240: “I slept but woke tired”: allostatic load, burnout & your nervous system

About this episode

Why a good night's sleep or a holiday may not always reset you properly, introducing the concept of allostatic load—the invisible wear and tear from chronic stress. We explain the body's traffic light system with green, yellow, red, and blue states to illustrate different levels of nervous system activation and how they affect your ability to recover. Learn the importance of distinguishing between challenges and threats to manage burnout and maintain clarity at work. Special attention is given to sensitive, neurodivergent, or trauma-aware nervous systems.

The episode provides steps to:

- Map your personal nervous system states and eliminate energy leaks.

- Know your safety cues and redesign daily transitions.

- Effectively pace your ambition and end your day on a green note.

00:00 Introduction to Allostatic Load

00:28 Understanding the Nervous System Traffic Light

00:52 Exploring the Four Nervous System States

02:11 The Concept of Allostatic Load

03:20 Impact of Allostatic Load on Daily Life

05:27 Managing Stress and Achieving Balance

08:17 Practical Steps for Nervous System Regulation

12:32 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Recommended episodes

235: Fertility over 35. What your nervous system wants you to know

41: How The Freeze (and Fawn) Response Sabotages Financial Freedom

39: How The Sympathetic Nervous System (Flight) Response Sabotages Financial Freedom

40: How The Sympathetic Nervous System (Fight) Response Sabotages Financial Freedom

Further Reading

McEwen, B. S., & Stellar, E. (1993). Stress and the individual. Archives of Internal Medicine.

McEwen, B. S. (1998). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. NEJM.

What if you're not the problem? Full report.

Access the full report here: https://sheridanruth.com/what-if-youre-not-the-problem/

Energy Management Pilot

This 5-week program helps thoughtful, sensitive, or neurodivergent professionals understand how their brain and body actually work — so they can rebuild focus, energy, and calm at work without pushing through.

If you love your work but end the day drained, forgetful, or tense — this is for you.

It’s not therapy or time-management hacks. It’s practical, body-informed psychology that helps you redesign the way you work so your system supports you instead of fighting you.

You’ll learn to:

✨ Read your energy in real time and prevent create-and-crash cycles

✨ Recover faster after stress

✨ Set boundaries that hold

✨ Redesign your workflow to fit your brain

✨ End the day steady, not spent

How it works:

• Short 30-min lesson on Monday
• Guided body practice on Wednesday
• 5-min reflection on Thursday
• Optional live call on Friday
• → About 1.5–2.5 hours per week, at your own pace.

Join the pilot: Click here to apply or express interest.

Your Next Step

“I’m ready for something else... but I don’t know what that is.”

If that’s you — start with a 90-minute Somatic Clarity Intensive. We’ll find your next step, the one your body can actually follow through on.

Or if you’re tired of circling between “almost-ready” and “total doubt,” the 6-month journey helps you rebuild energy, boundaries, and clarity — so you stop second-guessing and start leading from your center.

🤍 Explore coaching here

Burnout Is Weird PDF:

7real stories of people who stopped trying to “fix themselves” and found steadiness in unexpected ways.

click here

Let Me Know You're Listening

Connection is my love language! Let me know you exist and are listening along by sending me a ✨ on Instagram @_sheridanruth_ or LinkedIn

Read Somatic Intelligence for Success

Nervous system alignment to prevent burnout and leave an impact.

Purchase here.

Regulation Your Nervous System At Work

Learn to regulate with practices you'll actually use. No need for more time, space or privacy. Download here.

Try the Burnout Prevention AI ChatBot

Soma helps you shift out of spirals, self-doubt, and stress-based decision-making—so you can lead from your most grounded, self-aware state. Access here.

This podcast explores the intersection of sales, money, and business success, offering entrepreneurial insights on overcoming the inner critic, burnout, and the unique challenges of ADHD and autoimmune conditions, while integrating polyvagal theory, Ayurveda, coaching, resilience, regulation, and trauma healing to support holistic growth and thriving in both life and business.