This week, I’m joined by my friend Emma Gannon – award-winning author and Substack writer – to talk about something so many of us are secretly fantasising about: stopping. Properly stopping. Emma tells me about her “year of nothing”, the breakdown that forced her to confront burnout, and how stepping off the hustle treadmill completely changed her life. We talk about the fantasy of being “hospitalised for exhaustion”, why so many women feel they can’t hack modern life, and what happens when your body says “no more”. Emma shares her experience with panic attacks and disassociation, the friendships and work she had to let go of, and how she learned to rest deeply instead of putting on a show of productivity. If you’re exhausted, edging towards burnout, or just craving permission to do less, this conversation is for you.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

Emma’s new book, ‘A Year of Nothing’ is available to pre-order now and will be released on 22nd January 2026.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

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If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:

Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Emma Gannon

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exhausted All the Time? Emma Gannon on Reclaiming Your Life from Burnout