From Burnout to Balance
The marathon that changed everything — and why I built Untapped to help others avoid the same collapse or to help work through it.
The Burnout That Changed Everything
The Chase
Working 100 hours a week, running 80km a week, partying until 6am. I thought I was winning at life, but my body was screaming for help.
The Collapse
At the finish line of the London Marathon, my body overruled my mind - after years of pushing through, it simply said no and shut down.
The Rebuild
Recovery taught me to build differently. Slower, with curiousity, kindness and boundaries that enable a stronger foundation.
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.”
— Brené Brown
5 Lessons That Changed My Life
Hard-earned wisdom from the other side of burnout
Ambition without self-awareness is a ticking time bomb
I was chasing meaning and worthiness in a world that never stops asking for more. The feedback loop was intoxicating — everyone said I was “smashing it” — but I was actually on a rocket ship to breakdown.
You can't outrun your nervous system
Anxiety wore a mask of ambition. Chronic sleep deprivation became a badge of honour. My body was stuck in survival mode, 24/7 code red — and I refused to listen to the whispers.
Rest is not weakness, and it isn't easy
After the collapse, I couldn't sit still. Existing without distraction felt excruciating. Learning to rest was the hardest — and most necessary — skill I had to develop.
No external goal will ever fill your internal void
I desperately sought validation from achievements, money, performance. But that hole isn't a design flaw — it's a space to explore who we really are. Worthiness isn't conditional; it's inherent.
Our bodies are always speaking — it's our job to listen
The marathon was my body's final act of defiance. It had been whispering for years through fatigue, chest tightness, racing thoughts. When I didn't listen, it had no choice but to shut me down.
Why Untapped Exists
Sometimes the thing that breaks you can also be the thing that transforms you. Untapped is the community I wish I'd had during my darkest moments — a space to speak openly about burnout, recovery, and share what helps.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect.
Read the full story on Substack