From National TV to Total Burnout: What I Had to Learn the Hard Way

This summer, I was on fire — at least on the outside.

I was flying back and forth for executive trainings, speaking on stages, hosting business meetings in NYC with beauty brands and my publisher, making appearances on HSN, and pouring my heart into my work.

And while I was deeply grateful for every opportunity… something was quietly unraveling underneath.

By the first week of September, I hit a wall.

I was exhausted. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. I had nothing left in the tank.

I wasn’t sleeping. My mood was all over the place. I felt foggy, weepy, and flat — and that radiant woman I help others rediscover felt like a distant memory.

And this is the part of the story I want to highlight — because I almost ignored it.

I almost kept pushing. Kept performing. Kept checking off boxes.

Because for most of my life, I’ve been the woman who keeps going no matter what. I was the woman who believed that hard work fixes everything. That rest is earned.

That self-care is something you squeeze in once everything else is done.

But that belief system nearly broke me.

So instead, I did something radical — for me.

I cleared my calendar. I took time off. I allowed myself to be instead of do. And it changed everything.

Menopause + Burnout: A Dangerous Combo We Don’t Talk About Enough

What I’ve come to understand on this journey through menopause is that real self-care isn’t optional. It’s essential. Especially when you’re navigating fluctuating hormones, changes in sleep, mood, metabolism, and identity.

We can’t just power through like we used to. And we shouldn’t have to.

Yes, skincare and healthy food matter. But if we’re not honoring our need for rest, boundaries, stillness, and emotional space… we’re just dressing the wound instead of healing it.

Here’s what I’ve learned — and what I hope you’ll take with you today:

💫 Drop the “Superwoman” cape.You don’t have to do it all. Make your to-do list shorter. Ask for help. Give yourself permission to not be perfect.

💫 Say “No” with love.You don’t owe anyone access to your time or energy if it costs you your peace. Saying no is an act of self-respect.

💫 Listen to your gut.That inner whisper knows what you need — even if the world is yelling something different. Trust it.

One of the most powerful pieces of advice I’ve ever received came during one of the hardest times of my life — in the middle of a painful divorce, on welfare, with three young children and no clear path forward.

A dear friend wrote me this:

“Spinning and twirling are two different things.When you find yourself spinning… just twirl to the melody of your soul,then stop and sit in that space.Because you, my dear, are a beautiful, creative creature — capable of everything you desire.”

And now, I pass that on to you.

💗 If you’re spinning, know that it’s okay to stop.💗 If you’re tired, you’re not weak — you’re human.💗 And if menopause has thrown your world into chaos, you’re not alone.

Let’s twirl instead. Together.

Ready to reclaim your radiance — inside and out?✨

Leave a 💫 in the comments and let me know how you are prioritizing real self-care right now.✨

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With grace,Michelle 💕