When Being the Default Leads to Burnout (and How to Protect Your Mission)

Send a textAre you the default person in your family, business, or community—and quietly burning out because of it?In this deeply honest episode, Michelle Vande Hey shares what she’s navigating right now as a business owner, caregiver, and mission-driven leader—and the powerful reminder it brought about self-care, sustainability, and capacity.If you love what you do but feel exhausted, disconnected, or on the edge of burnout, this episode is for you. Michelle explores why passion doesn’t replace rest, how being the “default human” creates a hidden burden for leaders, and why self-care that actually works must be systemic—not reactive.You’ll walk away with practical, realistic steps to protect your energy, support your nervous system, and care for yourself in ways that sustain both you and your mission.In This Episode, We Cover:Why being the “default” person is a major (often invisible) contributor to burnoutThe early signs of burnout mission-driven leaders often ignoreWhy loving your work doesn’t mean you have unlimited capacityThe difference between reactive self-care and systemic self-careHow pre-scheduled care can support you during hard weeksWhy five-minute habits matter more than you thinkHow to build self-care systems that hold you when life gets heavyPractical Takeaways:Identify where you are the default—and the cost of carrying that roleSchedule self-care like survival, because it isBuild your self-care systems for the hard weeks, not the easy onesThoughtful Three Reflection Questions:Where in my life am I the default—and what is that costing me right now?What is one small act of care I can schedule this week (not someday)?What support does future me need that I can plan for today?Resources Mentioned:Free Self-Care Cheat Sheet: 20 self-care habits that take 5 minutes or less—designed for busy, overwhelmed leaders https://www.michellevandehey.com/offers/DXtKeqHP/checkout If this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s carrying a lot and say, “I thought of you.” Your mission is worth it—and you are worth it too.Download the Self-Care Cheat Sheet Join the community: Love Your Life on PurposePrefer to watch on YouTube (be sure to subscribe!) Connect with me and DM me your aha moment, question, or to say hi!IG: @michellevandeheyFB: Michelle Vande HeyLI: Michelle Vande Hey