From Burnout to Purpose: How I Started My Business Supporting Parents of Premature Babies and Neurodiverse Families

Burnout isn’t something that happens overnight. It creeps up slowly, taking over bit by bit until you wake up one day feeling completely drained, with nothing left to give. That was me. Before the pandemic hit, I was working every single day without a break, pushing myself to the absolute limit. I was completely frazzled, physically and mentally exhausted, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. I felt like I had to keep going because slowing down felt like failure.

The Breaking Point Before Lockdown

I didn’t realise just how much I was running on empty until the world suddenly stopped. When the first lockdown was announced, it was—strangely—a relief. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was forced to slow down. At first, it felt unsettling. I had spent so long running on autopilot that stopping felt unnatural. But as the days passed, I realised something important: I had been ignoring myself, my health, and my well-being.

That pause gave me time to reflect, to reset, and to learn something I should have embraced long ago—listening to my body.

A Lesson I Wasn’t Ready to Accept

You would think that after nearly dying from sepsis, I would have learnt the importance of rest. When I was 15 minutes away from not surviving, my body had given me the clearest warning it possibly could. And yet, once I had recovered, I went straight back into the mindset of pushing through, ignoring the fact that I was no longer the person I used to be.

The truth is, I didn’t want to accept that my body had changed. That I had changed. I compartmentalised the experience, trying to move past it instead of acknowledging the lesson it was trying to teach me. It wasn’t until I became a mum that I fully embraced that lesson—because now, my well-being didn’t just affect me. It affected my daughter.

Building a Business with Purpose

Becoming a mother changed everything. It made me reflect on my own journey of being born prematurely, my struggles growing up, and the challenges my husband and I face as a neurodiverse family. It also made me realise that there are so many parents out there who feel isolated, who are struggling to navigate life with a premature baby or a neurodivergent child, and who just need to know they are not alone.

That’s why I started my business.

I wanted to create something meaningful—something that would provide support, empathy, and understanding for parents who feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s helping parents adjust after their baby’s NICU journey, providing a space for families navigating neurodiversity, or simply offering reassurance that they are doing the best they can—I wanted to be part of that.

And do you know what? It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

Listening to My Body and Prioritising Rest

The biggest shift for me has been truly listening to my body. If I need to rest, I rest. If I feel myself becoming overwhelmed, I take a step back. Because I now understand that pushing through exhaustion doesn’t make me stronger—it only leads to another crash.

I’ve learnt that slowing down isn’t failure. It’s necessary. It’s what allows me to continue helping others without sacrificing myself in the process.

Final Thoughts

Starting my business has been a journey of both personal and professional growth. It has allowed me to turn my struggles into something that can help others, and it has taught me to respect my own limits.

If you’re a parent of a premature baby or navigating neurodiversity, know this: You don’t have to do it alone. And if you’re someone who has been running on empty, pushing through without stopping—please listen to your body. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

If my journey resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s support each other. Like and subscribe to stay connected, and let’s build a community that understands, supports, and uplifts.

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?