🌿From Burnout to Brilliance: Why Mums Returning to Work Need More Than Just a Plan

Motherhood changes everything — especially how we feel about work.

In the latest episode of Mama’s Flightpath, I sat down with Jayne Morris — leading expert in burnout, author of From Burnout to Brilliance, and mum of two — for an honest, energising conversation about what really happens when women try to return to work while running on empty.

Jayne’s insights are a must-listen for any mum feeling torn between the job she once had and the woman she’s becoming.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here
📥 Download the free Return Reset™️ journal — the tool helping mums take flight, not just return.

💬 Why Burnout Is So Much More Than Exhaustion

Burnout isn’t just being tired — it’s when your body and mind can no longer keep up with the constant pressure to perform, please, and push through. As Jayne explains, burnout often shows up as:

  • Brain fog and memory lapses

  • Digestive issues, anxiety, or even skin flare-ups

  • Post-viral fatigue that never fully goes away

  • The feeling of being mentally and physically done — with no language to explain why

Jayne reminds us: burnout is not a personal failure — it’s a systemic issue. Especially for mothers.

❤️‍🔥Why Mums Are So Vulnerable to Burnout

Between identity shifts, sleep deprivation, emotional load, and the rising cost of childcare, returning to work can feel like a mountain — and many mums are expected to climb it with no support.

Jayne shared that many of her clients even choose to have another baby not just out of desire for a larger family, but because it's the only socially acceptable way to step back from an unsustainable job. Let that sink in.

This is a wake-up call.

🔁 Do You Really Want to Go Back… or Do You Need a Return Reset?

Jayne and I talked about the power of using your return to work as a pivot point, not just a plug-and-play return. Ask yourself:

  • Is what I’m going back to still right for me?

  • Do I feel valued in my workplace — or like I’ve outgrown it?

  • Am I trying to do everything I did pre-baby… and more?

If you’re feeling stuck, foggy, or questioning what’s next — it’s time to pause and reset.

💛 The Return Reset™️ is a free guided journaling tool to help you realign before going back. Download it here.

💥 The Takeaways Every Mum Needs to Hear

🦩 Burnout is not just exhaustion — it's your body waving a red flag.
🦩 Your return to work doesn’t have to look like your life before children.
🦩 Support, boundaries, and rest are not luxuries — they’re survival tools.
🦩 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but you can fill it, slowly.
🦩 You are not alone — and this conversation is proof.

💬 What’s Next?

If you’re a mum standing at the edge of a return and thinking, “I don’t know how to do it l?”, take a deep breath. This episode was made for you.

🎧 Tune into the full episode of Mama’s Flightpath with Jayne Morris
📥 Download the Return Reset™️ journal to move from confusion to clarity
✉️ Join the community newsletter for weekly support, stories, and tools




I have also shared the 7 ways to rest with mama friendly suggestions - check it out on Insta



#careerwithpurpose

#redefiningsuccess

#workingmumlife 

#motherhoodandcareer

#parentingpodcast

#motherhoodjourney

#returntoworksupport

Previous
Previous

Why Supporting Women on Their Return to Work Is No Longer a ‘Nice to Have’

Next
Next

Can We Really Have It All?