Burnout Recovery with Ruth Limkin: Why Rest Alone Isn’t Enough
What if rest alone wasn’t enough? That’s exactly the question at the heart of our conversation around burnout and wellbeing with Ruth Limkin, wellbeing specialist,healthcare advocate and Founder of The Banyans.
In Episode 25 of It Takes Heart, Ruth shares her insight into burnout and wellbeing, offering a compassionate take on recovery that goes far beyond taking time off. Through both lived experience and clinical leadership, she reminds us that burnout isn’t just exhaustion, it’s a signal that multiple dimensions of our life may need attention.
At The Banyans, recovery is grounded in a whole‑person model of care that centres on six interconnected facets of wellbeing: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual. It’s a unique approach that helps people move from just surviving to genuinely thriving, whether they’re leaders, healthcare workers or anyone quietly burning out behind the scenes.
“If we’re waking every morning exhausted… that’s actually a really important signal that we need to be looking at.”
That gentle but clear insight is what makes Ruth’s voice so powerful in today’s conversation on burnout and wellbeing. She explains how we often overlook early warning signs – emotional flatness, fatigue, or a growing sense of disconnection – until things become overwhelming. That’s why early intervention matters, and why support doesn’t have to mean stepping away for months at a time.
For those unable to commit to longer recovery, The Banyans now offers a “high performance reset” day. An opportunity to check in, recalibrate, and realign before hitting crisis. It’s about recognising burnout as a warning light, not a failure.
“The most courageous thing is often saying, ‘I can’t do this on my own.’ It’s not weakness, it’s wisdom.”
This episode isn’t just about what to do when you’re overwhelmed, it’s a roadmap for building habits that protect your wellbeing long before burnout takes hold. And Ruth doesn’t overcomplicate it. In fact, she shares three powerful but simple ways to start rebalancing today:
1. Get your sleep in check – quality sleep is foundational for all areas of wellbeing
2. Prioritise real connection – seek out the relationships that restore, not drain.
3. Get into nature – even a short walk can reset your perspective and reduce stress hormones.
“We don’t have to change everything overnight, but we can take one small step today that creates breathing space for tomorrow.”
If you’re in the thick of burnout or feeling like something’s just a little off, this episode will leave you with hope, clarity, and tangible tools to begin again. Because wellbeing isn’t just about recovery, it’s about rediscovering what makes life feel full again.
For more everyday support, especially if you’re a healthcare worker, check out our blog on wellbeing for healthcare workers, a quick guide to staying grounded and energised in demanding roles.
Download your free Facets of Wellbeing Workbook from The Banyans today!
Watch Season 2, Episode 25 of It Takes Heart with Ruth Limkin.
More about Ruth’s organisation of choice, Sober in the Country
Sober in the Country is a grassroots bush charity creating radical social change and saving the lives of rural and remote Australians affected by alcohol harm through their advocacy, straight talk, lived experience, partnerships, and their online peer-support group, the Bush Tribe. They don’t preach prohibition… they teach communities the power of social inclusion. Learn more here.
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