There’s a moment I’ll never forget. I was sitting across from someone I trusted, completely exhausted. They looked at me gently and said,

“I think you need to pause the clinic. You need to take care of yourself first.”

It hit hard. Closing the clinic, even temporarily, felt massive. I love my Bowen work, it doesn’t feel like work. I get to hold space for others, be in a calm environment, and help people feel better. But behind that, I was working two jobs, six days a week, raising a family, supporting kids who needed me, and watching my husband juggle the emotional weight of ageing parents.

I thought I could keep pushing through, but my body had other plans.

The signs of burnout

Burnout doesn’t always arrive in a dramatic way. It creeps in slowly, quietly.

• Waking up already tired

• Forgetting things, even simple stuff

• Feeling flat or emotional for no reason

• Snapping at the people you love

• Going through the motions, but not really feeling present

I didn’t have aches or pain, just an overwhelming sense of being stretched too thin, and no energy left to enjoy anything.

When you love your work, it’s even harder to stop

Clients often say, “You must feel so relaxed doing Bowen.” And I do. The clinic space is peaceful. The music, the essential oils, the stillness, it’s beautiful. But outside of those moments, life was full, and I had very little left for myself.

Even when I was resting, my mind was busy. It wasn’t until someone else said it out loud, you need to stop, that I realised I hadn’t made space to even consider that.

Pressing pause

Cancelling clients felt awful. I love what I do, and I care deeply for the people who walk through my clinic door. I needed to come back to myself. Not with a big plan, but with simple things, rest, silence, slower days, and less doing.

It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

Gentle support for burnout

If you’re feeling the same - tired, disconnected, emotionally drained, here are a few gentle things that helped me, and might help you too:

• Say no more often – protect your energy without needing to explain

• Ground yourself – feet on grass, hands on your heart, feel your breath

• Support your nervous system – homeopathics or flower essences can help calm and centre you

• Move your body gently – stretch, sway, walk, or roll your shoulders

• Make room for silence – a few minutes without noise or screens can reset your mind

• Create space just for you – even small pauses can shift how you feel

Burnout isn’t failure. It’s a message from your body asking for more care, not more effort.

Let this be your reminder, you don’t have to do it all, and you’re allowed to slow down.

I’ll be back end of the year, but for now I’m taking care of me, my family, and getting ready for a summer holiday.

Angie ♡☀︎

Balance and Energise Bowen Therapy