Amanda’s story:
From constant burnout to a balanced, sustainable way of working

When Amanda first came to coaching, she was exhausted. As Horticulture Team Lead at a private estate, she carried a huge amount on her shoulders: managing a team, dealing with constant operational crises, and trying to hold everything together at home. Her pattern was familiar but painful - give everything 150 percent, burn out and consider quitting altogether.

She knew something had to change, but she wasn’t sure what the root of the problem actually was. She described it as “not being able to switch off,” but the real issue ran deeper: she simply didn’t allow herself the space to do anything that brought her energy or joy.

The early work: understanding what’s really going on

Together we explored what was happening beneath the overwhelm. Two things quickly became clear:

• she was operating from a place of duty rather than choice

• she didn’t believe she deserved time for her interests or her own wellbeing

This belief sat quietly at the heart of everything, and the realisation became a turning point.

“I don’t deserve to pursue my interests.”

Shifting the pattern

As the months went on, Amanda showed up with huge honesty and self-awareness. She absorbed what she was learning, kept journals, reflected between sessions and came ready to go deeper each time.

Together we worked on:

• identifying her unhelpful beliefs

• separating facts from assumptions

• carving out real, protected time

• challenging the pressure she put on herself

• saying no without guilt

• learning what “good enough” actually looks like in practice

• stepping back from firefighting and into more strategic work she genuinely enjoys

The breakthroughs

There were many. Often small, but significant.

• The moment she realised she already does carve out time for herself - exercise - and therefore knows how to protect time when something matters.

• The realisation that slowing down didn’t mean caring less, or being less capable.

• Recognising that she was trying to operate at A+ in every single area of her life, when a B- would be completely fine - and in many cases, healthier.

• Seeing clearly that she actually enjoys the strategic side of her role and wants to create more space for that, rather than drowning in operational tasks.

Over time, she stopped defaulting to “fixing everything” and started experimenting with letting some things stay undone, or be handled by someone else.

Building a sustainable rhythm

Together, we shaped practical habits and structures that support the way she wants to live and work:

• a weekly carved-out morning to work on projects she loves

• deliberate time in the park - her natural place of focus and calm

• simple journaling to track what’s working and what isn’t

• clear boundaries around her calendar

• delegating operational tasks instead of absorbing them

• a long-term plan for developing her team so she doesn’t carry everything alone

The biggest shift has been internal: she now sees that she is allowed to have interests, energy, rest and joy - not only responsibilities.

Where she is now

Amanda is still in the same role, but she’s not in the same place.

She’s calmer, more spacious and more intentional. She no longer drops everything to pick up tasks that aren’t hers, and she’s begun to say no without feeling guilty. Perhaps most importantly, she’s starting to build a life where she has energy left at the end of the day - for her family, for her interests and for herself.

Her words at the end of a recent session:

“I do feel like I’m starting to make real progress now. I’m breaking the pattern. This feels sustainable.”

Amanda’s story is one of courage, insight, and learning to create a way of working that actually supports her, instead of draining her.