Mamamia Out Loud

SUNDAY SPECIAL: The Cure For Burn-Out Is Cooked

Feb 1, 2025

Katherine May, a bestselling author known for her works on well-being, dives into the challenges of burnout, especially for midlife women. She discusses how traditional advice falls short and stresses the importance of recognizing personal needs. The conversation explores practical strategies for redefining rest, the therapeutic joys of gardening and pet ownership, and the impact of societal pressures on self-worth. Finally, Katherine highlights the importance of accepting care and prioritizing self-care as a strength.

35:11

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Episode guests

Katherine May

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Burnout results from neglecting personal needs, particularly for women in midlife, leading to overwhelming exhaustion and disconnection.

Redefining rest as an active process that includes engaging in hobbies and rituals can help alleviate burnout significantly.

Deep dives

Understanding Burnout in Midlife

Burnout is characterized by psychological and physical exhaustion, particularly among women navigating midlife challenges. The podcast highlights that burnout often manifests when individuals repeatedly overlook their own needs, leading to a sense of being overwhelmed and disconnected. Symptoms can vary from an inability to focus, as exemplified by a loss of interest in reading, to physical signs like headaches or irritability. Recognizing these symptoms as indicators of burnout rather than personal failures is crucial for addressing the underlying issues.

Intro

5min

Reframing Burnout: Finding Rest Amidst Chaos

13min

The Therapeutic Journey of Gardening and Pet Ownership

2min

Balancing Work and Personal Time

11min

Finding Comfort in Cosmic Insignificance

2min

The Importance of Receiving Care and Recognizing Burnout

3min

Outlouders, we've just ticked off January for 2025... and who else is already exhausted? Don't worry... us too! So today we are sharing with you an episode of MID that will help you avoid burning out.

Burn-Out, says author Katherine May, is what happens when you repeatedly ignore your own needs. Sound familiar?

The first signs are often that you can't focus. Can't read, maybe. Can't sleep, or sleep too much? Can't eat, or can't stop eating? You're Tired All The Time. You have that cold that just won't leave.The cure, everyone says, is simple: Slow down, Darl. But it's not so easy when everyone needs something from you.

Author and advocate Katherine May - creator of the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling books Wintering and Enchantment - thinks that the way we're taught to deal with burn-out is unrealistic for most women, particularly midlife women with overflowing plates. Waking up to meditate is not so easy when you've got lunches to make, work to do, life to live. And let's face it, a world that prioritises productivity hacks isn't exactly championing meaningful rest.

So how do you replenish, in 2025, when absolutely everyone's lost their charger?

THE END BITS

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CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Executive Producer: Talissa Bazaz

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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