My Instagram Got Hacked — Here’s What It Taught Me About Health Coaching (and Life)

One morning, I woke up, grabbed my phone, and checked Instagram like I always do… except something was off. My account? Gone.

I was locked out. Hackers had taken over.

Panic set in. Years of content, connections, and conversations disappeared in an instant. I tried everything to recover it. Password resets and emails to Instagram support—nothing worked.

I had no choice but to create a new account and start from scratch. But what happened next surprised me: that experience taught me some powerful lessons about health, boundaries, and how we approach our well-being.

Here’s what I learned.

Lesson #1: We’re All One Crisis Away from Burnout

The moment my account got hacked, I went into overdrive:

• Panicking.
• Frantically trying to recover it.
• Searching for quick solutions.

Is this familiar to you? That’s how many people approach their health. You push through exhaustion, ignore stress, and keep going until something forces you to stop—a health scare, burnout, or complete breakdown.

According to a National Institutes of Health review, burnout is complex, with a three-part definition: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of less achievement at work. The study found that to help reduce burnout, mixing different ways to tackle stress is usually the most effective [1].

Health, like security, needs a prevention-first mindset.

Lesson #2: Weak Boundaries Leave You Vulnerable

I realized my account got hacked because I didn’t have firm boundaries in place:

• I didn’t use two-factor authentication.
• I had a weak, generic password.
• I assumed everything was secure.

You do the same thing with your health. You assume you’re okay, even when you skip meals, sacrifice sleep, or push through stress. You think you can handle it—until you can’t.

Just like your online security, your health needs boundaries to protect it.

Another National Institutes of Health review found that setting healthy boundaries around sleep and stress can increase resilience [2]. It’s those small, protective actions that create long-term well-being.

Lesson #3: Sometimes You Have to Start Fresh

I couldn’t recover my account, so I had to start fresh. Was it frustrating? Absolutely and it was also freeing.

I must redefine my content, re-establish my boundaries, and focus on what's important to me and my audience.

The same thing can happen with your health. Maybe you’ve ignored the warning signs for too long. Perhaps you’ve let unhealthy habits creep in. On the bright side, you can always start fresh.

The key is to take action before things spiral out of control. You don’t have to wait for a health crisis to make changes. Small, consistent steps—like better sleep, mindful eating, or setting boundaries around work—can have a massive impact.

What Happens If You Don’t Take Action?

When an intruder hacked into my Instagram, I tried everything to recover it, but it was gone.

Years of content. Connections. Conversations.

The same thing can happen with your health. Ignore the signs—burnout, fatigue, stress—and you could find yourself in a situation where rebuilding feels overwhelming.

On a happier note: You can start at any time and don’t have to start from zero. Taking small, intentional steps today can prevent a complete reset tomorrow.

Your Health Deserves the Same Protection

Think of your health like your online accounts:

• Would you use the same password everywhere? (Probably not.)
• Would you ignore warning signs of a hack? (No way.)

So why leave your health vulnerable to burnout, exhaustion, and stress?

You deserve to feel energized, focused, and resilient—but it starts with setting boundaries and prioritizing your well-being.

You shouldn't wait for absolute burnout to embrace change. The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.

So what are you waiting for? Start protecting your health (and social accounts) today.

Are you ready to strengthen your boundaries and protect your most valuable asset?

Let’s connect. ?? Book a Clarity Call and talk about practical steps to build resilience and redefine what health looks like for you in 2025.

Until next time,

Alexa Hanshaw

National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach

References:

1 - Burnout in Mental Health Services: A Review of the Problem and Its Remediation

2 - The promotion of sleep wellness: Resilience as a protective factor