Reclaiming Rest: How Burnout Is Impacting Women of Color

Finding peace in the pause.

Published: July 15, 2025

Category: Mental Wellness • DEI • Women’s Health

Estimated Read Time: 6 min

Introduction

In a society that applauds constant productivity, many women of color find themselves praised for being “strong,” “resilient,” and “unshakeable.” But beneath the accolades often lies exhaustion, burnout, and unacknowledged pain. For Black and Brown women—especially those who are mothers, caretakers, professionals, and community leaders—the pressure to perform and provide often comes at the cost of their well-being.

As we move deeper into Mental Health Awareness efforts this summer, it’s time to ask a powerful question: What does rest look like when you’ve never been taught you deserve it? This article explores the silent epidemic of burnout among women of color, its mental health effects, and how to begin reclaiming rest as a revolutionary act.

Key Points

1. Burnout Looks Different in Women of Color

While burnout is recognized across genders and ethnicities, studies show that women of color experience a unique intersection of stress, microaggressions, racial battle fatigue, and generational responsibility. This creates a “slow burn” effect where emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depression may go undiagnosed or misunderstood.

2. Cultural Conditioning and the “Strong Woman” Myth

Many women of color are raised to internalize strength as survival. They’re taught to put everyone else first, rarely acknowledge pain, and power through no matter what. This mindset, though rooted in resilience, becomes harmful when it dismisses the need for rest, therapy, and softness.

3. The Mental Toll of Multirole Demands

Whether managing households, leading teams, or being the backbone of their communities, women of color often carry multiple roles without adequate support. This cognitive overload leads to chronic stress, which is linked to anxiety disorders, hypertension, sleep problems, and more.

4. Reclaiming Rest as a Radical Act

Rest isn’t laziness—it’s preservation. Rest is a form of healing, protest, and cultural restoration. For women of color, honoring the need to rest means releasing guilt, redefining boundaries, and prioritizing emotional well-being. Therapy can provide tools to begin this transformation.

Call to Action

If you’re a woman of color navigating burnout, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Book a safe, culturally sensitive consultation today at www.newgrowthbehavioralhealth.com.

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Helpful Resources

1. The Nap Ministry | https://thenapministry.com – A collective advocating rest as a form of resistance.

2. Therapy for Black Girls | https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com – Therapist directory & podcast.

3. Sista Afya Mental Wellness | https://www.sistaafya.com – Mental wellness for Black women.

4. National Alliance on Mental Illness | https://www.nami.org – Burnout and mental health info.

5. LinkedIn – Burnout Among Women of Color | https://www.linkedin.com/pulse – Workplace impact studies.