Burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s a physiological response to prolonged stress. Unfortunately, it often appears in military spouse life more frequently than we realize.

In this episode, we delve deeper into what burnout actually is, why military spouses are particularly vulnerable to it, and how it often disguises itself as “just being tired,” staying busy, or pushing through another season. We talk about the stress cycle, early warning signs of burnout, and why self-care doesn’t work when we don’t first understand what our bodies are asking for.

You’ll also hear practical, accessible ways to start interrupting burnout — not through expensive routines or doing more, but by creating margin, completing the stress cycle, setting better boundaries, and building supportive relationships that make military life more sustainable.

If you’ve been functioning but feel disconnected, depleted, or like you’re losing yourself in the process, this conversation will help you name what’s happening and take the first steps toward feeling like yourself again.

Better Together, Christine

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle – Emily & Amelia Nagoski https://www.amazon.com/Burnout-Secret-Unlocking-Stress-Cycle/dp/198481706X

TED Talk on Stress – Kelly McGonigal How to Make Stress Your Friend https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend

Simon Sinek – The Power of an 8-Minute Conversation (Stress & Connection) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReRcHdeUG9Y

The Lazy Genius (Book & Podcast) – Kendra Adachi Website: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lazy-Genius-Way-Overwhelmed/dp/0525542877 Podcast: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/podcast

Connect with Vimbo:

Vimbowatson.com

IG: Vimbowatson

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Stress and overwhelm are things most of us have learned to push through—especially in military life. But in this episode of More Than a Milspouse, I’m sharing why stress has such a powerful impact on our ability to change, grow, and even enjoy our lives and what we can do about it.

This episode is about learning to listen to your body, create safety first, and build a life that moves you out of survival mode—even when military life remains unpredictable.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why stress makes change feel so difficult
• How military life keeps many spouses stuck in fight-or-flight
• What nervous system regulation actually means (and what it doesn’t)
• The difference between reacting and responding under stress
• Small daily practices that support long-term regulation

Your body is not the problem—it’s your secret weapon. And when you learn to listen instead of push through, real change becomes possible.

Better Together, Christine

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What happens when the career you love, the identity you built, and the life you planned all change at once? In this episode, I chat with military spouse and entrepreneur Samantha Mans to talk about identity, anxiety, gratitude, and staying present through constant transitions. Samantha shares how a simple gratitude practice helped her navigate deployments, motherhood, and frequent moves—and how that practice eventually grew into a journal and business designed to support other military spouses. This conversation is a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, small mindset shifts can make a powerful difference.

Better Together, Christine

Connect with Samantha

Samantha’s Website / Gratitude Journal / Blog: https://www.happinesswithsamantha.com

Spousely (Military & First Responder-Owned Business Marketplace): https://www.spousely.com

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