132: 25 Lessons I Learned in 2025: Self-Care, Burnout, and Becoming Her

Have you ever looked back at a year and realized it took more from you than you expected—but somehow gave you exactly what you needed? This episode is for the high achiever who’s tired of glorifying hustle culture, pushing through exhaustion, and calling burnout “just a phase.” If you’re craving success and softness, ambition and alignment, this conversation is for you. In today’s special end-of-year episode, I’m closing out 2025 by sharing 25 real, lived lessons I learned while juggling a demanding nine-to-five, building my skincare brand, hosting this podcast, and navigating burn out, ambition, money, boundaries, and self-trust. This isn’t Pinterest advice. This is grounded truth for women who are doing a lot — and want to feel good while doing it. We’re talking: Why hustle culture fails high-achieving women How self care actually works in real life (not just on weekends) The systems that helped me regulate my nervous system and protect my peace Why ambition doesn’t have to cost you your health And how reinvention is always available to you If 2025 stretched you, humbled you, or forced you to grow in ways you didn’t ask for — you’re not behind. You’re becoming. The woman you’re stepping into is built through small, intentional choices. Alignment over pressure. Rest over burnout. Peace over performance. ✨ Share this episode with a fellow boss babe who’s recovering from hustle culture ⭐ Leave a 5-star rating & review — it’s the best way to support the show and help more women find these conversations 🎧 Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming in 2026 (trust me 👀) 💌 Tag me on social and tell me which lesson hit you the hardest hustle culture, self care, burn out, high achiever, nervous system regulation, ambitious women, rest for high achievers, soft life, alignment, burnout recovery This podcast was produced by: ⁠@yourgirlmedia⁠  Follow me and join my world: Instagram: ⁠@theerickanicole⁠ // ⁠@bossbabereset⁠ ⁠Website⁠ You can invest in SILKENN for less than a flight to Cancun! Ready to own a piece of the glow-up? We  just opened Silkenn’s Community Investment Round—and this time, the gatekeepers are out and the girls are in.  Join the movement at ⁠⁠wefunder.com/Silkenn⁠⁠, become part of the ⁠⁠Silkenn ⁠⁠story, and snag some exclusive investor-only perks (think yacht days, mastermind dinners, and behind-the-scenes access).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Ready to build the business that replaces your 9-to-5? Join us inside the Clocked Out Collective at start.clockedout.media.Free 5-Minute TrainingEvery woman I know who successfully built a business while working a 9-to-5 followed the same four steps — and almost all of them tried to skip step one.So I created a free 5-minute training specifically for the woman who is still clocking into work every day while trying to build something bigger on the side.➡️ Watch the free training here👀 Join the Clocked Out Collective ClockedOUT is a business and productivity podcast for the high-achieving female entrepreneur building a side hustle while working a 9-to-5. Each week we deliver business building tips, work-life balance and self-care strategies, and real talk on hustle culture so you can grow your business, hit new revenue milestones, and beat burnout while still on payroll.Follow us on Instagram: @clockedout.media