Living Past Capacity: Burnout, Money, and Your Nervous System with Julie Merriman | Ep 55

Why do high-achieving women burn out even when they know they need to slow down? On the Real Money, Real Life® podcast, Linda Grizely and Dr. Julie Merriman look at what happens when you have spent years being responsible, productive, and available to everyone else. Burnout is not always about needing a vacation. When you keep living past capacity, rest can feel uncomfortable, your body can stay braced for the next demand, and even recognizing what you need can become difficult. What if you cannot relax without feeling guilty? What if you are exhausted but still keep telling yourself to push through? Julie explains compassion fatigue, nervous system dysregulation, and the warning signs high-achieving women often miss in themselves. Linda Grizely and Julie also discuss self-worth, guilt, old money stories, the "golden handcuffs" of a good salary, and how fear can make financial and life choices feel more limited than they are. Real Money, Real Life® is about understanding the human side of financial decision-making too. You can care about financial security without putting yourself last indefinitely. 💡 We talk about: Recognizing when you are living past your capacity Understanding why slowing down can feel uncomfortable Seeing how burnout, guilt, and self-worth affect your choices Recognizing when money or a good salary makes you feel trapped 🕒 Timestamps (00:00) When constantly handling everything becomes too much (02:57) What compassion fatigue actually means (04:32) Missing your own burnout warning signs (07:04) Why high-achieving women keep pushing past capacity (10:09) Burnout and a dysregulated nervous system (13:35) How chronic stress can show up in your finances (13:57) When a good salary becomes golden handcuffs (16:48) Why exhaustion can get mistaken for laziness (21:02) Feeling like you need permission to rest (22:02) Guilt, obligation, and fear of disappointing people (23:49) How old patterns can affect your money decisions (24:39) Understanding the money stories you still carry (26:49) Feeling financially trapped in a job or relationship (31:12) Signs your body may be telling you something is wrong (32:39) Figuring out what you actually need financially (36:09) How to recognize nervous system dysregulation (38:15) What to do when you feel too busy to stop (39:42) A simple exercise to help your nervous system settle (41:06) When self-help may not be enough (42:50) Protecting your future without sacrificing yourself 🔗 Connect with Julie Website: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/ Somatic Signature Quiz: https://rebrand.ly/y42jps0 🔗 Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers