The Day Everything Changed: My Burnout as an Executive

There are days that define a life, pivotal moments that redefine our trajectory. For me, that day came on a Thursday morning, as I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, unable to get ready because my hands were shaking. It was the day my body and mind said "stop," the day I had to admit I was in the midst of a burnout.

The signs I should have seen

In retrospect, the signs had been there for months, maybe even years. The sleepless nights ruminating over ongoing projects, the weekends sacrificed for the sake of productivity, the meals eaten hastily in front of my computer. I had normalized a hectic lifestyle, convincing myself it was the price I had to pay to climb the ladder in the cutthroat corporate world.

I attributed the chronic headaches to the "normal" stress of my position. I chalked up the growing irritability to temporary fatigue. Even when my 5-year-old son asked me why I smiled so rarely, I brushed it off with a forced laugh, promising to play with him "later."

The collapse

That Thursday morning, as I prepared for yet another day of crucial meetings and decisions, my body said no. The uncontrollable shaking, the nausea, the suffocating feeling—all these symptoms I'd ignored converged into a perfect storm. I called my assistant, my voice cracking, to tell her I wouldn't be coming. It was the first time in ten years I'd missed a day of work without being physically bedridden.

The hours that followed are a blur in my memory. I remember sobbing on the couch, my phone vibrating incessantly on the coffee table. I remember the crushing guilt of letting my team down, mixed with an unexpected relief at finally turning off the machine.

Awareness

It was my husband who took charge that day, canceling my weekly commitments and taking care of our son. For the first time in years, I had to let go and accept that I wasn't in charge.

The diagnosis fell like a cleaver: severe burnout. These words resonated in my mind like a sentence, but also like validation. Finally, I could put a name to the malaise that had been eating away at me for so long.

The beginning of a new chapter

That burnout day wasn't an end, but a beginning. It forced me to reevaluate my priorities and question the definition of success I'd imposed on myself. I realized I wanted to be there to see my son grow up, that I wanted to rediscover the simple joy of creating something with my hands.

It was during my convalescence that I discovered ceramics. The contact with the clay, the concentration required to shape a piece, all of it acted like therapy. Little by little, the idea of a career change took root in my mind.

A new beginning

Today, as I shape a new career as a ceramicist, I often reflect on that Thursday morning. Burnout was a traumatic experience, but also the catalyst for a profound and necessary change in my life.

To those reading this who may recognize their own situation, I say: listen to the signals your body and mind are sending you. Professional success is not worth sacrificing your health and happiness. It's never too late to change course and redefine what a successful life means to you.

My burnout was the day everything changed, but it was also the first day of the rest of my life. A more balanced, more authentic, and ultimately, much more satisfying life.

The sudden realization caused by burnout acted as a wake-up call, forcing me to reevaluate my priorities and rediscover my deepest passions. This moment of crisis was the fertile ground from which a new direction sprouted, a personal rebirth I could never have imagined before.

Ceramics has become much more than just a professional activity for me. It has become a means of expression, a creative therapy that has allowed me to reconnect with myself in a deep and meaningful way. Each piece I create tells a story, not only of my personal transformation, but also of the importance of listening to oneself and the search for authenticity.

I am grateful for the winding path that led me to this new path, as it allowed me to discover a much more rewarding and lasting form of success. In doing so, I hope to inspire those who feel lost or exhausted to listen to their own inner voice and embrace the changes necessary for a life of meaning and fulfillment.