How to Recover from Burnout (and Actually Feel Joy Again)

Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse.

Sometimes it looks like showing up, saying the right things, doing everything you’re “supposed to,” and quietly wondering, when did everything start feeling so flat? You’re functional, but the spark is gone. You’re crossing things off the list, but you don’t feel connected to any of them.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not broken — you’re just depleted. Your body and mind have been in survival mode for too long.

I used to think recovering from burnout meant resting harder, meditating more, or finally “getting my habits together.” I tried all the things — time blocking, digital detoxes, wellness challenges — but I still felt off. Like I’d lost my aliveness somewhere along the way.

It wasn’t until I started studying play that things began to shift.

Not the childish kind of play, but the deep, nervous-system-resetting kind—the type that helps you reconnect to curiosity, spontaneity, and self-trust. The kind that reminds you of who you were before productivity became your personality.

The Truth About Burnout

Burnout isn’t just about exhaustion. It’s about disconnection. Disconnection from your body, your creativity, your joy, and your sense of possibility.

Most people think burnout happens because they’re doing too much. But often, it’s because they’re doing too little of what actually nourishes them.

Your nervous system gets stuck in a loop—fight, flight, freeze, repeat—and even when you “rest,” your body doesn’t feel safe enough to relax. You might take time off, but your brain still runs its to-do list in the background. You wake up tired, even after sleeping. You scroll instead of dream.

If you’ve ever thought, I don’t even know what would make me feel good anymore, that’s the nervous system talking. It’s not laziness or lack of motivation. It’s a sign you need safety, not strategy.

What Joy Actually Feels Like (and Why It Matters)

Joy isn’t always fireworks or laughter. Sometimes it’s quiet — a small spark that says, this feels right. It’s the warm hum of presence when you’re doing something that doesn’t have a purpose other than being delightful.

The reason joy feels so foreign when you’re burnt out is because your body hasn’t felt safe enough to experience it. Joy requires openness. It asks your system to soften, to trust that not every moment needs to be productive or optimized.

And here’s the thing: your body wants to remember joy. It’s wired for it. You just have to give it the right invitations.

The Real Medicine: Play

When I talk about play, I don’t mean game night or glitter crafts (though those count). I mean the kind of play that reconnects you to who you are underneath the striving—exploration, imagination, connection, curiosity, presence.

Play is what helps your nervous system exhale. It’s what rewires your brain for curiosity instead of control. It’s what brings color back when everything’s gone gray.

I’ve seen people’s entire energy change after a few weeks of intentional play. Their laughter comes back. Their creativity reignites. They start feeling like themselves again.

Burnout recovery isn’t about becoming a different person—it’s about remembering who you are.

Where to Begin: Tiny Invitations Back to Yourself

If you’re feeling disconnected or unsure where to start, try this:

1. Notice what feels even a little bit good.
   It could be a song, a smell, a stretch, a memory. Follow that sensation instead of your calendar.

2. Give yourself permission to be unfinished.
   You’re not behind—you’re rebuilding. Healing is not linear; it’s cyclical and gentle.

3. Play with curiosity, not performance.
   Ask “what if?” instead of “am I doing this right?” There’s no wrong way to reconnect.

4. Rest like you mean it.
   Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a right. Let it be playful too—try resting with a candle, a new playlist, or your pet on your lap.

5. Find your ‘Play Style.’
   We all experience play differently. Some people are explorers, others are storytellers, kinesthetes, creators, collectors, or jokers. Knowing your play style helps you rediscover what lights you up naturally.

The goal isn’t to add more to your plate. It’s to rebuild your relationship with joy in ways that feel doable and real.

The Playstate Approach

This philosophy is the heart of what I teach inside The Playstate Membership—a space for adults who are ready to reconnect with joy, energy, and authentic aliveness through play.

It’s not a course you “complete.” It’s a living, breathing practice of remembering. Inside, you’ll find:

• The 6-Week Play Reset — my self-paced signature program you can start anytime

• Monthly live workshops — on nervous system regulation, creativity, and embodied joy

• Guest speakers and playful experiments — from laughter yoga to creative storytelling

• Weekly prompts and reflection challenges — to integrate play into everyday life

• A community campfire — for connection, accountability, and celebration

Whether you’re in full burnout recovery or just craving more vitality, this is where we practice being human again—curious, connected, and alive.

We officially launch in January, but you can join the waitlist now to get early access to free resources and first dibs on founding member pricing.

[Join the Waitlist →]

One Last Thing

If you take nothing else from this post, take this: You don’t have to wait until you’re “better” to start feeling joy again. Joy is part of your recovery. Play is the bridge back to yourself.

Start small. Notice what feels even a little bit alive. Let that be enough for now.

And if you want a place to explore that safely, you’ve got one here—with me, and with Playstate.

Welcome back to yourself. 🌙