Navigating Burnout as an Expat Woman in Business
In this heartfelt conversation, Ariel, The Expat Therapist, opens up about her experience with burnout as an expat woman in business, a mom, and a pregnant entrepreneur. She shares practical strategies for managing burnout, including the importance of self-compassion, community support, and creative self-expression. Ariel also discusses the challenges of adapting to life as an expat, the value of flexibility, and the need to let go of rigid expectations. Whether you're an expat, entrepreneur, or simply navigating life’s challenges, this discussion offers valuable insights and actionable tips for overcoming burnout and finding balance. Expect a mix of personal stories, practical advice, and a reminder that you’re not alone in this journey.
Most Valuable Lesson or Insight:
The most valuable lesson from this conversation is that burnout is a natural part of the entrepreneurial and expat journey, but it can be managed through self-compassion, community support, and intentional self-care. Ariel, The Expat Therapist, shares her personal experience with burnout, emphasizing the importance of recognizing warning signs, practicing self-compassion, and leaning on a supportive community to recharge and refocus. Her insights highlight the need for adaptability, flexibility, and realistic expectations when navigating the challenges of being an expat woman in business.
Top 5 "Between the Lines" Lessons:
Self-compassion is key: Be kind to yourself during burnout. Treat yourself as you would a friend, and avoid harsh self-criticism.
Community support is essential: Surround yourself with people who recharge you, not drain you. A strong support system can help you navigate burnout and regain perspective.
Adaptability and flexibility are crucial: Life as an expat and entrepreneur is unpredictable. Being open to change and letting go of rigid expectations can reduce stress and help you flow with challenges.
Journaling and self-expression help: Writing down your thoughts, scribbling, or using creative outlets can help you process emotions and clear mental clutter.
Burnout is a learning experience: Instead of viewing burnout as a failure, see it as an opportunity to reassess, realign, and grow. It’s a chance to refine your approach to work and life.
5 Actionable Steps:
Practice self-compassion: When feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself, "What would I say to a friend in this situation?" Use that kindness to guide your self-talk.
Build a supportive community: Connect with like-minded individuals who uplift and inspire you. Join expat groups, attend networking events, or seek out mentors.
Journal or brain dump: Write down your thoughts, feelings, and to-do lists to clear mental clutter. Don’t worry about structure—just get it out of your head.
Set realistic expectations: Let go of perfectionism and rigid plans. Embrace flexibility and adaptability, especially when navigating life as an expat or entrepreneur.
Take intentional breaks: Schedule time to rest, recharge, and engage in activities that bring you joy. Whether it’s a walk, a creative project, or simply hibernating in your "cave," prioritize self-care.
Transcript:
Host:
Welcome to Business Chat! Today, we’re talking with Ariel, the expat therapist, about burnout and how to handle it as an expat woman in business, a pregnant lady, and a member of a community—though she tends to hide in her cave when she’s burned out. So, Ariel, tell us all about it.
Ariel:
I do this—partially part of my cave life. I just want to be alone, leave any human in the space, and pretend like we don’t exist. So, I don’t blame you.
Host:
Yeah, so should we just kind of go over…?
Ariel:
Yeah, so we were talking in the first two videos—which you didn’t get to see—about how I found myself in this situation. As you mentioned, I’m an expat therapist living in Valencia. That’s how we met last year, although it feels like it’s been a long time. I have my own business, I work as a therapist, I’m pregnant, I’m starting new businesses, I have a podcast, I’m a mom of a 9-year-old, and I’m a wife. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Host:
What did I do to my life? Where did I go wrong?
Ariel:
I was saying I experienced burnout. I just came out of it—this is like week two for me. We were talking about our business together, and she was like, “Okay, talk to me about it next Monday. We can schedule these things.” I was like, “Next Monday? Because then I’m going to be over burnout?” But it worked.
Host:
Just being the Lulu, yeah.
Ariel:
And you helped hold me accountable, which was a really big help. I had previously scheduled it, but it didn’t work—no surprise.
Host:
Right.
Ariel:
I think for me, it was a combination of burnout. Looking back over the last year and a half, I realized I wasn’t very intentional with my business or my schedule. I was just kind of doing things when I felt like it, and that’s a no-no.
Host:
Having a schedule is key.
Ariel:
Absolutely. I’m obsessed with you for drinking water out of a wine glass.
Host:
Honestly, if I’m completely honest, we ran out of dishwasher soap, and I don’t have any other clean glasses.
Ariel:
You can pretend it’s apple juice and pretend it’s white wine or Coke and pretend it’s red wine.
Host:
Everything. I’m gonna start putting my tea in a wine glass.
Ariel:
Oh God, yes—coffee too.
Host:
But anyways, okay. So, not intentional, not scheduling, and then it also coincided with my first trimester of pregnancy. I had no energy, I wasn’t leaving the bed, I didn’t want to smell things. I couldn’t even open our refrigerator. I would clean it and then go back minutes later, and it would smell awful to me.
Host:
So, you hibernated.
Ariel:
Yeah, I stayed in my room—my husband calls it my cave. That’s my comfort spot. But we just redid my office area, and that was part of me coming out of hibernation. I was like, “Okay, redo this and make it look the way I want it to.”
Host:
Just having a little project to make you feel better.
Ariel:
Exactly. It’s all about being intentional. But you also have to recognize the warning signs. This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this type of burnout season—whether it was from moving to a different country or being an entrepreneur and doing all the things.
Host:
What brought you out of it?
Ariel:
Finding community. Exposing myself to social situations, not just self-isolating—which is my favorite thing to do. Putting myself out there really helped. Both times, it was with you. It helped me get out of my head, put things into perspective, and recharge.
Host:
That’s a really good point. Finding the right people to help recharge you is key.
Ariel:
Yes. It’s about knowing yourself and knowing what feels in alignment with you.
Host:
We also talked about practicing self-compassion.
Ariel:
A lot of life is a learning experience. I don’t necessarily look at things as mistakes unless we’re making the same mistake over and over.
Host:
It’s hard to talk to ourselves in a loving way.
Ariel:
Exactly. You would never talk to a friend or coworker like that, so why do we do it to ourselves?
Host:
What’s helped me lately is stopping myself and asking, “What would I say to my best friend if she was going through this?”
Ariel:
I love that. Writing things down can also help. Get it out of your head.
Host:
With your hand, not on the computer. It’s not the same vibe.
Ariel:
Yeah, sometimes you just need to brain dump. Scribbling can be therapeutic too.
Host:
It’s about finding what works for you.
Ariel:
Exactly. Letting go of expectations is huge.
Host:
Adaptability and flexibility are key, especially when moving abroad.
Ariel:
Yes. Things are not going to flow as you want them to. You have to be ready to pivot.
Host:
And ask for help.
Ariel:
Absolutely. Life is about making connections.
Host:
Connections are the ones that change your life.
Ariel:
100%.
Host:
Thank you so much for joining me today. I loved having you on.
Ariel:
Thanks! See you soon.
Connect with
Ariel
A holistic mental health therapist helping women like you turn dreams of living abroad into a reality
