Feeling Burnt Out? Here's What a Walk in the Woods Taught Me About Rest, Guilt, and Reconnection

Earlier this week, I went on a short solo walk through Seneca Creek Park, MD.

Truthfully? I just needed to get out of the house.

It had been one of those mornings with my kids—full of tension, arguments, and a rising storm inside my chest. I found myself caught in a spiral of frustration, and I knew I had two choices: keep pushing through... or step away.

I had a list of things I was planning on getting done that day but I chose to step away.

I laced up my shoes, grabbed my water bottle, and told myself, Just a quick walk… nothing big, just a reset.

As I slowly wandered along the trail, letting the trees and the fresh air hold me, something inside me softened. I felt my breath return. My shoulders loosen. The the knot in my stomach slowly untangle.

And then, a simple truth bubbled up in me: "I’m getting better at stopping. At stepping away. At being still. At actually listening to what I need... so I can return and show up more fully for the people I love."

That’s huge for me. Because for years, I didn’t know how to do that.

Living in a Cycle of Burnout

There was a time when I felt completely stuck in a cycle of stress, resentment, and emotional exhaustion. And I didn’t even realize it at first.

I thought it was normal to feel constantly overwhelmed. It was just the way I was operating. A habit.

I thought being a good nurse meant pushing through pain, putting others first, and showing up no matter how depleted I felt.

I thought being a good mom meant always being “on” — always helping, always giving, always doing.

But no matter how much I gave or how hard I tried, I felt more and more burnt out. Until I had my mental breakdown and I knew something needed to change.

I kept asking myself: "Why is this happening to me?"

And for a while, I didn’t have an answer. But I didn't gave up, I kept looking for new ways to explore solutions, and over time, through therapy, nature, and a lot of inner work, I began to notice three patterns that were keeping me stuck. And they still try to creep back in, especially on tough days.

1. Perfectionism

For so long, I felt like I couldn’t stop because everything had to be just right.

I carried this invisible pressure to do everything perfectly - at work, at home, in relationships.

But out in nature, something shifted.

I looked around at the trees in the forest. Some were crooked. Some had broken branches. Some leaned awkwardly into the sunlight. And yet, not one of them was trying to fix or change itself.

They just were. Growing exactly as they were meant to.

In that moment, I remembered: Nature doesn’t try to be perfect—and neither do I have to.

2. Guilt

I used to believe that taking time for myself was selfish.

If I wasn’t checking something off my to-do list, I felt guilty. If I sat down to rest, I’d immediately think of what I “should” be doing instead.

But here’s what I’ve learned: Rest is not something we earn - it’s something we need.

That walk through the woods wasn’t a reward after a productive morning. It was a reset. A requirement for me to function with patience and clarity.

Taking care of myself doesn’t make me a worse mom or nurse. It makes me more grounded, present, and capable.

3. Disconnection

This one was the most painful to realize.

Somewhere in the nonstop rush of responsibilities, I lost touch with me - my voice, my intuition, my sense of aliveness.

It happened so gradually I didn’t notice at first. But then I realized I didn’t remember what made me feel joy. I couldn’t hear my own thoughts without noise. I didn’t know what I needed anymore.

But that quiet trail in the woods? It gave me space to hear myself again.

Nature helped me reconnect with the parts of myself I had buried under busyness. It reminded me that I matter too.

I don't have to keep hustling to prove anything or earning my worth.

You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck

If any of this sounds familiar, please know that you are not alone. And more importantly, you don’t have to keep pushing through.

✨ You are allowed to pause.

✨ You are allowed to rest.

✨ You are allowed to just be.

That might look like a short walk and noticing the flowers, a moment sitting under a tree and gazing up to the sky or drinking a cup of tea while looking out the window.

Let it be simple. Let it be yours.

You don’t need a grand plan or hours of free time. Just a willingness to listen to yourself again—and take one small step toward slowing down.

Nature Will Meet You Where You Are

The beautiful thing is, nature doesn’t expect anything from you. She doesn't care what mood you're in or how long it’s been since your last walk.

You can arrive exactly as you are, with all your emotions, thoughts and feelings. And she will welcome you. Every time.

It's something I experience when I'm in nature and I want others to experience, too—especially if you’re walking through a season of burnout, anxiety, or just plain exhaustion.

Ready to Reconnect?

If this story resonated with you, I invite you to take your own small pause.

Go outside. Listen to the birds. Feel the ground beneath you. Come back to yourself.

And if you’re ready to experience this in a supportive space, I’d love for you to join me on one of my Nature Connection Walks.

These slow, intentional walks are designed to help you reconnect to nature, your senses, and yourself. They’re not about hiking or fitness—they’re about slowing down, noticing, breathing, and being.

💚 You can join my private Facebook group, Humans Empowered by Nature, where I post all upcoming walk dates, community events, and gentle reminders to help you stay connected to what matters.

You are welcome just as you are.

I’d love to hear from you - What part of this post resonated with you? Let me know in the comments below!