Burnout and Warmth: Finding Healing and Wholeness
In my years of researching burnout and mindfulness, I’ve discovered that burnout is far more complex than long hours or heavy workloads. It is deeply personal, shaped by our sense of purpose, relationships, and the way we care for our inner lives. Here are three key takeaways that might help you understand burnout—and more importantly, how to move toward healing and warmth.
1. Burnout is subjective
Burnout doesn’t come down to busyness alone. In fact, I’ve seen social workers and pastors—people in incredibly demanding jobs—find joy and energy even in full schedules. Meanwhile, others may feel exhausted and empty during seasons of less activity. The difference often lies in meaning and relationships.
A sense of calling and the presence of warm, supportive coworkers can protect us from burnout in powerful ways. When you notice exhaustion creeping in, seek out those people who bring warmth, safety, and encouragement into your life. Relationships grounded in compassion can be a lifeline in stressful times.
2. Regulation is possible
The good news is that you can re-regulate yourself out of burnout over time. Mindfulness and body-based practices (also called somatic skills) are proven ways to restore calm and presence. When practiced consistently, these skills create safety, rest, and peace in both mind and body.
Even small, intentional steps add up: stretching, mindful breathing for just five minutes a day, swimming, or jogging at a restful pace. With regular practice over the course of a month or more, your nervous system begins to shift out of survival mode and into healing.
3. Ask the deeper questions
One of the most overlooked strategies for recovering from burnout is to pause and ask life’s bigger, existential questions. Why am I here? What gives me meaning? What is God inviting me into in this season?
These deeper reflections lift us out of the daily grind and reconnect us to purpose and identity. For many of us, healing is not just about managing stress—it’s about rediscovering our gifts, our community, and even our cultural and spiritual roots.
Burnout recovery is collective
Burnout is not only an individual experience. It is also shaped by systems, workplaces, and communities where people sometimes feel unseen or undervalued. That’s why true recovery isn’t just about wellness routines—it’s about reclaiming dignity and extending warmth to others.
As people of faith, we are called to live fully into who God created us to be. Burnout recovery is part of that journey: tending to our wounds, embracing rest, and allowing God’s Spirit to form in us a new identity that honors our history, culture, and community.
When we recover, we don’t just heal for ourselves. We make space for others to see our humanity, and we extend warmth and dignity to those around us.
A gentle invitation
If you are feeling scattered, exhausted, or disconnected, know that burnout is not the end of your story. Healing is possible—through mindfulness, through relationships, through purpose, and through God’s presence in your life.
Let’s empower one another not to burn out. Instead, let’s root ourselves in practices of warmth, compassion, and wholeness. Because healing isn’t just valuable—it’s sacred.
For more, check out my link: www.reginachowtrammel.com/links for a free self-care guide and to sign up for a more in-depth free weekly newsletter. Warmly, Regina