🧠 Burnout Happens: How I’m Learning to Recharge

Reader, I’ve been thinking about something a lot lately. Something I wish I’d known sooner. 🤔

Here it is:

You can’t outpace burnout by pushing harder. Especially when you’re autistic.

This week, I hit a wall. Hard.

It crept up on me, honestly. Over the past couple of weeks, I’d been to multiple events in quick succession—a conference, a networking event, an onsite vendor showcase—all valuable opportunities, but also socially and mentally exhausting. By the weekend, I could barely even get out of bed.

That’s when I realised: this wasn’t just tiredness. This was autistic burnout.

So, What Is Autistic Burnout? 🤯

Burnout isn’t just feeling drained; it’s like your brain hits the brakes, and your body says, “Nope.”

For autistic people, it can look like:

• Extreme fatigue—even basic tasks feel impossible. 😴
• Difficulty processing information or communicating. 🌀
• A strong need to withdraw and recharge. 🌿
• Heightened sensitivity to sensory or emotional input. ⚡

For me, it was all of the above. Every ounce of energy had been squeezed out of me, and I had nothing left to give—not to my podcast, this newsletter, or even myself.

Why Does This Happen?

A big reason is masking.

If you’re autistic, you probably know what I’m talking about: that constant effort to suppress your natural instincts to fit in with neurotypical expectations. For someone like me who's late diagnosed, masking is a behaviour learned over decades and has become habitual.

Masking takes energy. A lot of energy. And when you combine that with sensory overload and social demands, you’re on a fast track to burnout.

My Lightbulb Moment 💡

Here’s the kicker: I’ve experienced burnout before. But each time, I’ve brushed it off, thinking, “I’ll just rest for a day and bounce back.” Except it doesn’t work like that.

Burnout isn’t something you can sleep off. It’s your mind and body saying, “Enough,” because you’ve been running on empty for too long.

So this time, I’m trying something different. Instead of trying to push through, I’m pausing. Reflecting. Reassessing.

What Recovery Looks Like 🌟

Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, but here are some things that are helping me:

1. Resting Without Guilt For the first time, I’m letting myself fully rest—not just physically, but mentally too. That means saying no to extra commitments and yes to low-stimulation activities I enjoy (like reading). That live workshop I was planning for the weekend after next? That's a "next year" thing now. 🛋️
2. Setting Boundaries I’ve realised I can’t do it all. I’m being more intentional about how I spend my energy and setting firmer boundaries around my time. I rearranged my work calendar this week to reduce the number of days I'd need to be in the office. 🚧
3. Asking for Help Whether it’s leaning on understanding colleagues or connecting with other autistic people who get it, I’m learning that it’s okay to ask for support. In fact, this very piece is an example of that: I’ve had help putting it together because I wanted to stay connected with you—my loyal audience—without completely depleting myself. Asking for help isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a strategy for sustainability. 🤝
4. Reframing My Expectations Instead of seeing burnout as a personal failure, I’m viewing it as a signal—a reminder to slow down and take care of myself. 🌈

Why This Matters 🧠

As neurodiverse individuals in data and tech, we’re often juggling high expectations, intense focus, and the need to prove our worth in a fast-paced world. Burnout is more than a speed bump; it’s a wake-up call to rethink how we’re working and living.

And here’s the thing: your value isn’t tied to how much you can do or how fast you can do it. It’s in the unique perspective you bring—the thoughtful, detailed, and creative way your mind works.

Reflecting on Burnout

If you’re feeling burnt out right now, ask yourself:

• What’s been draining my energy lately? 🧐
• Where can I create space to rest and recharge? 🛀
• How can I adjust my expectations to better honour my needs? 🧘

And remember: it’s okay to take a step back. It’s okay to not be okay. What matters is how you take care of yourself moving forward. ❤️

Share Your Thoughts 🌟

What about you? Do you have strategies for managing your energy levels or recovering from burnout? I’d love to hear them! Reply to this email to share your thoughts and tips - I read them all! Let’s learn from each other. 💬

Thanks for being here.

Lee

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