Strategic Rest, Not Strategic Stress

It all started with the BIG question on the table.
What does burnout really look like, and how do we bring ourselves back from it without treating rest like another item on the to-do list?
 
This Coffee Chat opened with an honest acknowledgment that many of us are feeling stretched thin. Between back-to-school schedules, heavy workloads, shifting priorities, and the general pace of life, it has been catching up with people. Special guest Chris Coladonato joined us to talk about rest as a strategy rather than something you squeeze in when everything else falls apart. What stood out early on was the reminder that burnout is not always obvious. Sometimes you only recognize it when you finally stop.
 
The conversation was filled with relatable moments. People shared the signs they notice in themselves, like irritability, lack of motivation, mistakes that seem to pile up, or the feeling of being backed into a corner. Others admitted they do not realize they are burned out until something forces them to pause. Chris encouraged us to look for these cues sooner and to view rest as a practice that happens throughout the day rather than a reward you earn at the very end of a long stretch. Even small breaks create a reset, whether it is stepping outside, stretching, listening to the birds, or taking a minute to breathe without checking email.
 
There was also an honest look at the guilt so many of us feel when we take a break. A lot of that pressure comes from old beliefs, workplace culture, or past expectations about what “busy” is supposed to mean. We were reminded that we often put as much pressure on ourselves as anyone else does. Choosing rest is choosing yourself, and that choice matters. People shared creative ways they weave in restorative moments, such as using Notion boards to track energy levels, taking tiny walks, using music, doodling, or keeping a calming activity nearby so it is easy to reach for during short pockets of time.
 
As the chat wrapped up, the takeaway was simple. Burnout does not disappear through one long weekend or a single deep breath. It shifts when we build small practices that support us throughout the day. It shifts when we notice our signals and respond with care. And it shifts when we stop viewing rest as laziness and start treating it as maintenance for being human.
 
Stay curious!
-Shannon
 
Video
 
Transcript
 
Chatbox
 
Transcript Summary
 
Resources
 
Zentangle
 
Sacred Rest Book Club
 
Recharge-Renew-Refocus Your Toolkit
 
Books
 
Burnout Recovery: 15 techniques to overcome chronic stress, regain control, restore your energy and your focus by Amber Pierce
 
Burnout Recovery Breakthrough: A Compassionate Guide to Manage Stress Overload and Build Unshakable Mental Resilience to Reclaim your Happiness by Laurie Grist
 
I'm So Effing Tired: A Proven Plan to Beat Burnout, Boost Your Energy, and Reclaim Your Life by Amy Shah
 
The Burnout Solution: 7 Steps from Exhausted to Extraordinary by Sharon Grossman
 
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Host: Shannon Tipton 
Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions