Can you recognise the physiological and psychological signs of impending burnout?

What can you do to help your body and mind to avoid burnout?

In this episode of Work Truths: Off the Record, host Rachel Morris welcomes Rachel Philpotts, award-winning author, nutritionist and mental health expert, who shares her personal journey through burnout and the significant changes it prompted in her life.

Together they explore the warning signs of burnout, the possible routes to recovery and the importance of addressing physiological as well as psychological elements with self-care, nutrition and support.

Key Discussion Points

• Burnout is a significant issue affecting many individuals today.
• The journey through burnout can lead to profound personal change.
• Understanding the complexities of burnout is crucial for recovery.
• Burnout is a physiological as well as psychological experience
• Nutrition, diet and lifestyle all play a vital role in mental health and burnout recovery.
• Self-care practices can help prevent burnout.
• Awareness of burnout symptoms is the first step towards healing.
• Sharing experiences can provide comfort to others facing similar challenges.
• Professional guidance can aid in navigating burnout effectively.
• Burnout recovery is a personal journey that varies for everyone.

Guest Information

Rachel Philpotts is the founder of re:Nu - a functional medicine clinic for burnout and beyond- and the award-winning author of The Burnout Bible: How to tackle fatigue and emotional overwhelm naturally.

Having experienced burnout in her 30s, she quit the corporate world and retrained. Now as a nutritionist, functional medicine practitioner and mood expert, she helps tired and wired career women to wake up feeling energised, focussed and ready to fulfil their true potential utilising root cause clinical testing and ultra-personalised health programmes.

Alongside her clinic work, Rachel delivers health and wellbeing workshops to the professional services sector and hosts day retreats.

You can find more info here:

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-philpotts/

Website: https://renuclinic.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/renu_clinic_

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

How can organisations help when employees face burnout? How do values and behaviours affect an organisation's susceptibility to burnout?

In this episode of Work Truths Off the Record, host Rachel Morris speaks with HR professional Justine Cooper about the pervasive issue of workplace burnout. They explore Justine's personal experiences with burnout, the multifaceted nature of its definition, and the importance of recognising warning signs.

The conversation delves into strategies for individuals experiencing burnout, the role of teammates in identifying it, and the responsibilities of employers in creating a supportive culture. Justine emphasises the need for connection and the evolution of leadership styles, ultimately highlighting the significance of seeking help and support in overcoming burnout.

Key Discussion Points

Everyone is susceptible to burnout, regardless of their position.

Recognising warning signs in ourselves and others is crucial.

Teammates play a significant role in spotting changes in behaviour.

Connection in the workplace is essential for mental health.

Employers must align their actions with their stated values.

Creating a supportive organisational culture can mitigate burnout.

Leadership styles are evolving towards more empathy and understanding.

Guest Information

Justine Cooper has a background of 30 years experience in the field of Human Resources, leading teams of HR professionals in high performing organisations for growth through organisational and cultural change across a diverse range of industries including retail, legal and financial services, and energy management.

In addition to developing talent management strategies to attract, develop and retain talent, she is passionate about developing trusted and inclusive cultures, where everyone thrives.

Justine has been developing strategies to build diverse teams and foster inclusive cultures since 2005, across all dimensions of diversity, cultures and geographies.

Justine holds a BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies & Information Technology and a Masters in HR Leadership. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, a Certified Fellow of the Australian HR Institute and a qualified Coach/Mentor with Distinction from the CIPD Advanced Certificate.

You can find more info here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinecooper1/

Discover a therapist’s grounded, compassionate take on burnout—what it looks like before the crash, how it blurs home and work, and the small workplace shifts that actually help.

Drawing on 40 years of practice, guest Miranda Rock distinguishes pre-burnout from breakdown, unpacks the “stress curve,” and shares vivid client moments like "I feel like the phone is harassing me".

