You don’t have to walk this road alone. https://caitdonovan.com/coaching connects you with Sarah Vosen, our Director of Coaching, who’s helped countless people reclaim their energy.

What does burnout look like before it takes you all the way down? For Emily Slachetka, it showed up as constant overwhelm, unexpected tears, and the thought of leaving a job she once valued. She joined UnFried hoping for validation that her workplace was toxic. Instead, she discovered her real challenge was over-functioning.

Emily shares how she learned to separate capability from capacity, the unexpected relief of “life pruning,” and the daily practices that helped her rebuild balance - like meditation, clearer boundaries, and asking for help. She also reflects on realigning her life with core values, from choosing a home with green space to recognizing the value of rest and doing nothing.

How do you know when you’re taking on too much? What shifts when you ask for help early? And how might work feel different if more of us normalized being human? Emily’s story is a reminder that recovery doesn’t always mean dramatic change. It can begin with small, intentional choices.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction: Emily Slachetka

02:07 Emily’s Burnout Story and Joining UnFried

05:59 Toxic Workplace or Personal Overfunctioning?

08:48 Capability vs. Capacity Explained

10:05 Life Pruning and Asking for Help

15:19 Listening to the Body’s Signals

22:13 The Value of Doing Nothing

23:14 Moving States with Burnout Protection in Mind

36:24 Reigniting Passion, Purpose, and Identity Beyond Work

Connect with Cait:

Initial Call with Cait

Initial Call with Sarah

You don’t have to walk this road alone. https://caitdonovan.com/coaching connects you with Sarah Vosen, our Director of Coaching, who’s helped countless people reclaim their energy.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Carolyn Taylor

The AI-powered Podcast Player