When Constant Go-Mode Leads to Burnout Instead of Success (and How to Change That)

I used to think being in a state of constant go-mode was the only way to become successful. If I wasn’t pushing and creating all the time, I felt like I was being lazy. And if I wasn’t juggling seventeen things at once, was I even serious about the work I was doing?

Turns out, my nervous system had other plans.

Because here’s what I didn’t pay attention to when I started as a solopreneur: your brain can absolutely handle pressure. But it wasn’t designed to live there for long periods of time.

When you’re in go-mode all the time, your body starts treating that pace like a threat. Not metaphorically. Literally. Your sympathetic nervous system, the part that helps you survive danger, takes over. Heart rate goes up. Breath gets shallow. Your brain starts rerouting resources away from creativity and toward keeping you safe and out of harm’s way.

That’s really helpful if you’re trying to escape a bear while hiking in the mountains. Less helpful if you’re trying to write a newsletter or make a strategic business decision without crying into your coffee.

And here’s the sneaky part. That state can feel normal after a while because it becomes a habit. A habit where you stop noticing the tension in your shoulders. You stop noticing the short fuse.

If you’re like I was, you justify it in your mind, saying things like, “I’ll take a long vacation once this project is over.” (Side note: in case you’re wondering, I never did take those post-project vacations. I just started other projects.)

Until suddenly, you’re so bone-tired you crash. Welcome to burnout.

So, what I thought would lead to successful end results ended in me feeling like a deflated balloon. No air left, not just in me, but in my projects. This definitely impacted my bottom line.

I began to second-guess myself, wondering two things: was I cut out to be a coach, and could I ever create a thriving practice? It’s no wonder I threatened to quit once a month during my first year as a solopreneur.

At the end of the day, my friends…while we may feel like we need to go-go-go to prove how serious we are about our work, that’s not the case. And I don’t say that lightly. I say it from personal experience.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize, and it’s something I’ve made part of my success strategy:

When you’re paying attention to what your body is telling you, you can use that data as helpful insight to avoid hustling to the point of burnout. And if you forget that and find yourself on the verge of burnout, you can always regroup.

Here’s a little experiment you can run when you’re feeling that bone-tired, stressed-out, fried and crispy feeling that comes with burnout.

Step one: Find a quiet-ish spot. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Just somewhere you can sit for a minute without multitasking.

Step two: Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly. Inhale through your nose for four counts. Exhale through pursed lips (like you’re blowing out a candle) for six. Repeat four times.

Step three (optional and weirdly effective): Take a deep breath and hum on the exhale. That vibration activates your vagus nerve, which helps shift your body out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest.

Notice what changes. Not dramatically. Just gently. Maybe your shoulders drop. Maybe your thoughts feel less like a stampede.

Bonus step: Pair this with something grounding. A walk. A warm drink. A splash of cold water on your face or running cold water over your wrists.

And If Breathwork Isn’t Your Thing…Try one of these instead:

• Shake out your hands for 30 seconds

• Put on a song and move like nobody’s watching

• Step outside and name five things you can see

• Text someone just to say “thinking of you”

• Sit with your pet and have a cuddle
  
  

Each one helps your nervous system shift gears. Not because they’re magic, but because they’re signals that say to your brain and body, “I’m safe. It’s OK.”

Your brain and body are in constant conversation. When you slow your breath, you’re not just calming your mind. You’re sending a signal to your entire system that the threat has passed. That clear thinking can commence. That creativity is welcome to return.

This isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing things differently. Because long-term hustling doesn’t always create the results we’re after. It often creates stress and outcomes that feel forced.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your screen, wondering why your brain feels foggy and your fuse feels shorter than usual, I’d love to hear about it.

What does constant go-mode look like in your world? What does burnout feel like in your body? And what’s one thing, big or small, that helps you regroup?

Drop it in the comments. The messy. The honest. The unexpected. I’m genuinely curious what this looks like for you, and I know someone else will be grateful you shared.

Let’s talk about it. And let’s find a way to create success without the burnout.

Until next time, I’m sending you all sorts of calm and grounded vibes….