Every year, Holly Wainwright promises herself she won’t burn out again - and every year, she does. 

When she told me that, I laughed - not because it’s funny, but because I’ve been there too. Last year, I hit my own wall of exhaustion so hard it became the inspiration for my next book. 

In this bonus episode, I sit down with Holly Wainwright - bestselling author and co-host of Mamamia Out Loud - for an honest conversation about burnout, energy, and why breaking the “do-crash-repeat” cycle is harder than it sounds. 

We talk about the promises we make to ourselves, the boundaries we fail to keep, and how to start protecting the parts of life that matter most - our health, focus, and family. 

Holly and I discuss: 

• The patterns that keep Holly stuck in the burnout cycle 

• Why she chose “nup” as her word of the year - and how that’s going 

• The privilege and guilt tied up in saying no 

• How she’s restructuring her week to protect creative focus and family time 

• The surprising rewards that keep her motivated (including worm farms) 

• The “Yes-But” strategy that sets boundaries without guilt 

• My “Never Again” list and how it helps me avoid burnout triggers 

• Why rebuilding energy is a constant recalibration, not a one-time fix 

• Taylor Swift’s reminder to treat your energy like a luxury item 

Key Quotes 

“Almost every year I say I’m not going to get myself to that place again - and then I do.”  

“Rebuilding your energy isn’t a one-off fix. It’s a constant recalibration.”  

Connect with Holly on Instagram and LinkedIn, listen to Mamamia Out Loud and Mid, and check out her latest book He Would Never here. 

Listen to Part 1 of this interview here.