You Don’t Have to Burn Yourself Out to Be Successful

Success doesn’t mean burning out. It means setting boundaries, prioritising your wellbeing, and thriving in your career and life. Ready to redefine success on your terms?

Somewhere along the line, many of us ambitious women were taught that success meant sacrifice.

Work late.

Skip lunch.

Always be available.

Say yes to extra projects.

And if you’re a mum on top of that? Just squeeze it all in between school drop-off and bedtime.

The unspoken rule is: if you’re not giving it 110% at all times, you’re not committed enough.

Here’s the thing… this is complete rubbish.

And it’s costing you your health, your joy, and your relationships.

The problem with the “sacrifice = success” mindset

• It’s unsustainable, in case nobody has told you, your energy is a finite resource.

• It’s based on proving yourself to others, not doing what matters to you.

• It keeps you in a cycle where your worth is tied to how much you produce.

  
  

What real, sustainable success looks like

• You meet your goals without needing to recover for days afterwards.

• You can be present at home without work constantly in the back of your mind.

• You’re valued for your insight and leadership, not just the hours you log. (After all, women’s hormonal cycles are monthly, not daily like men’s, so the traditional 9–5 often just doesn’t fit.)

A quick reality check

Think about the most successful leaders you admire, the first one that comes to mind for me is Mel Robbins. Are they running themselves ragged, or are they making strategic choices about how they spend their time and energy? Based on listening to her podcast, I reckon the latter.

They’ve learned that boundaries aren’t barriers to success, they’re the foundation of it.

Try this today:

Before you say yes to another project, meeting, or request, ask yourself: “Is this moving me toward the career and life I want, or is it just ticking someone else’s box?”

If you’ve been living in overdrive for years, you don’t have to keep doing it. You can redefine success on your terms, where your health, relationships, and career can all thrive together.

This may feel like an impossible dream, I get it, but that’s the work I do with my clients inside my Burnout & Resilience Coaching Program, helping women like you step into a career you love without sacrificing yourself in the process.

Here’s what Bec, a client I’m supporting to realign with her values after burnout, has to say:

"I am deeply grateful to Merly for her incredible advice, support, and unwavering encouragement. After a disappointing experience with a previous career coach, I was hesitant to try again. However, Merly exceeded all my expectations. From our very first session, she was a breath of fresh air: compassionate, insightful, and genuinely invested in my success. Merly brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic guidance to every conversation. Her creative problem solving consistently led me to ideas and opportunities I would never have discovered on my own. Thanks to her guidance, I now feel genuinely confident about transitioning into a new career field. More than just a coach, Merly has been a true advocate, believing in my potential even when I had doubts. She has empowered me to research effectively, network with purpose, identify areas to upskill, and present myself to potential employers in a way that truly reflects my abilities, personality, and experience. What makes Merly especially remarkable is how much heart she brings to what she does. She gives her full self to the process and deeply cares about the people she works with. I can’t recommend her highly enough."

If you’re ready to redefine success on your own terms and reclaim your energy, health, and joy, book your free Burnout Clarity Call here.