How to go for a big goal without burning out

One big jump can burn you out. I know this one from the inside.

I went for big things the hard way for years. Pushing, pushing, ignoring the body. And it led me to serious burnout. So now, when a woman comes to me with a big goal, the first thing I want to know is not “what’s your plan”. It’s “how much energy do you have right now”.

Because the goal is not the problem. The way we go for it usually is.

Your success is limited to your nervous system capacity

This is the line I come back to again and again. You can have a great plan, a strong why, all the motivation in the world. But if your nervous system reads the goal as danger, it will slow you down. Procrastination, exhaustion, getting sick right before the big day, you name it.

That’s not you being lazy. That’s your body trying to keep you safe.

So the bigger your goal is, the more often you need to do the safety work. For your brain and for your nervous system.

What “safety work” actually looks like

It’s not complicated. It’s actually a bit boring, and that’s why it works.

• Small steps your body can say yes to. Talking to one person is safe. Sending one email is safe.
• Rest that is planned, not stolen. If you only rest when you collapse, it’s not rest, it’s damage control.
• Going through the body when the mind is on fire. A walk, breathing, water, nature. The most basic home that we all share.
• Naming what you feel. Name it, accept it. Validated. Breathe out.

Change the situation, not only yourself

We are so used to fixing ourselves with willpower. More discipline, more early mornings, more grit.

But it’s always two sides: the person and the situation. If your environment pulls you down every day, no amount of grit is going to fix that for long. Sometimes the real move is to change one thing around you. Ask for help. Say no to something. Bring people in.

Keep energy for after the jump

Here is what nobody tells you. After the big jump, there is life. You need energy there too. The new job still needs you. The new business still needs you. Your kids still need you.

So a good goal plan is not only about getting there. It’s about landing well.

Where coaching helps

I’m a life coach in Paris, I work in English, and this is the core of my work: aligning your mind, your nervous system and your heart with your goal, so you don’t get lost, you don’t burn out, and you actually get there.

I’m not a therapist and coaching is not medical care. If you’re already deep in burnout, please see a doctor first. And then, when you’re ready to go again, I’m here.

You can read more about how I work as a life coach in Paris, or just book the free first call. 30 minutes, online. Let’s make it easier.