The Fire’s Contained, But You’re Still Smoldering

Just because the fire isn't raging doesn't mean it's gone.

You don't need me to tell you burnout doesn't show up all at once or even in the same way.

It creeps in.

At first, it's a little harder to concentrate.

You get more irritable. More reactive.

You stop sleeping well. Or you sleep a ton but still wake up tired.

You can't seem to muster the energy to care about things you used to love.

And then, sometimes, you feel better again. Like maybe it was just a rough week.

Until it happens again.

I was talking to a friend about this recently, about how burnout recovery feels more like a series of flare-ups than a clean escape.

Burnout is like a wildfire.

Here's what I mean... When firefighters are managing a wildfire, they never say, "The fire's out." Instead, they say, "It's 60% contained."

That means they've created control lines to keep the fire from spreading. But the fire itself? Still burning. Still active inside that perimeter.

And depending on the weather, the wind, or a stray ember, it can flare up again.

Burnout works the same way.

Some days, your energy holds. Your brain works. You remember how to be you.

Other days, the smallest task feels like dragging yourself through ash.

That doesn't mean you've failed. It means your internal conditions shifted.

🔥 Maybe the wind picked up—work deadlines, life stress, emotional labor.
🔥 Maybe the heat came back—no sleep, skipped meals, too many people pulling on your time.
🔥 Maybe a spark reignited—an old trigger, a toxic pattern, that one meeting that sends you spiraling.

That's all it takes. One gust of wind. One dry stretch. One unchecked ember.

And suddenly, the burnout you thought you were "done with" resurfaces.

The real work of burnout recovery isn't just about feeling better.

It's about building a new ecosystem. One that's less flammable. One that's intentionally designed to support, not scorch, your capacity.

That means:

• Creating control lines that aren't just temporary (like extended PTO), but structural (like workload redesign).
• Monitoring for hot spots, those old habits and subtle stressors that creep back in when you're not looking.
• Learning how to respond early, instead of waiting for a full-blown blaze.
• And (maybe most importantly) accepting that managing burnout is an ongoing process.

The goal isn't to never feel heat again.

The goal is to stop it from consuming you.

-Tara

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P.S. Burnout management takes strategy, support, and honest reflection. Whether you need help spotting your warning signs, redesigning your role, or pivoting your career, I've got space for 1:1 coaching and Career Reboot Strategy Sessions.