Say Yes to Rest: How Burnout Led Me to Create Spirit Rituals

If you'd told me ten years ago that I'd be running a holistic facial and massage business, I probably wouldn't have believed you. The introvert with big dreams and I’ve finally made one a success!

But this isn't really a story about facials.

It's a story about rest.

Because being forced to rest completely changed my outlook on life.

A Career I Loved

Before Spirit Rituals, I spent 12 years working in special needs education, supporting children with autism, complex needs and behaviours that challenged. It was rewarding, meaningful work that taught me so much about people, trauma, emotional regulation and co-regulation.

My job was helping others feel safe and supporting them to regulation.

The problem was, while supporting everyone else's nervous systems, I wasn’t keeping tabs on my own. 

Knowing There Had to Be Something More

Although I loved my career, I’ve always dreamed big, dreamed of more, dreamed of being proud of myself for building something for me. 

I’ve tried SO many business ideas. It’s a running family joke about ‘Hannah’s next big business idea’.

Fabric printing, making cushions, selling artwork and a handful of other creative projects. I enjoyed them, but none of them truly fulfilled me. I only gave up art because someone said to me ‘you know you don’t have to do something just because you’re good at it’. And this really struck a chord with me because I realised I was living life by other people’s expectations. 

Then I had some business coaching and  I completed a simple values exercise.

I realised it wasn't the creativity alone that made me happy.

It was people.

Helping people. Supporting them. Watching them grow. Creating spaces where they could feel better than when they arrived.

Even though I'm naturally quite introverted, connecting with others has always been what fills my cup.

Years ago my Body Was Trying to Tell Me Something

In my early twenties, life was busy. I was living away from home, working in a demanding role and constantly on the go. Rest wasn't something I valued, it was something I squeezed in if there was time. 

Around this time I developed what I now know was a gluten intolerance. Eating gluten left me bloated, in pain and feeling incredibly unwell. At the time, I treated it as just another inconvenience.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing…  I now see something very different.

My body wasn't failing me.

It was communicating with me.

It was asking me to slow down.

Learning the Power of Rest

A relationship breakdown eventually brought me back home, then the pandemic arrived.

For the first time in years, life became quieter; living with my parents gave me a calm environment where I could finally focus on myself.

I RESTED, slept, read, exercised, practised yoga and breathwork, spent more time outdoors and nourished myself properly.

Something incredible happened. 

My inflammation reduced, my gluten symptoms improved and I felt healthier and happier than I had in years.

For the first time, I realised that rest isn't lazy.

Rest is healing.

Burnout Changed Everything

When I returned to work, I quickly found myself taking on more responsibility. Leadership, safeguarding, behaviour support and training all landed on my plate because I was capable and passionate.

Then I caught COVID. I wasn’t particularly poorly but the months that followed were hard work…

Months of fatigue, brain fog and poor mental health followed. I had to have 3 months off work and as someone who used to crawl into work on my deathbed, this was massive! Even returning to work part-time left me with nothing left to give outside of work.

It was during this time that my skin also changed. I developed acne, felt constantly inflamed and recognised that my body was once again asking me to slow down.

This time, I had to listen. It also became the moment I realised

"There has to be more to life than this." Working to burnout, crashing and doing it all over again. 

Discovering the Connection Between Stress and Skin

I've always loved biology, so I started researching everything I could about stress, inflammation, gut health, hormones and the skin.

The more I learned, the more it all made sense.

Our skin doesn't exist in isolation. It reflects what's happening inside our bodies.

That realisation completely changed the direction of my life.

Why I Created Spirit Rituals

Spirit Rituals isn't just somewhere to have a facial.

It's somewhere women can stop. 

Breathe.

Regulate their nervous system.

Feel safe.

Feel looked after.

Because I know first hand the reality of not resting and burning out. The toll it takes on the body, your spirit and your mind.

Everything I learnt in SEN still comes with me every single day.

Co-regulation.

Holding space.

Helping someone feel safe enough to relax.

The tools have changed.

The purpose hasn't.

Because I truly believe the greatest gift we can give ourselves...

is permission to say yes to rest.

So… Say YES to Rest

The biggest lesson I've learned is that rest isn't something we earn once we've reached burnout.

It's something we need to protect before we get there.

Our bodies whisper long before they shout.

Mine certainly did.

If my story teaches you anything, I hope it's this:

Don't wait until your body forces you to stop.

Say yes to rest now.

Because rest isn't selfish.

It isn't lazy.

Sometimes, it's the most important thing you can do for your mind, your body and your skin.

Hannah xx