If You’re Tired of Being Tired—Read This

Last week, I wrote about what it means to be the heart of the family—and what it costs when that role comes at the expense of your own well-being. If you felt seen in that post, if you recognized yourself in the woman who’s flatlining… you’re not alone.

But now that the fog is lifting and you're realizing how far you've drifted from yourself, the question becomes:

What now?

The temptation is to spring into action. To fix it. To find yourself. To do something.
But if you’ve been running on empty for too long, even trying to figure out who you are or what brings you joy can feel like one more thing on your already-too-full plate.

Let’s slow it down. There’s a step before the rediscovery.
And it starts with breath.

The Oxygen Mask Isn’t Just a Metaphor...

You’ve heard the airplane analogy before: in an emergency, put your own oxygen mask on first.

But I want you to picture what really happens when you don’t.

Imagine a woman in a plane cabin where the masks have dropped. She’s scrambling to help everyone around her—her kids, her partner, the person in the next row. She’s giving, fixing, doing. And by the time she reaches for her own mask, she’s dizzy. Disoriented. Gasping. In a panic, she stumbles over the very people she was trying to help.

The truth is, you can’t care for others well when you’re barely breathing yourself.

And when you finally reach for the metaphorical mask in a state of panic or resentment, it often comes out as frustration, withdrawal, or tears. You may even end up creating the very outcome you were trying to avoid: people pulling away, misunderstandings, feeling unseen all over again.

That’s why this next step is not about fixing everything.
It’s about coming up for air—gently, intentionally, without guilt.

What if I told you that your most important job this week is to breathe...?

This isn’t the week to reinvent your life.
It’s the week to stop holding your breath.

Before you try to figure out who you are…
Before you make a plan or ask what brings you joy…

Start by giving yourself permission to simply exist. To create a moment of space.
To treat yourself like someone who matters.

This Week’s Gentle Step: Just Say Yes

If thinking about what you need feels like too much thinking, here are some low-effort, high-impact ways to come back to yourself. Just pick one. That’s it.

• Go for a slow, 10-minute walk with no phone and no destination. Just breathe.

• Wrap yourself in a blanket and sit by the window with a hot drink. No multitasking allowed.

• Cancel one thing this week that’s not essential—and don’t explain why.

• Lie on the floor with your legs up the wall for 5 minutes and let your nervous system reset.

• Turn off your phone for one hour. Let the world wait.

• Put on a playlist that soothes you, even if it makes you cry.

• Take a nap. A real one. Close the door. Rest on purpose.

No journaling. No self-discovery. No performance.
Just a breath. A pause. A moment of your own.

Worried What People Will Think? Say This:

If you’re afraid that taking time for yourself will ruffle feathers or raise eyebrows, you’re not alone. When you’ve trained the people around you to depend on your over-functioning, changing the pattern can feel scary.

But it doesn’t have to be dramatic.
You can start with this:

“I’m realizing I’ve been running on empty, and I need to start taking better care of myself. That doesn’t mean I love you any less—it means I want to keep showing up for you in a way that’s sustainable. For the next little while, I’ll be carving out some quiet time here and there so I can breathe, reset, and reconnect with myself. I’d really appreciate your support.”

You’re not asking for permission.
You’re not apologizing.
You’re modelling self-respect—and giving your people a chance to rise and meet you there.

📥 Want that script in a printable format?
[Click here to download it now.] 

Next Week: Meeting the Woman You've Been Missing

Once you’ve made space to breathe, you’re ready for the next step: reconnecting with the woman inside you—the one who’s been waiting beneath the noise, the lists, the roles, the over-giving.

We’ll go there next week.
For now, just breathe. That’s more than enough. xo

If any part of this resonates with you, I want to invite you to explore what’s possible. Whether you're working to heal your relationship or are facing the unknown of moving on, you don’t have to do it alone.

I’d love to have a conversation—no pressure, just a chance to explore what’s possible for you.  Book Your Discovery Call here.