Why “Healthy” Doesn’t Always Mean Well: The Hidden Signs of Burnout in Women

Written by Elle Sproll

I used to be the picture of health.

Marathon runner. Clean eater. High-performer.

From the outside, I was thriving. Inside, I was running on fumes.

Then I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer at 33.

It was aggressive. Brutal. Unexpected.

And in many ways, it was the wake-up call I never wanted—but desperately needed.

As a Certified Women’s Health Coach, I now work with women who are doing everything right on paper—but deep down, know something’s off. And more often than not? It’s burnout masquerading as “fine.”

What Burnout in Women Really Looks Like

Burnout doesn’t always look like collapsing in bed or sobbing in the shower.

More often, it looks like:

• Constantly needing caffeine to get through the day

• Brain fog and forgetfulness, no matter how much you sleep

• Being easily overwhelmed by small decisions

• Snapping at your kids, team or partner, then feeling guilty

• That wired-but-exhausted feeling that never really goes away

And here’s the kicker: we get used to it.

We normalise the exhaustion. We keep performing. We assume this is just what life looks like.

But it’s not. And it doesn’t have to be.

You Can Be “Healthy” and Still Unwell

I work with women who eat well, move their bodies, and manage busy schedules—yet their bodies are inflamed, their sleep is broken, and their energy is nowhere to be found.

The truth is: wellbeing isn’t just what you eat or how many steps you get in.

It’s how you live.

It’s the habits you build outside of work.

It’s how your nervous system responds when you finally sit still.

It’s whether you feel safe, rested, nourished, and whole.

What a Women’s Health Coach Can Help With

As a health coach who’s lived it, I support women through:

• Burnout recovery and nervous system repair

• Anti-inflammatory nutrition that’s easy and practical

• Building boundaries, sleep routines, and stress resilience

• Post-cancer or chronic illness recovery and food freedom

• Reconnecting with your body without guilt or pressure

You don’t need another wellness plan that adds to your to-do list.

You need a coach who helps you slow down, listen in, and rebuild your routine in a way that sticks.

If You’ve Been Waiting for the Crash, This Is Your Cue to Pause

You don’t need to wait for a health scare, a breakdown, or a rock-bottom moment to make a change.

Sometimes the strongest, most powerful thing you can do is say: “I’m not okay—and I want better.”

If that’s you, I’d love to help.

💛 Book a free 15-minute call

Or explore my Feel Better Blueprint—a 6-week online reset, endorsed by a medical oncologist, created for women just like you.

You don’t have to keep pushing through.

You can choose to own your health—before it owns you.’