How to recognize and avoid burnout while setting your 2026 New Year’s resolutions

Jan. 5

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Burnout is a common issue in our culture, which tends to prioritize being busy and successful over honoring one’s capacity. As the new year begins, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressure to set and achieve goals while still meeting the demands of everyday life. If you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or stretched too thin to imagine turning over a new leaf in 2026, you may be experiencing burnout, and you’re not alone.

Ashlea Taylor-Barber, who is a licensed marriage and family therapist, joined “Arizona Horizon” to give insight on how to recognize burnout, why it happens, how to avoid it, and how to set boundaries.

“Most of us go into the New Year, already burnt out and exhausted,” Taylor-Barber said, “…so we need to look at the patterns that got us here in the first place, and change those…realistic goals, realistic expectations for ourselves in the new year.”

Taylor-Barber explained how crucial it is to be aware of one’s mental health at both the end of 2025 and the start of 2026.

“With your goals for this year…do you feel energized and ready to go,” Taylor-Barber explained, “…or are you kind of tinkering on, and kind of pushing yourself?”

While the new year can bring new stress, it is important for one to listen to their body and mind before they are ready to tackle this year’s new goals.

“When you did most of your stuff last year, were you waking up exhausted?” Taylor-Barber said, “…if so, we need to step back and say, what are some things I can say no to, instead of yes.”

Sensory-involving coping skills, including meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices, are important to help one destress to start the new year.

“The brain develops the most in the first five years of life, and your touching, smelling, tasting…so it naturally calms the nervous system,” Taylor-Barber explained, “…yoga, meditation, listening to music, working out, and having these as a self-care routine will definitely help lower burnout, and setting boundaries.”