I’m a pro at listening to my mind—and an expert at completely ignoring my body.

My therapist once asked me, “How do you do that? How do you show up somewhere, feeling awful, and yet no one notices? Don’t you bring all of you somewhere—both mind and body?” And for years, I took pride in my answer: “I don’t know, I just switch on a button and ignore the pain.” I convinced myself this was the only way to function. The only way I could get my master’s degree, despite the emotional weight of my parents’ recent divorce and the physical symptoms I kept brushing off. But when I immersed myself in schoolwork, I could forget everything else. And that feeling? Addictive.

Because turning pain into productivity makes you feel invincible—until it doesn’t.

By the time I reached the final stretch of my master’s, I was completely burned out. The eight-hour study sessions I once powered through? Suddenly, two hours behind my screen left me drained. My vision blurred, my body felt heavy, and all it wanted was to lie down. The motivation that had driven me for so long? Completely gone. I remember staring at my half-finished thesis, wondering, How the hell am I going to finish this?

So, I took a week off. And in that week, I slept. A lot. I also got sick—because, of course, that’s what happens the moment we slow down. It’s like our bodies hold everything together just long enough to get through the stress, and the second we stop? They fall apart. I see it all the time. When friends visit me on their holiday breaks, they’re exhausted. It’s only when they pause that they realize how much work has drained them. My best friend, in the final stretch of her thesis, developed wrist pain so bad that typing became unbearable. It’s always towards the end—or right after—that our bodies demand rest the loudest.

So, I listened. I saw how much my body needed a break, and for the first time, I made a choice: I will have to compromise on my thesis in order to prioritize me. And then, something unexpected happened. When I finally slowed down, all the emotions I had been suppressing hit me like a tidal wave. A year had passed since my parents’ divorce, yet I was only now allowing myself to feel the grief. That’s when I realized just how much I had paused my emotions for the sake of grades.

And suddenly, those grades? They didn’t matter anymore.

For the first time in my life, I let go of the pressure to achieve at all costs. I wrote my thesis in small, manageable chunks—no more than two hours a day. I meditated, journaled, let myself cry. And somehow, despite not obsessing over perfection, I still passed. Not with an A, but with something even better: peace. When I saw my final grade, I didn’t feel disappointment. I felt relief. Because for once, I didn’t push past my limits. I didn’t destroy myself for an arbitrary number. And honestly? That’s the proudest I’ve ever been of an academic achievement.

Listening to your body is hard—especially when you don’t realize you’re crossing your own boundaries until it’s too late (happens to me all the time). But you can learn to check in with yourself before burnout hits.

Here’s what helps me now:

✨ Morning body scan: Before diving into tasks, I take a moment to notice how my body feels, usually by meditating. Am I tense? Tired? Do I need movement or rest?

⏱️ Hourly check-ins: My therapist suggested pausing for just 5 minutes every hour. It’s a simple way to reconnect with your body instead of bulldozing through the day.

⚡️ Recognizing the warning signs: When I start feeling drained, irritable, or physically unwell, I take it as a sign to slow down—not push harder.

Because here’s the truth: ignoring your body will catch up with you. And when it does, it’s always worse than if you had just listened in the first place. So be kind to yourself. Take breaks before you need them. My mom always says that if you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated—so you should drink water regularly to prevent it. I think the same applies to breaks: if you’re desperately craving one, you’ve probably already pushed yourself too far. Instead, take small, consistent breaks before you reach that point.

And remember—you only have one mind and body. Treat them with care, not just as tools for productivity. When you listen to both, they’ll guide you toward a healthier, more sustainable path.

👉 So, when was the last time you truly checked in with yourself?