Burnout & Binge-watching Netflix with a Pain in my Neck

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Unsplash

The other day I got a pressure point massage for some neck pain I'd been living with for months. My therapist explained the difference between muscles at ease and muscles in pain.

And I realized I'd been trying to treat the pain with quick fixes for months without ever sitting with it long enough to understand what was actually going on.

Sound familiar?

The burnout-exhaustion loop

Two of the most recognizable symptoms of burnout are emotional and physical exhaustion. They show up when we find ourselves in situations that drain any hope that our efforts will lead to a different outcome.

Imagine a project full of false starts, disappointments, and failures. You don't have the resources to fix the challenges or the autonomy to change the situation. You begin avoiding tasks. You overthink everything. You collapse on the couch at the end of the day, binge something on Netflix, and hope tomorrow is different. Over time, that pattern can become burnout.

The only way to deal with what's burning you out is to face it. Name it. Then figure out what's actually in your control.

Reflection questions to get you started

No, these aren't a fix-all. But they're a starting place. Mentally pull close the thing that's been causing your exhaustion — and sit with these questions:

1 What are you really avoiding?

Name it — not the symptom, but the actual thing underneath.

2 What is making this so hard?

What's in your control — and what genuinely isn't?

3 What have you already tried?

What's worked? What hasn't? Be honest about the difference.

4 What would you tell a close friend?

If someone you cared about came to you with this exact situation, what would you say? Give yourself that same advice.

5 Who can help you think through what happens next?

Name a specific person — not "someone." Then reach out.

What this actually accomplishes

Taking one step toward making something better helps you feel more in control of what is happening — and that feeling of agency is part of what burnout erodes. It won't be a quick fix. But it moves you in the right direction.

A question to start with

What have you been trying to treat with quick fixes — and what would it look like to actually sit with it?

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If you know what's burning you out but can't seem to get traction on changing it — RESET gives you the structure, support, and practice to move from identifying the problem to actually doing something different about it.

See if RESET is right for you →

Not tips. Not a list of habits. Real work, alongside real people, that builds lasting change.

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Carolon Donnally, MSOD, PCC

Burnout Resistance Coach · Trainer · Strategic Organization Consultant

Carolon helps high-achieving leaders and mission-driven organizations do great work without burning themselves or others out. She is a former Head of Leadership Coaching at the IRS, holds an MSOD from Pepperdine University, and is an ICF PCC credentialed coach. Her work is grounded in 20+ years of real-world experience — and her own experience on the other side of burnout.