You’re Not Lazy—You’re Burned Out
How to Tell the Difference (and What to Do About It)
Person sitting at a desk with a laptop which says “burnout”. Photo credit: Canva.
The Myth of Laziness and Why It’s Hurting You
You stare at the to-do list. Again. Your body doesn’t move, and your brain tells you, “You’re just being lazy.” But the truth is You’re not lazy. You’re likely burned out. And that difference matters.
Burnout vs Laziness: What’s the Difference?
Burnout Symptoms:
Emotional exhaustion
Brain fog or detachment
Dread or apathy
Cynicism and irritability
Shame around “not doing enough”
Laziness?
Often misdiagnosed burnout.
Burnout = no capacity.
Laziness = no interest.
What Burnout Does to Your Body
Chronic stress can dysregulate your nervous system, leaving you in freeze mode. This is called nervous system burnout.
Even if you care deeply, you’re simply too depleted to act. Your system needs safety, not hustle.
5 Signs You’re Burned Out (Not Lazy)
Rest doesn’t feel restful
You feel guilty for slowing down
Small tasks feel huge
You care but can’t respond
You think, “What’s wrong with me?”
What To Do When You Realize It’s Burnout
Start with short, nervous system-based resets
Use somatic tools like breathing or movement
Give yourself real rest
Get support from someone who gets it
Don’t go it alone
Why These Next Tools Specifically
I don’t just teach these tools; I’ve lived them. When I burned out, I didn’t even recognize it at first. I just felt foggy, somewhat irritable and even angry, and like no amount of sleep was enough. I hated going to work, but blamed it on other factors (the weather, the turnover, the fact I really wanted to move and couldn’t yet). I kept pushing, thinking I could “figure it out”.
But the harder I pushed, the more disconnected I felt.
It wasn’t until I learned to work with my nervous system, not against it, that things began to shift. Breathwork helped me access calm I didn’t think I could feel. Somatic check-ins gave me space to hear myself. IFS taught me to befriend the parts of me that were over-functioning just to survive.
I now use these same tools with my clients: Therapists, healthcare workers, caregivers, and high achievers who come in feeling like they’ve lost themselves. And session by session, we build safety in their bodies, clarity in their minds, and strength in their choices.
It’s not magic. It’s reconnection. And it’s the most powerful work I’ve ever done.
Burnout Recovery Tools That Help
Breathwork: 4-4-6 breathing pattern
IFS Check-ins: “What part of me needs attention right now?”
Movement: Stretch, walk, or shake to shift your state
Small steps can start big healing.
Final Thoughts
You’re not lazy. You’re burned out. And there is a path forward. You don’t need fixing, you need replenishing; you don’t need to do more, you need to feel enough again.
Join the Burnout Reset Circle
A small, guided space to reset, breathe, and come back to yourself. DM me for details.
Want to keep building your dream life without burning out?
Join the waitlist for IGNITE: The Burnout Revolution and be the first to know when the doors open.
Don’t know me yet?
If we haven’t met, hello! I am Meg. I am the Burnout Revolutionist. I don’t fix. I don’t convince. I simply guide burned-out humans in survival mode back to an energetically aligned life. You can find me in several places outside of my website:
You don’t have to keep just surviving. There is a way to feel clear, energized, and creative again. There is a way to earn well, live well, and actually enjoy your work and life again.
If something in you is whispering (or screaming), “this isn’t it…” Listen to it. That’s your spark. That’s the part of you that’s still alive — and ready for something more aligned. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’ve got you.
Start with my free guide on burnout recovery. It’s not fluff. It’s the truth I wish someone had handed me years ago. Or join the waitlist for Ignite: The Burnout Revolution for Professionals — a space where real transformation begins.
You were never meant to push yourself into the ground just to be successful. Let’s build something that actually works — for your career and your life.