From Burnout to Balance: My AUM Evening Practice
Six months ago, I was running on fumes. I'd wake up exhausted, push through the day on coffee and adrenaline, collapse into bed at night, and lie awake for hours with my mind racing. My skin looked gray and dull. My body ached. I snapped at the people I loved. I knew something had to change, but I didn't know how to stop the cycle.
Then I started a simple evening practice with AUM Restorative Body Oil. Fifteen minutes. That's all it took to shift from burnout to balance. This is my story.
Where I Was: The Burnout
The Physical Symptoms
By last summer, my body was screaming at me:
- Chronic tension headaches (3 to 4 times per week)
- Insomnia (lying awake until 2 or 3 AM most nights)
- Digestive issues (stress had wrecked my gut)
- Constant fatigue (even after a full night's sleep)
- Skin breakouts and dullness (my face told the story of my stress)
The Emotional Toll
Worse than the physical symptoms was how I felt:
- Irritable and short-tempered
- Anxious about everything
- Disconnected from my body
- Guilty when I tried to rest
- Resentful of the demands on my time
I knew I was burned out. But I didn't know how to stop. The demands weren't going away. The deadlines were real. The people depending on me weren't going to disappear.
The Breaking Point
The breaking point came on a Tuesday in July. I was sitting at my desk, staring at my computer, and I realized I couldn't remember the last time I felt calm. The last time I felt present in my own body. The last time I felt like myself.
I called a friend who practices Ayurveda. "What do I do?" I asked. "I can't keep living like this."
Her answer was simple: "Start with Abhyanga. Self-massage with oil. Every evening. Just 10 to 15 minutes."
It sounded too simple. But I was desperate enough to try.
The Practice: What I Do Every Evening
9:00 PM: The Transition
At 9 PM, I close my laptop. I put my phone in another room. I light a candle in my bedroom. This is my signal: the day is over. It's time to transition.
This was the hardest part at first. My mind would scream about all the things I hadn't finished. But I held the boundary. 9 PM. Every night.
9:15 PM: The Shower
I take a warm shower. Not hot (that's too stimulating), but warm enough to relax my muscles. I use a gentle body wash. I let the water wash away the day.
I don't rush. I breathe. I notice the sensation of water on my skin.
9:30 PM: The Ritual
This is the heart of the practice.
I pat my skin dry, leaving it slightly damp. I dispense 2 to 3 pumps of AUM into my palms. I rub my hands together, warming the oil and releasing the lavender scent.
I bring my hands to my face and take three deep breaths. The scent alone begins to shift something in my nervous system. I can feel my shoulders drop, my jaw unclench.
Then I begin the massage:
Legs (3 minutes): Long, firm strokes from ankles to thighs. I move slowly, intentionally. I notice where I'm holding tension.
Arms (2 minutes): From wrists to shoulders. I massage each finger, releasing the tension from typing, holding, doing.
Abdomen (2 minutes): Gentle circular motions, clockwise. This is where I hold stress. I breathe into the release.
Chest and neck (3 minutes): Slow, soothing strokes. I spend extra time on my neck and shoulders, where I carry the weight of the day.
Face and scalp (2 minutes): Gentle pressure on my temples, my jaw, the base of my skull. I release the tension I didn't even know I was holding.
The entire practice takes 12 to 15 minutes. Sometimes longer if I need it.
9:45 PM: The Wind Down
I slip into bed while the oil is still absorbing. I read a few pages of a book (nothing work-related, nothing stressful). I continue to breathe in the lavender scent from my skin.
Within 15 to 20 minutes, I'm asleep. Deep, restorative sleep.
What Changed: The Transformation
Week 1: I Slept
The first week, the most noticeable change was sleep. I fell asleep faster. I slept more deeply. I woke up feeling actually rested for the first time in months.
This alone was life-changing.
Week 2: I Felt Calmer
By week two, I noticed I was less reactive during the day. A difficult email didn't send me into a spiral. Traffic didn't enrage me. I had space between stimulus and response.
My friend asked, "What's different about you?" I realized: I felt calmer. More grounded. More like myself.
Week 3: My Body Relaxed
The tension headaches decreased. My digestion improved. My body started to trust that it was safe to relax.
I realized how much tension I'd been holding. In my shoulders, my jaw, my stomach. The daily practice was teaching my body that it didn't have to be on high alert all the time.
Week 4: My Skin Transformed
By week four, people were commenting on my skin. "You're glowing," they said. "What are you doing differently?"
My skin was softer, smoother, more radiant. The dullness was gone. The breakouts had cleared. I looked like someone who was sleeping well and taking care of herself.
Because I was.
Month 2: I Found Balance
Two months in, the practice had become non-negotiable. It was the anchor of my evening, the thing that kept me sane.
But more than that, it had changed my relationship with self-care. It was no longer something I felt guilty about. It was essential. Like brushing my teeth or eating. Non-negotiable.
Month 6: I'm a Different Person
Six months later, I'm writing this from a completely different place. I still have deadlines. I still have demands on my time. But I'm not burned out.
I sleep well. My skin glows. My body feels strong and resilient. I have energy for the things that matter. I'm present with the people I love.
The practice didn't eliminate stress. But it gave me a way to process it, to release it, to not carry it in my body.
What I Learned
Burnout Isn't a Badge of Honor
I used to think being exhausted meant I was working hard, being productive, doing important things. I was wrong.
Burnout is a warning sign. It's your body saying, "This isn't sustainable. Something needs to change."
Small Rituals Create Big Shifts
Fifteen minutes. That's all it took. Not a week-long retreat. Not a complete life overhaul. Just 15 minutes of intentional self-care every evening.
Small, consistent actions compound over time.
Your Body Keeps the Score
I thought I could push through stress without consequences. But my body was keeping track. The headaches, the insomnia, the digestive issues, the dull skin. These were all messages.
The evening practice taught me to listen. To honor what my body was telling me. To respond with care instead of pushing harder.
Self-Care Is Not Selfish
I used to feel guilty taking time for myself. Now I understand: taking care of myself makes me better at everything else.
I'm a better partner, friend, colleague, human when I'm rested, grounded, and present. Self-care isn't selfish. It's essential.
How to Start Your Own Practice
Start Small
You don't need to commit to an hour. Start with 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes of intentional self-care.
Choose Your Time
Morning or evening, whichever works for your schedule. Consistency matters more than timing.
Create a Boundary
Put your phone away. Close your laptop. Light a candle. Signal to yourself that this time is sacred.
Use Quality Products
This isn't the time for cheap, synthetic products. Use something that feels luxurious, that smells beautiful, that makes you feel cared for. AUM was that for me.
Be Patient
The first week might feel awkward. Your mind might race. You might feel guilty. Keep going. By week two, it gets easier. By week four, it's non-negotiable.
Notice What Changes
Pay attention to how you sleep. How you feel during the day. How your skin looks. How your body feels. The changes are subtle at first, then profound.
The Invitation
If you're burned out, exhausted, running on fumes, this is your invitation to stop. To try something different. To give yourself 15 minutes of care every evening.
You don't have to keep pushing. You don't have to earn rest. You don't have to wait until you're completely depleted to take care of yourself.
Start tonight. Close your laptop. Put your phone away. Light a candle. Apply oil to your skin with intention and care. Breathe in the lavender. Notice how your body responds.
This is how you move from burnout to balance. Not with a dramatic overhaul, but with a simple, sacred practice. Fifteen minutes. Every evening. For yourself.
You're worth it.
