From Invisible to Invincible: How I Went From Burnout to Break Through
Nadja El Fertasi
Rebel with Purpose | Championing EQ in the Age of AI ?? | ?? Building Thriving Workplaces | ?? Mental Health | ??? Emotional Firewalls for Families | Speaker, Coach & Trainer | Building the Thrive with EQ Community ??
Reclaim Your Energy: From Burnout to Thriving
I recently witnessed a fascinating discussion on time management, and it struck a familiar chord. I recognized myself in the endless race against the clock, constantly seeking to maximize efficiency.
The KPIs of efficiency and effectiveness I embraced at work began spilling over into my personal life. Yet, no matter how many hours I had, I would inevitably fill them with tasks and to-do lists. I stayed busy but not necessarily productive.
The day my body gave out—collapsing in a way that my mind could no longer override—marked a turning point. It forced me to ask deeper, more meaningful questions:
Was my struggle truly about time, or was it about energy?
Managing our energy rather than time is fundamental to preventing or recovering from burnout.
For me, this journey meant taking a hard look at my life to understand who and what fueled me—and who and what drained me. It started by letting go of denial about where I was in life and simply... doing nothing.
As a high achiever, I had tied my identity to my performance. If I slowed down, if I allowed myself to do absolutely nothing—who was I?
It took years and many painful ‘aha’ moments to unravel these truths. And that’s what this week’s EQ Oasis theme explores:
How can we manage our energy to not only survive but truly thrive?
Particularly for women, mothers, and working mothers—how can we overcome guilt and shame for wanting fulfilling careers while nurturing our children? How do we reclaim our power from societal expectations and the opinions of others?
If you resonate, check out my Private Heal with EQ Newsletter for deeper insights and personal stories.
Welcome to Your EQ Oasis Weekly Digest!
This week, we’ll explore practical tools, insights, and reflections to help you shift from burnout to resilience.
Monday: Moonlight Motivation ??
Theme: Reclaim Your Energy with Emotional Intelligence
The moon symbolizes what’s hidden beneath the surface. To prevent burnout, we must explore the root causes of what drains our energy.
On Monday, I shared my personal journey of collapsing under the weight of burnout and the steps I took to recover. It began with feeling my emotions, flipping the script, and allowing energy to flow through me.
Key Insight: When we resist our emotions, they persist. Emotions are energy in motion. Feeling them is the first step to releasing them.
<< Watch Full Video Here >>
Tuesday: Mars in Motion ??
Theme: Overcome Your Fears and Tap into Courage
Change is often accompanied by fear—especially when it requires us to rethink how we live, think, and feel. Yet, facing these fears is essential to creating a life of balance and peace.
In Tuesday’s episode of Selfies of the Mind, I shared how I overcame the fears that kept me stuck in burnout.
Key Insight: Fear is a natural part of change, but courage is taking action despite the fear.
<< Tune into Episode Here>>
Wednesday: Mercury’s Wisdom ??
Theme: Your HERO in Life is Your Future Self
Your future self has already overcome the challenges you face today. They are waiting for you to step into your power and align with their wisdom.
On Wednesday, I encouraged readers to connect with their future selves through a simple visualization exercise or by writing a note from their future self.
Key Insight: The answers you seek are already within you. Your future self is living proof that you are capable of creating the life you desire.
<< Watch Full Video Here >>
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Thursday: Jupiter’s Growth ??
Theme: Energy flows where attention goes
Our beliefs shape how we experience life. Negative beliefs drain energy, while positive ones uplift us. However, balance is key—avoiding toxic positivity while cultivating self-awareness of disempowering thoughts.
I shared how I discovered the inner conflict that fueled my burnout. My heart and mind were pulling in opposite directions, draining my energy. Through parts integration, I harmonized these opposing needs, creating alignment within myself.
Key Insight: Inner conflict is often the root of external burnout. Aligning the parts of yourself creates a sense of wholeness and unlocks energy.
Friday: Venus Friday ??
Theme: It’s Okay Not to Be Okay
As a single mother and high achiever, I often felt torn between societal expectations and my own dreams. The guilt and shame of not “doing enough” kept me in a cycle of exhaustion.
On Friday, I shared a heartfelt poem for single mothers—reminding them (and myself) that it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay not to be okay.
Key Insight: Self-love is not selfish. It’s the foundation for how we show up in the world.
Note: My poems are exclusive to this digest and are not shared in the premium newsletter.
<< Watch Full Video Here >>
Saturday: Saturn’s Shield ??
Theme: Boundaries are Standards, Not Barriers
Boundaries are essential to protecting your emotional energy. On Saturday, I explored the power of setting both internal and external boundaries.
Key Strategies:
Key Insight: Boundaries are not barriers; they’re the standards you set to protect your well-being.
Sunday: Solar Shine ??
Theme: Shine Bright with EQ Vitamins
In a world that often pushes us to the brink, finding resilience and balance is essential. Just as our bodies need vitamins to thrive, our emotional well-being depends on consistent nourishment.
Weekly EQ Vitamins for Burnout Recovery:
Daily Practice: Choose one EQ vitamin and reflect on it throughout the week.
?? For a deeper dive into this week’s EQ Vitamins, join my Private Heal with EQ Newsletter.
?? Deepen Your Journey
Ready to take your emotional intelligence journey to the next level? Here are some powerful ways to deepen your growth and transformation:
Looking Ahead
Next week, I’ll share how I healed from depression and discovered the deeper meaning of rest.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Remember, burnout isn’t a permanent state—it’s a signal to reclaim your energy and power.
With love & gratitude,
Nadja ?? ?? ??
HR specialist, father of two autistic boys, human values defender
4 个月Thank you Nadja, that resonates very well with me ??
Head-Learning & Development QM/OpEx and Performance Measurement l TVET Institutional Capacity Building l Human Capital Development l BoT ATD MENA Network l Thought Leader l Keynote @ Global HRD, QM & Accreditation Forums
4 个月Nadja El Fertasi Inner peace deserves what it takes! Nice poem!