If you have ever wondered:

💭 “Why am I so exhausted, even from the things I love?”
💭 “How do I stop saying yes to everyone else and start saying yes to myself?”
💭 “Is it possible to be ambitious without burning out my body, my relationships and my joy?”

This episode is for you.

In this honest and energising conversation, Tess and Layne dive into the big B word: burnout. Tess shares what it felt like to be the yes girl in her corporate role at Virgin, glued to her desk, paralysed by decision fatigue and with zero hobbies or joy left in her life. She talks about doing double gym sessions, tracking every mouthful of food, then using alcohol to decompress, and the hallway moment where she realised she was completely burnt out from living for output instead of herself.

Layne opens up about the day her husband Kirk asked, “Why do I always get the broken Layne” and how that question became a wake up call. She explains how chasing validation and respect after retirement kept her in a constant state of over giving, and how her early story of being “not enough” as a child drove her to prove herself again and again. Together, Tess and Layne unpack the root causes of burnout, from perfectionism and people pleasing to the 3 C warning signs Layne uses now: comparison, craving and self criticism.

They break down the science in simple language, explaining why the brain runs on repetition and fear, why 95 percent of your thoughts are recycled, and how negativity bias quietly keeps you on high alert. Tess and Layne then share the tools that helped them reclaim their energy, including a decision making filter based on love not fear, “no not now” and “no not me” boundaries, and creating a joy list so you know exactly what to do with five spare minutes instead of doom scrolling. They also explore why rest is not a reward but a performance tool, how micro breaks and 90 minute work blocks boost memory and focus, and why your messy first step toward rest will probably look imperfect and still count.

You will hear about:

The difference between being tired and true burnout, and why your body whispers before it screams

How perfectionism and being the yes person quietly drain your energy and self worth

The 3 C burnout indicators Layne watches for and how to spot your own early warning signs

A simple decision making framework to choose from love instead of fear

Practical tools to refill your tank, from joy lists and solo coffee dates to micro breaks and structured rest that actually sticks

For more resources related to today’s episode, check out our podcast episode page.
https://www.awakecollective.online/episode-10

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses
https://www.awakecollective.online/awake-collective-sales

Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley
Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer
Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy
Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_
Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact
Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Disclaimer
The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.
If you’re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.
Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

If you have ever wondered:
💭 &ldquo;Why am I so exhausted, even from the things I love?&rdquo; 💭 &ldquo;How do I stop saying yes to everyone else and start saying yes to myself?&rdquo; 💭 &ldquo;Is it possible to be ambitious without burning out my body, my relationships and my joy?&rdquo;
This episode is for you.
In this honest and energising conversation, Tess and Layne dive into the big B word: burnout. Tess shares what it felt like to be the yes girl in her corporate role at Virgin, glued to her desk, paralysed by decision fatigue and with zero hobbies or joy left in her life. She talks about doing double gym sessions, tracking every mouthful of food, then using alcohol to decompress, and the hallway moment where she realised she was completely burnt out from living for output instead of herself.
Layne opens up about the day her husband Kirk asked, &ldquo;Why do I always get the broken Layne&rdquo; and how that question became a wake up call. She explains how chasing validation and respect after retirement kept her in a constant state of over giving, and how her early story of being &ldquo;not enough&rdquo; as a child drove her to prove herself again and again. Together, Tess and Layne unpack the root causes of burnout, from perfectionism and people pleasing to the 3 C warning signs Layne uses now: comparison, craving and self criticism.
They break down the science in simple language, explaining why the brain runs on repetition and fear, why 95 percent of your thoughts are recycled, and how negativity bias quietly keeps you on high alert. Tess and Layne then share the tools that helped them reclaim their energy, including a decision making filter based on love not fear, &ldquo;no not now&rdquo; and &ldquo;no not me&rdquo; boundaries, and creating a joy list so you know exactly what to do with five spare minutes instead of doom scrolling. They also explore why rest is not a reward but a performance tool, how micro breaks and 90 minute work blocks boost memory and focus, and why your messy first step toward rest will probably look imperfect and still count.
You will hear about:
The difference between being tired and true burnout, and why your body whispers before it screams
How perfectionism and being the yes person quietly drain your energy and self worth
The 3 C burnout indicators Layne watches for and how to spot your own early warning signs
A simple decision making framework to choose from love instead of fear
Practical tools to refill your tank, from joy lists and solo coffee dates to micro breaks and structured rest that actually sticks
For more resources related to today&rsquo;s episode, check out our podcast episode page. https://www.awakecollective.online/episode-10
Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses https://www.awakecollective.online/awake-collective-sales
Get Awake&rsquo;s transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869 Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_ Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact
Disclaimer The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life. If you&rsquo;re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you&rsquo;ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.

Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, founders of Awake Academy, this is the podcast that gets real about what it takes to live awake - no filters, no fluff, just truth, science, and stories that will shake you out of autopilot and into action.

Each episode is packed with practical tools, honest conversations, and powerful wake-up calls to help you stress less, feel more, and reconnect with who you really are.

If you’re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you’re in the right place.

Follow @awake_academy for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.
Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, founders of <a href="https://awakeacademy.com.au/">Awake Academy</a>, this is the podcast that gets real about what it takes to live awake - no filters, no fluff, just truth, science, and stories that will shake you out of autopilot and into action.
Each episode is packed with practical tools, honest conversations, and powerful wake-up calls to help you stress less, feel more, and reconnect with who you really are.
If you&rsquo;re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you&rsquo;re in the right place.
Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/awake_academy/?hl=en">@awake_academy</a> for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.

A Wake Up Call

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.

Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, this is the podcast that gets real about what it takes to live awake - no filters, no fluff, just truth, science, and stories that will shake you out of autopilot and into action.

Each episode is packed with practical tools, honest conversations, and powerful wake-up calls to help you stress less, feel more, and reconnect with who you really are.

If you’re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you’re in the right place.

Follow @awake_academy for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.
Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, this is the podcast that gets real about what it takes to live awake - no filters, no fluff, just truth, science, and stories that will shake you out of autopilot and into action.
Each episode is packed with practical tools, honest conversations, and powerful wake-up calls to help you stress less, feel more, and reconnect with who you really are.
If you&rsquo;re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you&rsquo;re in the right place.
Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/awake_academy/?hl=en">@awake_academy</a> for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.

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