Rest & Resilience: Why Ambitious Women Need to Slow Down To Avoid Burnout

What if success isn't from doing more but resting more?

In a world that constantly pushes you to do more, be more, and achieve more, the idea of slowing down or stopping can feel counterintuitive, even irresponsible. This is especially true for successful, ambitious women and entrepreneurs who are driven and need to provide for their families. The uncomfortable truth is that ambitious women have to slow down to avoid burnout and to find more success.

But what if I told you that success doesn’t have to, and should not, mean doing more or focusing on work 24/7? Crazy, right? But hear me out… What if it’s really about intentionally prioritizing rest for your own mental health and well-being, and learning to trust yourself?

On the More Than Anxiety podcast, I had an incredibly honest and insightful conversation with Gabs Hayes, an entrepreneurial mom of three and a brilliant business coach. Gabs bravely shared her personal story of growth and challenge during seasons of depression and burnout, and how choosing rest became her most powerful strategy for recovery and redefining success.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Overwhelm

Life is busy; to the point where we use “busy” as the answer when asked how we are. If that sounds like you, you might also be a little too comfortable with the feeling of overwhelm as well. This might look like too many ideas, too many tasks, and too little time all at once. For Gabs, this caused her body and mind to demand a full stop. She realized and caught herself spiraling before things got out of hand when in the past, she would have pushed through, which left her feeling more exhausted and in need of longer shut-down times. She told me:

"I'd rather you do nothing than do everything and go nowhere."

I may not deal with the same struggles as she does, but I know what it feels like to work hard and fast and find myself stuck right where I started. As entrepreneurs and women, we often feel compelled or required to do more and work harder, even when our efforts are scattered and ineffective. But what would change if you worked from a place of rest, confidence, and clear thought?

Ambitious Women Have To Slow Down To Avoid Burnout

In our chat, Gabs admitted that taking time for herself, even with a thriving business and a busy family, wasn't a luxury but an essential part of creating a healthy and balanced life. As an ambitious woman and a mom, she had to slow down to avoid burnout. Here’s how she makes it happen.

• Recognizing the signs early allowed her to slow the spiral of overwhelm and depression before it took her down for days instead of weeks.

• She admitted to her family, clients, and live on the podcast, "My mental health isn't great. I'm taking time to rest." Her advocacy for herself is a masterclass in setting boundaries and demonstrating what real self-care looks like.

• She realized that an in-tune self requires intentional time for rest and reflection.

• We also discussed normalizing mental health days, especially as parents, to teach our kids the importance of self-care. This is a huge shift from the “rub some dirt on it and get over it” days of my childhood and I’m here for it! (Also, please don’t confuse mental health days with avoidance. You can hear more about that here.)

Redefining Success on Your Own Terms

Gabs's story is a reminder that "success" doesn't have a single definition. It's not about achieving a "perfect attendance award" in life or business. It's about designing a life that aligns with your values, goals, and where well-being isn’t an afterthought.

As she said, "The pause is to come back more whole, more fulfilled. It's not to be a permanent thing." This isn't about escaping or quitting; it's about a strategic and necessary slowdown for a stronger return.

Your Turn. It’s Time To Audit Your Balance

If you're an ambitious woman feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities, constantly going and doing, then collapsing in the evening, and perhaps even balancing on the edge of burnout, don’t miss this episode! It's packed with emotional wellness tips, insights on work-life balance as a mom, and practical strategies for creating balance in your life.

And if you're ready to take a deeper dive into what’s working (and what’s not) in your life, let’s do a Boundaries and Balance Audit. I created this audit to give you a clear picture and intentional steps forward toward the life you want to live. You can learn more and book a time that works for you at https://www.megandevito.com

It’s time to normalize rest, define what success means to you, and build your life so it’s fulfilling and productive.

It’s time to normalize rest, define what success means to you, and build lives your life so it’s fulfilling and productive. 

💜 Megan

P.S. Want a Boundaries and Balance "snack"? You can download my free Boundaries & Balance Mini-Guide here.