BURNOUT
Burnout.
“You've burned your mouth, but you are burnt out.”
These are the words I heard from my uncle, the psychotherapist, as he sat beside me on the couch in front of a fire that felt as miserable as I did. I had burned my mouth eating too fast, ignoring the pain because of work obligations on the weekend — and, for the second time in my life, I was experiencing full-blown burnout.
I was completely depleted — emotionally, physically, mentally. I couldn’t even find the energy to make him a cup of tea, despite the kindness of his visit. He knew me as someone full of life, energy, and zest. But something in me had changed.
Burnout 1.0
Let me back up.
Growing up on a dairy farm in Ireland taught me the value of hard work. Everything had to be earned. There was pride in responsibility, and it built resilience that I carry into my life and my coaching today — whether I’m working as a Business Coach, Executive Coach, or CEO Coach.
Our home was buzzing with activity — farming, school, sports, music, swimming, and more. I never stopped. And I never reflected on the cost of constantly “doing.” I believed I had unlimited energy… until my late 20s, when my body started to disagree.
At the time, I was starting a new job, building a house, managing a long-distance relationship, playing high-level GAA, and saying yes to everything. I had no space, no boundaries, and no awareness of what stress and overfunctioning were doing to my health.
The toll? IBS, extreme fatigue, nutritional issues, and the worst — a loss of performance in my sport, the very thing I loved. I lost my place on the team during the most important season of our lives. That moment forced me to seek help for the first time.
Through medical and holistic care — yoga, acupuncture, nutrition, mindset work — I began to heal. I started learning what I now teach as a Burnout Coach: your energy is your greatest asset, and if you don't protect it, burnout will decide for you.
Burnout 2.0
“A leopard never changes its spots.”
I retired from elite sport after getting married, but I brought my high-achieving mindset into my next chapter: teaching. I wanted to give my students everything — coaching, extracurriculars, fundraising, events. And once again, I gave everything I had… until I had nothing left.
During one of those stretches, I burned my mouth again — literally this time — during a frantic school event. I ignored the pain. Took painkillers. Kept going. That’s what I did. That’s what many high-performing women do.
By Monday morning, I couldn’t lift my head. My body had shut down. I had developed an infection from ignoring the warning signs of burnout once again. But this time, it wasn’t just physical. It was emotional too.
Around that time, I also experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage. The emotional and physical toll was unbearable. My husband and I decided to take a year out, sell our cars, rent our house, and travel. We lived in the UAE, investing in recovery, rest, and deep personal development.
That experience laid the foundation for what I now bring to my clients as a Life Coach and Executive Coach — a roadmap for recovery, not just from burnout, but from the cycles of pressure and overachievement that lead to it.
Burnout 3.0
“Just an average motherhood for every woman.”
The birth of our first child, Tiarnan, brought more joy than I could ever have imagined — and more internal pressure than I’d ever faced. I was determined to get it “right.” I pushed myself hard. I appeared fine. But inside, I was battling high anxiety, postnatal depression, and immense self-criticism.
Performance anxiety followed me back onto the field. I was exhausted. My heart was racing. My strength was gone. Our second child, Cialadh, arrived during COVID — a time of isolation and compounded stress. And that was the moment I decided something had to change for good.
This time, I sought coaching.
Becoming a Life Coach helped me rediscover myself. It also gave me the clarity and tools I never had before — tools I now use with my clients every day.
Had I known back in 2007 what I know now, I could have avoided years of internal struggle. Coaching would have shown me how to manage burnout, rebuild self-worth, set healthy boundaries, and access high performance in a way that felt sustainable.
I didn’t find a perfect program back then — so I created one.
Now, through Claire O’Connor Coaching, I help women and professionals reclaim their energy, reconnect to themselves, and break the burnout cycle — permanently.
If you’re stuck in a spiral of overdoing, over giving, and constantly trying to keep up — I see you. I’ve been you. And I can help you shift gears.
I’m Claire O’Connor — Executive Coach, Life Coach, Business Coach, Burnout Coach, and CEO Coach.
I help high-achieving women and corporate teams overcome stress, prevent burnout, and improve their performance both at work and at home. Through private coaching, team workshops, and my Back to Brilliance program, I’ll help you create lasting clarity, calm, and confidence, while keeping your ambition alive.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call — no pressure, just a heartfelt conversation about where you are and how coaching can help you reclaim control.
Click here to schedule your call: https://claireoconnor.co/discovery-call
Live Well,
Claire x
