Have you ever stared at your screen, mid-email, and felt an exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix?
That wasn’t tired. That was hollow.
There’s a distinct difference between needing rest and needing meaning. One you can nap off. The other lingers. It questions your choices. It pokes at your pride. And if left unaddressed, it’ll quietly burn through your energy reserves like a slow leak in a tire.
Let’s talk about that kind of tired, the kind where you’re still ticking all the boxes, still high-achieving on paper, but inside? It’s all static.
The Pause We Never Schedule
We’re great at pushing through. Meeting deadlines. Leading teams. Managing households. Showing up, no matter what. But how often do we actually stop and ask: What’s fueling me?
That question hit me square between the eyes years ago when I was rocking my daughter to sleep. On the outside, I had it all. Inside, I was crumbling. Completely worn down, not just from sleep deprivation, but from a life that looked great but felt misaligned.
That’s when I realised: I wasn’t just tired. I was starving for purpose.
Is It Sleep Deprivation or Soul Depletion?
It’s easy to chalk it up to burnout, especially in fast-paced corporate environments. But what if it’s not just about the workload?
High achievers (yes, you included) often operate with chronic low-grade emptiness. Because success, as it’s sold to us, doesn’t guarantee satisfaction. The performance never stops. There’s always another project. Another goal. Another person to impress.
But when the applause dies down and the inbox is finally quiet, the silence can be deafening. That’s when the real questions creep in:
- “Is this it?”
- “Why am I doing all of this?”
- “Where did I go in all of this?”
When High Performance Feels Hollow
As a Certified High Performance Coach, I’ve seen it too often. Women who’ve climbed ladders and broken ceilings, only to arrive at the top and whisper, “I’m still not happy.”
Here’s the truth: High performance without purpose is a treadmill. You run, but you go nowhere.
High performance with purpose? That’s where confidence, joy, and engagement live.
And here’s the kicker: You don’t need to quit your job or move to Bali to find that purpose. It starts by reconnecting to yourself.
The Spark Isn’t Lost, Just Buried
Sometimes we think we’ve lost our spark, but more often, it’s buried under roles we never questioned.
Daughter. Leader. Partner. Perfectionist. Caretaker. These labels can be like heavy coats we forgot we were wearing.
Part of my work, especially through coaching, is helping women peel back those layers. Not to become someone new, but to remember who they were before the world told them who to be.
You’d be surprised how powerful it is to hear your own voice again.
Your Energy is Speaking. Are You Listening?
Fatigue, over-preparation, procrastination; these aren’t character flaws. They’re signals.
Your body knows. It always does. When there’s a mismatch between your values and your actions, the system starts to glitch. Energy drops. Resentment builds. You start saying “I’m fine” with a clenched jaw and a fake smile.
Here’s a reframing I offer clients: What if your lack of energy is actually deep wisdom, trying to redirect you?
That’s not weakness. That’s intuition.
Tiny Shifts, Major Changes
You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. In fact, please don’t. Big change without clarity is chaos.
Instead, ask yourself:
- What lights me up (even a little)?
- When do I feel most like myself?
- What am I pretending not to know?
Then get curious. Follow the breadcrumbs. That’s where your SPARK lives.
Let’s Make It Practical
Inside my coaching programs, whether it’s high performance or Imposter Syndrome informed, we start by addressing six pillars: clarity, energy, courage, productivity, influence, and necessity.
But the first and most vital? Clarity.
Because without knowing what matters to you, the rest is just noise.
What You Can Do Today
If this spoke to you, I want you to try this:
Tonight, when you go to bed, ask yourself: Was I tired today because I was physically spent, or because I felt unfulfilled?
And listen to the answer. Not the one your resume would give. The one your gut gives you before your brain jumps in.
That’s the beginning.
You Deserve Both Sleep and Purpose
Being tired means you’re human.
Feeling empty? That’s a cue. A clue that it’s time to stop running on autopilot.
Remember: You’re not here to just check boxes. You’re here to live fully. Boldly. Authentically. Not at the expense of your success, but because that is success, your version.
So ask yourself again:
Are you low on rest, or low on meaning?
Let’s find out together.
Remember, you can unleash your unique version of success.
Your Coach
Stephanie
Ready to Ignite Your SPARK?
As a Certified High Performance, Wayfinder and Imposter Syndrome Informed Coach, I’m here to support you on this transformative journey. Whether it’s in your career, health, or relationships, my coaching programs are designed to help you achieve heightened and sustained levels of performance and potential. Are you ready to embrace these inner shifts then let’s embark on this journey together!
Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways I can support you:
Join our IYS Community – to connect with like-minded individuals focused on increasing their ENGAGEMENT, CONFIDENCE & JOY in work (and life)
Access your FREE Online Training – and learn how you can immediately hit higher levels of performance and potential in all you do!
Take the High Performance Questionnaire – to understand if you’re ready to go to the next level and live a life full of engagement, joy and confidence…
Book a Chat – so we can breakthrough what you’re currently challenged with and take the next action towards living the life of your dreams!