Avoiding Burnout: When You’re Running on Empty

Why People Press Pause is a series of nine articles about the real reasons people take a break. It’s not about why you should come to Woodfarm — it’s about why people leave their own doors in the first place. Over the years, I’ve noticed the same emotional triggers come up time and again — burnout, celebration, grief, change.

These are the stories behind the suitcase. The real reasons people press pause on life and find somewhere to breathe again.

Taking a break is rarely just about “getting away”. It’s about what’s happening before that. There’s usually a moment behind the booking that matters far more than the destination. This series is about understanding those moments. And if one of them feels familiar to you, then that’s reason enough.

How To Avoid Burnout

When life (usually work) has taken too much out of you and your brain’s stuck in buffering mode.

Sometimes it creeps up. Other times, it hits all at once. You find yourself saying things like, “I can’t think straight,” or “I just need to get away.”

Burnout doesn’t always come with sirens. It can be quiet. Functional. You’re still turning up, still replying to messages, still ticking the boxes. But inside, you feel flattened. Like someone pressed mute.

That’s why we’ve seen more guests booking what they call a reset break. Not to sightsee. Not to entertain the kids. Not to “make the most” of every moment. Just… stop.

One guest — a secondary school teacher — told us she’d hit a point where even choosing what to eat for dinner felt too much. She booked a solo stay, brought her dog, unplugged. No social media, no pressure. She read. Slept. Took long walks. Sat quietly in the hot tub with a glass of wine and no expectations. She said it felt like remembering who she was again.

That’s what our Barns are for. They’re not about doing more. They’re about stepping out of the noise and letting your shoulders drop. There’s no itinerary. No rules. Just private space, gentle Suffolk countryside, and permission to do absolutely nothing.

We often hear the same words from guests when they leave: “I didn’t realise how much I needed that.” And that’s the thing — burnout can blur your sense of need. It convinces you to power through, to keep going, to wait until something breaks. But you don’t have to.

So if you’ve been feeling it — or someone you care about has been running on fumes — maybe don’t wait for a crisis. Sometimes, a breather is the most practical thing you can do.

We’ll be here when you need us. Just space to breathe. And a warm welcome when you’re ready.

Why People Press Pause

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and I hope you read some of the others. This series isn’t a sales campaign. It’s not a “Why you should pick Woodfarm”. It’s the opposite, really. It’s about you. Your life. Your moments. Your reasons. This is about why you leave ‘the norm’ for a while, whether you come to Woodfarm or not.

If I’ve done my job right, Woodfarm will feel like the natural answer when that moment comes for you. I want you to come to Woodfarm, of course I do. That’s how I make a living. But honestly, there is an almost infinite number of choices, and this is about why you decide you need one of them, not where you go.