Awareness is the first step before prevention or change can even begin. When people feel burned out, it’s rarely because they don’t care or aren’t capable. More often, it’s because certain patterns in how we show up — at work, in our families, and in our responsibilities — have been operating on autopilot for a long time. This isn’t about job titles or positions. It’s about noticing patterns that quietly drain capacity. Some people take on responsibility so deeply that they rarely feel allowed to step back. Others become the reliable ones everyone depends on, until their own needs fade into the background. Some handle pressure with high capacity and resilience, managing constant demands without realizing how much rest has been postponed. And some lead with care — holding emotional or mental weight for others while slowly emptying themselves. Most of us don’t fit into just one of these patterns. Burnout often shows up when one way of showing up becomes dominant without enough balance or support around it. This month is about awareness — not fixing, not changing, not rushing to solutions. Just recognizing what may already be happening beneath the surface. Once patterns are named, prevention becomes possible. But clarity always comes first. If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone — and there’s no need to rush to the next step.

In the 1-minute video, I talk about how "Burnout Doesn’t Always Look Like Exhaustion". Comment your feelings, thoughts, or experiences with this.

Hey y'all. What made you say yes to joining Spark & Soar Creamery?

Hey Creamery Crew🤍 Before we go any further, I want to explain something in the simplest way possible. Burnout isn’t just being tired. It's excessive, unattended stress and exhaustion. In this community, burnout has flavors. At Spark & Soar Creamery, we talk about burnout the way an ice cream shop talks about scoops — because burnout is layered. Here are the five base (your cone or waffle bowl) flavors we all experience at different times: 🍨 Emotional Vanilla — overwhelm, guilt, numbness 🍫 Mental Chocolate — racing thoughts, overthinking, decision fatigue 🍓 Physical Strawberry — exhaustion, tension, sleep issues 🍯 Spiritual Honeycomb — feeling disconnected, questioning purpose 🍮 Relational Salted Caramel — isolation, resentment, people fatigue You typically have a dominant flavor at any given time, but sometimes you don’t have just one flavor. Often times, we are carrying a 2-combo cone. This free space is about NOTICING, NOT FIXING. Awareness comes first. Relief follows. You don’t need to figure anything out yet. Just start paying attention. 👉 This week’s question: Which flavor do you feel most right now — and why? No pressure. No perfection. Just honesty. You’re safe here. 💛 — Krissy