Stop & Listen: My Burnout Recovery Journey to Improve My Mental Health

Ever heard the saying, "When you don't know how to say no, your body will say it for you"? It's a quote by Dr. Gabor Maté, and it has become a guiding principle in my life, especially as I embarked on my journey to recover from burnout.

For a significant period, I relentlessly pushed myself, always chasing what I believed to be the pinnacle of success – climbing the corporate ladder. With every promotion and raise, I celebrated my achievements, but deep down, I couldn't find the fulfillment I expected. Still, I persisted in working 12-hour days and late nights, day in and day out.

Ultimately, this lifestyle took a toll and manifested as severe anxiety, throat-clenching panic attacks, depression, and a myriad of physical health issues that left me bedridden for days each month.

I brushed it off as mere exhaustion, a passing bug, or perhaps even genetics. What I failed to realize was that my body was desperately trying to communicate with me. It was screaming at me, saying, "Ana, STOP! You're pushing yourself too hard. If you won't stop, we'll stop for you."

It was during my recovery period that I had this profound realization. I recognized that my body had reached a breaking point, a point where it no longer wanted to continue, and it made the decision for me. My body isn't just a tool to be used; it was more like a best friend, always there to support me but also in need of my equal care and attention.

When my anxiety became unbearable, I hit the emergency button. I informed my workplace that I needed a health leave, even if it meant risking my job. My first step was to get a thorough health check. The results were fine – my blood work, MRI, all clear. But I felt far from healthy. My mind was filled with endless negativity, and my body was in a constant state of unrest.

I decided to address the root cause of my problems. I listened to every symptom my body presented and dug deeper to uncover the primary source of my issues. Professional guidance and research led me to a surprising realization – it wasn't just genetics or the change in seasons making me unwell. It was my lack of a balanced system of well-being.

I just moved to a new country five years prior, I worked remotely full-time and had failed to establish a sense of belonging, or routine in my new home. I used work as my escape, throw in a pandemic and work became my entire life.

It dawned on me how my environment played a significant role in my well-being. I had created an escape bubble, solely focused on being a top-notch worker, while disregarding the environment needed to support my mental, social, and emotional health.

Helsinki, where I live, is undoubtedly a healthy environment full of nature and clean air. It has been voted happiest country for 5 years in a row. But even in such a favorable setting, I had to examine my immediate environment, starting with my home. As an interior designer, I had a well designed home, but it wasn't designed for healthy living; it was primarily about aesthetics.

With my professional expertise in designing healing spaces, I embarked on optimizing my space to encourage a balanced well-being by listening to my body. Through the practice of self awareness I felt…

• My mind was cluttered, so I created a meditation corner for emotional confrontation.

• My attention was divided, so I removed social media and minimized my phone.

• Time felt limited, so I simplified my home to reduce the workload.

• The to-do list was never-ending, so I decluttered to focus on essentials.

• My focus was scattered, so I reorganized my home for building new habits.

• My body was perpetually tired, so I redesigned my room for better sleep quality.

My recovery journey focused on listening to every symptom and finding solutions. More often than not, these solutions were significantly influenced by my environment.

The key lesson? When we can't say no to our bodies, they will say it for us. To create a healthier life, we need to understand our body's needs and the environment that supports it. That's where Sachi comes in. Our mission is to provide a framework for people to listen to their bodies and create environments promoting overall health and well-being.

Sachi is about paying attention to your body's signals and symptoms and creating tools for your environment to address and alleviate those symptoms. Sometimes, it's as simple as improving your quality of sleep.

Build Healthier Environments. Live Healthier Lives.