What burnout really looks like in women

Plus: 🕊️ What dying teaches us 🌙 The truth about sleep 🧠 The mental load

Burnout doesn’t always look like breaking down. Sometimes it looks like being the person everyone relies on, the one who remembers everything, keeps life running smoothly and somehow always gets it all done. But being capable can come at the cost of your own wellbeing.

Somatic movement educator and author Nahid de Belgeonne explores why burnout can be so difficult to recognise in women who appear to be thriving. She unpacks the hidden mental and emotional load that so many women carry, the reason our bodies adapt to constant responsibility, and the small adjustments that can help us reconnect with ourselves before exhaustion takes over. It could even make you see your own “coping” in a completely different way.

Read the full article below.

Welcome back to Take The Lead, the fortnightly newsletter from The Female Lead.

Here’s a roundup of the articles you loved this month.

Could talking about death could help us live more fully? End-of-life doula Dr Emma Clare shares the lessons she's learned from supporting people at the end of their lives, challenging our biggest misconceptions about death and grief. She also reveals the surprisingly common regrets people share at the end of their lives, and what they can teach the rest of us.

If you've ever found yourself stressing about not getting enough sleep, sleep specialist Dr Stephanie Romiszewski explains why many of us have overcomplicated sleep, unpacks the unique challenges women face, and shares the science-backed advice she wishes more people knew.

Another article that caught your attention this month came from June Angelides MBE, who argues that ambition doesn't have to mean saying yes to everything. Drawing on her own experience of building a successful portfolio career, she shares why protecting your energy, time and value is just as important as chasing the next opportunity.

Enjoy this issue, share it if you like it, and reply directly to let us know what you think.

You can also catch up on our most recent full newsletter here.

The Female Lead Team

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