In this conversation, host Rachel Morris and guest Miranda Rock discuss the multifaceted nature of burnout, emphasising that it is not solely a product of work-related stress. Miranda highlights the impact of personal life challenges and individual personality traits on one's ability to cope with stress. The discussion also touches on the importance of resilience and how it varies among individuals.

Key Discussion Points

Burnout is influenced by factors outside of work.

Personal life stressors can contribute significantly to burnout.

Resilience varies from person to person.

Coping mechanisms are shaped by personality traits.

Experiences in life can affect one's stress levels.

It's important to recognize the complexity of burnout.

Not everyone copes with stress in the same way.

Understanding personal limits is crucial for mental health.

Life events can compound work-related stress.

Resilience can fluctuate over time.

Guest Information

Miranda Rock is an Accredited Master Executive Coach, and an Accredited Therapist. She brings many years of experience of working in 1:1 settings to her coaching, coach supervision, leadership development work and therapy clients. Her clients - individuals and teams - come from a range of industry sectors including financial services, professional services, energy and Health Services.

As a therapist over many decades, her work draws upon an underpinning of psychological training and experience. Clients don't get stuck because they're not trying, they get stuck because the issues are often not external but inside themselves. Clients often say 'I've never joined the dots before', once they see the influence of their personal history on their current coaching or therapy dilemma.

Her own personal history includes working in senior roles in HR in Corporate settings and for Partnerships.

You can find more info here:

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirandarock

Why is burnout so often a hidden collapse?

In this candid episode, host Rachel Morris and guest Catherine Lightfoot reframe burnout not as a single crash but as a “slow disappearing of self,” often hidden by masking - especially for neurodivergent professionals - and intensified by personal and organisational change.

Listeners will get concrete takeaways for themselves and others:

• How to spot disconnection behind the word “fine,”
• How to design humane policies and communication processes
• How to encourage simple regulation rituals like brief daily check‑ins

Tune in for a practical compass—self, share, support—and the deceptively powerful prompt Catherine shares which she now lives by: What do I need right now?

Key Discussion Points

Burnout as a slow fade, not a single crash — why “slowness” matters and what it looks like day to day.

The hidden toll of masking (especially for ADHD and other neurodivergences) and how it obscures warning signs.

Two deceptively simple check‑ins that rebuild regulation: a “six‑minute” ritual and a five‑year micro‑journal.

Why “I’m fine” is a red flag — and how managers can navigate power dynamics to earn real answers.

Support that actually helps vs. harms: choosing therapy, somatic work, or coaching at the right stage.

The guilt/shame loop that delays stopping — and the moment an external voice can (and should) break it.

Policy meets humanity: what great employers do to prevent, respond, and communicate without adding harm.

A cautionary tale for HR ops: automated processes (like performance letters) that retraumatize people on leave.

Rebuilding identity when work has become “who I am” — a question every high performer should ask.

A practical framework to share with teams: self, share, support — or as she puts it, What do I need right now?

Guest Information

Catherine Lightfoot is an executive coach, HR consultant, and the founder of Fire & Light Coaching. Her work helps leaders and organisations move through complexity with clarity and care.

With a background in senior leadership across sectors, Catherine brings a rare combination of strategic insight and lived experience to her work. Her own journey through burnout, fertility treatment, ADHD diagnosis, and maternity leave and return has shaped her understanding of how crucial the right support at the right time can be—especially for women and neurodivergent professionals navigating high-pressure environments. She now specialises in ADHD coaching for leaders as well as maternity coaching for women getting ready for and returning from leave.

Through her coaching and consultancy, she helps others create sustainable change leaning in to their strengths and finding their authenticity.

You can find more info on her website, socials or sign up to her newsletter.

Website: https://fireandlightcoaching.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-lightfoot-coach/

Newsletter: https://fire-light-coaching.kit.com/email-list-new

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fireandlightcoach/

Join host Rachel Morris for Series 1 of Work Truths: Off the Record, as she sits down with a range of experts to explore the issue of Burnout, what it is, how to spot the signs, and how to help yourself and others handle and overcome it.