Ever notice how the more burned out you feel, the worse your body image gets?
You’re not imagining it. In this week’s episode of The Millennial Body Image Project, we dive into the connection between burnout, a dysregulated nervous system, and increased body checking. Think: mirror-checking, zooming in on every flaw in selfies, or constantly asking, “Do I look okay?”
When we’re overwhelmed and exhausted, our brains crave control—and sometimes that control fix lands on our bodies.
We talked about:
- How chronic stress makes it harder to hear what your body actually needs
- Why intense workouts might backfire when your nervous system is already fried
- What grounding and rest really look like when you’re stuck in “go mode”
- Why changing your body won’t fix your body image—and what to focus on instead
Your gentle reminder:
Start by checking in with basic needs (sleep, hydration, meals) before you try to change anything else. Burnout recovery starts with meeting yourself where you are.
Resources mentioned for body image and burnout:
- Episode: Help! I’m failing at intuitive eating
- Book: Rest is Resistance, by Tricia Hersey
- Book: Burnout, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
- Book: Laziness Does Not Exist, by Dr. Devon Price
- Episode: Cycle syncing and navigating your menstrual cycle
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