Burned Out forYears!

I Was Burned Out for Years, And It Looked Like Competence I didn't burn out dramatically. There was no breakdown in the supply closet. There was no single moment that broke me. It was quiet. Slow. And for a long time, it was invisible , even to me. I started nursing at 17 as an LPN. I was a single parent at 19. I worked two jobs, cardiac ICU on weekends and long-term care five days a week, for over 20 years. I raised my kids. I earned my certifications. I became a Director of Nursing. I was the person others called when things fell apart. And somewhere in the middle of all that giving, I lost track of myself. That is burnout. Not a breakdown. It is a slow, quiet depletion that looks like competence from the outside and feels like nothing from the inside. In this episode, I will share the true version. Because the women who need this conversation deserve honesty more than they need a highlight reel. What we cover in this episode: My actual story from LPN at 17 to Director of Nursing, and what it cost me The three-part clinical definition of burnout and what the textbooks leave out Four honest self-check questions (answer them right now, not later) Why high-achieving women in healthcare are the least likely to name it What real recovery requires: a decision, a structure, and support, and why they're not sequential If you recognized yourself in any of those four questions, that was not a coincidence. Subscribe to the Lux Reset Newsletter Read the companion article: Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor Follow @cherylonlux on Instagram and TikTok Join the community: Facebook Visit the Blog: cherylonlux.com Visit the Store for more resources Organized Opulence · Week 2 · Pillar: Mind Next episode: Your bedroom should be your best hotel. New Episode Every Second and Fourth Wednesday