I Was Burnt Out & Numb… These 3 Rituals Helped Me Feel Again

caring for yourself while caring for others reinvention after 50 self-care over 50 Aug 24, 2025

A gentle, soulful reset for women who give to everyone but feel disconnected inside. 

Let’s be honest for a second…

There was a time in my life where I didn’t feel much of anything.

I was functioning.... Getting things done....  Smiling when needed. 

But inside?

I felt disconnected.

Heavy.

Burnt out and numb.

I was caregiving. Showing up for others. Doing “the right things.” 

And yet, I couldn’t feel joy. Or peace. Or even relief. And yet, we tend to keep going.

If you’ve ever felt like that — like you're existing but not really living — I want you to know you’re not broken. 

You’re just empty. And even the most soulful, resilient women run on empty sometimes.

This empty, not even a nap could fix. πŸ›Œ

I chose rest over rushing. Grace over guilt. Tiny rituals over giant expectations.

In today’s post (and video), I’m sharing the 3 daily rituals that helped me come back to life — slowly, gently, and on my own terms. βœοΈ

They helped me reconnect with my breath. My emotions. My peace.

And I believe they can help you too.

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This is:

❌ Not a crash diet.

❌ Not a strict routine.

❌ Not another productivity push.

Just a loving return to yourself—mind, body, and spirit. πŸ’Œ

That's the kind of support I offer through Milan Perry Holistic Health & Lifestyle Coach 

Let’s explore why this works—especially for us, women over 50—and how you can begin right where you are. πŸ’•

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Ritual #1 Your morning stillness

You’re Not Starting Over—You’re Re-aligning

There’s something deeply freeing about letting go of the “start over” mindset. At this age and stage, you aren't broken. You don’t need fixing.

You simply need re-alignmenta return to what feels like truth in your body, heart, and homeWhen I began my reset, I didn’t throw everything out.

I didn’t chase perfection.

I chose one or two areas where I felt most out of sync—my sleep, my meals, my morning/evening routine—and lovingly brought them back into balance.

This kind of reset doesn’t disrupt your life. It restores it.

It Honors Your Nervous System—Not Just Your To-Do List

If you’re anything like me, your nervous system has taken hit after hit—especially if you’ve been in a caregiver mode for your aged parent.

I want to cry just thinking of it as I write.

But I know you need to hear this. It feels like the mental tabs never seem to close.

You're constantly aware of medications, appointments, mood changes, and emotional landmines. I learned (the hard way) that "moving through burnout on autopilot wasn’t resilience—it was quiet depletion.

Life whispered for me to slow down… and eventually, I listened.”

A gentle reset gave me permission to step off the hamster wheel and start responding to how I felt, not just what needed doing. You don’t need a “productivity hack.” You need nervous system nourishment. 

That might look like soft mornings, unplugged evenings, deep breaths, and little pockets of joy built into your day.

Ritual #2: Breath & body check-in

It Grows from the Inside Out

A gentle reset isn’t a checklist—it’s a relationship with yourself.

It starts with honest questions:

  • What no longer serves me?

  • Where am I saying yes when I mean no?

  • What tiny shift would bring me more peace this week?

I began answering those questions over tea, while journaling between caregiving tasks, or sometimes just sitting in silence while my violin rested beside me—reminding me that even in grief,

I was still allowed to create beauty. 

This journey helped me understand: You don’t need to be perfect to be present.

Your soul is ready for new dreams—a gentle resets clear the space

I truly believe that after 50, our dreams don’t disappear. They evolve.

Maybe there’s a business idea nudging at you, or a creative passion you've ignored for decades. Maybe you want to travel, restyle your home, write a memoir, or learn French just because it’s beautiful. But none of those dreams can bloom in the soil of burnout.

A gentle reset creates the inner space to listen. To dream again. To get excited about what’s next without the pressure to rush.

You’re not running out of time. πŸƒ‍♀️‍➑️

You’re entering a season of alignment. 

You Reclaim Beauty in the Everyday

Let’s be real: rigid resets don’t last. We go all in, get exhausted, and fall back into old patterns.

A gentle reset, though?

It builds momentum slowly, intentionally.

It says:

    • I began lighting a candle before bedtime.
    • Wearing lipstick and perfume just for me.
    • Playing soft music while chopping vegetables.
    • Picking up fresh flowers even if no one else would see them.
    • A clean corner of your home, your coin Français (French corner) to nurture your mind.

These choices may seem small, but they are sacred. They anchor you. They remind you that you matter.

A gentle reset isn’t about performance.

It’s about presence.

That’s what brings the sparkle back into life.

Ritual #3: Letting go of the emotional load

You Learn to Trust Yourself Again Start With One Step Today 

Here’s a reset ritual you can start right now:

  1. Choose a corner of your home that feels neglected. Clean it, add something beautiful (a candle, a scarf, a bowl of fruit).

  2. Clear your calendar for 30 minutes this week—no multitasking. Just be.

  3. Nourish your body with one wholesome, beautiful meal—add herbs, color, and care.

  4. Write yourself a permission slip: “I am allowed to reset without guilt.”

Repeat often.

Adjust as needed.

And remember, this is not a race—it’s a rhythm.

Remember, a gentle reset is not a to-do list.

It’s a love note to yourself. πŸ’Œ

It’s a soft landing, a kind mirror, a whispered invitation to come home—to the woman you are today.

  • You don’t need fixing.
  • You need honoring.
  • You don’t need more noise.
  • You need clarity.
  • And you don’t need to start over.
  • You simply need to realign—with your joy, your values, and your deepest truth.

Let’s reset—gently. Together.

Make Space for the Woman You’re Becoming 

Resetting is not about returning to the past. It’s about clearing space for the next version of you.

  • Who is she?
  • What does she desire?
  • What is she no longer tolerating?

Your 50s and beyond are not a decline. They’re a homecoming

When I created space for that woman to show up in my life, I found myself again—not the woman I used to be, but the one I was becoming: softer, wiser, more elegant in her boundaries, and more devoted to living well than ever before.

Ready for a Beautiful Reset?

So if your heart’s been whispering for a change—listen.

πŸŽ€ Not because you're broken.

πŸŽ€ Not because you're behind.

But because you're ready to honor the woman you've become... and the one you're still becoming.

A gentle reset isn't about doing more.

It's about doing what matters, with softness, intention, and love.

It might begin with clearing a small corner of your space.

Or drinking your morning tea without rushing.

Or walking through your home and deciding, this moment belongs to me too.

βœ… Let it be imperfect.

βœ… Let it be quiet 

βœ… Let it feel like you coming home to yourself.

You’ve carried so much. You’ve shown up for everyone. Now, it's your turn.

Because life after 50 isn’t about fading—it’s about blooming again. 

And you don’t have to bloom loudly… only authentically.

I hope this blog gave you permission to begin your own gentle reset—one that honors your pace, your beauty, and your soul.

And if you’re ready for a more intentional next step, I’d love to invite you to explore my free guide:

Download it here πŸ‘‰ 🌿 A Stylish Life In Focus Playbook – your personal roadmap to self-care, soulful living, and thriving in your second act.

Because darling…

You were never meant to just get through life.

You were meant to live it well—with elegance, joy, and ease.

If you’re ready to prioritize yourself without guilt and step into your next chapter with grace, let’s connect. Book a free discovery call and let’s explore how we can work together.

With love and gentleness, 


 

Wow, you made it through that epic post! If you read the whole thing, you deserve a gold medal πŸ… and my eternal love πŸ’•πŸ”₯

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What do you think? Please leave me a .... COMMENT! Let's get this party started!Β xo,Β ~ Milan