capacity women who carry everything.
Because you're good at coping. At making it work. At being what others need.
But coping is not the same as thriving. If you’ve been running in survival mode long enough, your body, mind, and heart will eventually ask for something more.
And they won’t always ask nicely. Sometimes burnout shows up as illness. Or brain fog. Or relationship tension. Or that strange sense that life is passing you by while you’re just… managing it.
Coaching Can Help — Without Adding Another “Should”
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a call to overhaul your life or finally start waking up at 5 a.m. to journal and drink green juice.
Coaching in this context isn’t about hustle or productivity. It’s about getting honest. Slowing down enough to ask:
What is actually draining me?
What have I outgrown?
What am I craving that I keep pushing aside?
What needs to shift for this season to feel more like mine again?
This is the kind of work we do in coaching for women in transition. Not because you’re broken. But because you’re ready for something different.
You don’t need more discipline. You need more clarity. More permission. More alignment between who you are now and how you're living day-to-day.
It’s Okay to Want More
Wanting more joy, peace, or spaciousness doesn’t make you ungrateful. It makes you honest.
So if you’re showing up for everyone else but feel like you’re missing from your own life? That’s not just a rough patch. That’s a call back to yourself.
You’re not behind. You’re not selfish. You’re just tired of surviving a life that no longer fits.
You weren’t meant to burn out in the life you worked so hard to build.
You were meant to live it.
Ready to Stop Saying “I’m Fine” and Actually Mean It?
Let’s explore what support could look like in this season.
Start here: https://www.eileenlifecoaching.com/women-in-transition
Or book a free coaching consult