What Mindfulness Taught Me About Burnout, Anxiety and the Power of Slowing Down

The sea doesn’t resist the wind - it moves with it. I’m learning to do the same

There was a time when I rushed everywhere. Literally ran. Down school corridors. Out of lunch. Into meetings. I told myself I didn’t have time for anything. not even to breathe properly. I wore busyness like a badge. I believed that stillness was laziness, that I had to keep moving or everything would fall apart. And for a long time, I did.

Now? I still rush sometimes. But I notice it. I pause. I breathe. And I come back to now.

This shift didn’t happen overnight. It came through falling apart a little, stepping away, and eventually discovering two ancient practices: mindfulness and Stoicism - that taught me how to live differently. Not perfectly. But more honestly. More gently.

This blog is part personal story, part invitation to slow down, to feel, to rethink what strength and stillness really mean.

What Even Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment on purpose, without judgment. It’s not about zoning out or forcing peace. It’s about noticing what’s here, now. Your breath. The way your feet feel on the floor. The spiralling thought you just had and then choosing not to follow it.

It comes from ancient Buddhist traditions and was brought into modern healthcare in the West by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 1970s through his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme. Since then, mindfulness has been studied extensively and found to reduce anxiety, depression, stress and even physical pain.

However, for me, mindfulness isn't about science or tradition. It’s about saving myself from burnout. From numbness. From disconnecting from my own body and needs.

And What’s Stoicism Got to Do With It?

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that teaches us to focus on what we can control and let go of what we can’t. At first glance, it can seem cold or emotionless. Yet. the truth is, it’s deeply practical and grounding, especially in a chaotic world.

Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, once wrote:

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.”

That quote alone helped me through countless moments of overthinking, overgiving, and overdoing.

Stoicism doesn’t ask us to be detached from life. It invites us to be fully present in it with steadiness, perspective and grace.

My Story: The Woman Who Couldn’t Stop

For years, I lived in a constant state of tension. I never slowed down, not really. I told myself I couldn’t. I was a teacher, a parent, a partner, a do-er. I’d eat lunch on the go, run between lessons, carry everyone else’s problems like it was my job.

The only time I physically slowed down was during my commute: an hour each way, every day. I used to say I hated that drive. Now I see the truth: it was the only stillness I had. My mind would whirl, but my body was finally still. And in that stillness, I listened to podcasts, to audiobooks and finally, to myself. It was the beginning of something. A seed was sown.

Eventually, I left my job. I knew I couldn’t live like that anymore. Even with time and space, I found slowing down hard. I wanted to meditate, to be present but I didn’t know how. I thought mindfulness was for other people. Calmer people.

I kept showing up. Every day. Even when it felt clunky or forced. Over a year in, I still find it hard, but my body feels different. It feels alive. For the first time in a long time, I feel things again. I’m not carrying everything. I’m not trying to control what was never mine to hold. I’m learning to be with what is.

Mindfulness Is Not Just Meditation

Mindfulness isn’t about sitting cross-legged in silence (though it can be). It’s about presence and it can happen anywhere.

Here are some of the ways I practise mindfulness now:

• Making a cup of tea. Feeling the warmth of the mug. Noticing the scent. Listening to the kettle boil.

• Walking my dog. No podcast, no rushing - just walking, observing, listening and breathing.

• Showering. Really feeling the water, the temperature, the sounds.

• Brushing my teeth. Sounds silly, but it works.

  
  

It’s not about doing more. It’s about noticing more. It’s about coming back to the present moment, gently, again and again.

Stoicism Helped Me Let Go

While mindfulness helps me notice, Stoicism helps me choose. It reminds me that I can’t control other people’s feelings, or the outcome of every decision, or how the world responds to me. However, I can control how I respond. I can control whether I let my anxious thoughts run wild or meet them with calm curiosity.

In that way, Stoicism has been a powerful partner to my mindfulness practice. They’re different, but they walk side by side.

From Skeptic to Believer (And I’m Not Alone)

I’m not the only one who started out doubtful.

• Dan Harris, a TV anchor, had a panic attack live on air. He now speaks openly about how mindfulness changed his life.

• Ruby Wax, comedian and mental health advocate, studied mindfulness at Oxford and uses it daily to manage her depression.

• Russell Brand blends mindfulness and Stoicism in his recovery journey.

• Ryan Holiday, author of The Daily Stoic, made ancient philosophy accessible to modern lives and anxious minds.

  
  

What we all have in common is this: we didn’t believe at first but we tried it anyway and something shifted.

Let’s Be Honest

Mindfulness won’t fix your life overnight. Stoicism won’t erase your anxiety. But they will help you meet life differently. With more space. More compassion. More steadiness.

You don’t have to be good at it. You just have to begin.

Try This: A Mindful Tea Moment

Next time you make a hot drink, try this:

1. Notice the sounds of the kettle, the pouring.

2. Feel the warmth of the mug and the steam.

3. Take three slow breaths before your first sip.

4. Just drink. No phone. No planning. Just this.

   
   

You’ve just practised mindfulness.

Your Turn

Have you ever tried mindfulness or thought it wasn’t for you? Do you notice when you’re rushing? Are you carrying things that aren’t yours to carry?

I’d love to hear your thoughts: comment below or send me a message. If you’d like gentle support with slowing down or finding your way back to yourself, I offer 1:1 walk and talk therapy (if you are local to Sedgefield) and coaching (both online and in nature). Subscribe to my newsletter for more reflections, simple practices and support for anxious minds and overwhelmed hearts.

Let stillness find you, even for a moment. It might be exactly what you didn’t know you needed.