Your body is the early warning system that keeps you aligned, steady, and effective.

As I always say, if you are looking to motivate, influence, or inspire—then you are a leader. Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about the way you show up in your work, your family, and your community.

It’s the end of summer. The kids are back in school. My calendar is filling up again. I told myself: This is it. Time to buckle down, get organized, and really get things done.

But underneath, I can feel the edge of fatigue. And I know this: drama and burnout are really arguments with time. Drama wastes hours in the spin. Burnout steals the energy we need to move forward.

When I can step out of drama, my efficiency is unmatched—not the grinding kind of efficiency, but the clear, steady focus that comes from alignment.

How Drama Shows Up

Drama rarely arrives loudly. It slips into the day in subtle ways:

• Rewriting the plan again and again, hoping this version will finally feel right.

• Staying “busy” with Netflix, scrolling, or tinkering with little tasks.

• Feeling restless—legs bouncing, stomach jittery—yet not moving forward.

• Snapping at people, letting stress spill out.

• Withdrawing, going quiet, or checking out completely.

These are the early signs. And for me, they always show up in the body first. A tight chest. Shallow breath. Heavy eyes. Hollow chest. My body speaks before my mind catches up.

Listening to the Early Signals

For years, I ignored those signals. I pushed harder, told myself to “get it together.” Now I know better. Leadership isn’t about overriding my body—it’s about listening to it.

It’s not always easy. This is practice, not perfect. Some days I catch the signals early. Other days I miss them and repair later. Either way, listening to the body is the reset button that brings me back to presence.

A Seasonal Shift

Right now, my body is asking for something new. It’s the end of summer—the heat has been high, the pace intense, and I’m running on fumes. Most years, my recovery is movement. Six days a week at the gym has been my reset.

But this season feels different. My body is asking me to back off, to cool down, to rest. So I listen. I head to the cool basement, put on soothing music, and let myself recover in a quieter way.

From Drama to Purpose

When I don’t listen, the whisper becomes a scream. Shallow breath becomes exhaustion. Restlessness becomes burnout.

But when I pay attention, I can shift back into purpose—clear, steady, and aligned with my values. That’s when efficiency becomes interesting. I get more done with less energy. My choices feel true. My presence has impact.

Drama and burnout are arguments with time. When I’m in drama, I waste hours spinning, avoiding, snapping, checking out. But when I step out of drama, my efficiency is bar none—not the cold efficiency of grinding harder, but the clear, steady efficiency that comes from alignment.

That’s what I want more of this season—not more pushing, but more presence. Not more drama, but more freedom.

freedom is a mindset

A Question for You

As summer turns to fall, what is your body asking for? More heat or more cool? More motion or more stillness? More connection or more rest?

Don’t wait for burnout to force your hand. Don’t let drama steal your time. Awareness is enough.

• Explore more at Primal Leadership Business Coaching.

• Read this leadership spotlight on my Boulder art teacher: Jane Seaton and the Living Practice of ArtLife in Boulder.

• Learn more about the science and impact of burnout here: Occupational Burnout on Wikipedia.

Kate Galt Primal Leadership Business Coaching

Kate Galt coaches and challenges leaders at all levels— from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives— to sharpen their vision, articulate key messages so they connect and inspire, and make decisive, strategic moves that drive real business growth. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she works with individuals and teams to strengthen leadership, improve team dynamics, and achieve measurable results.

Her coaching is rooted in Primal Leadership—because the strongest leaders move with instinct, command presence without force, and create unshakable trust through raw, real connection.

Like any driven person, Kate is always figuring out how to do it all—running a business, raising two kids with her equally involved husband, and still making time for the adventure that brought her to Colorado in 1998. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or chasing an ultimate frisbee, she knows the best leadership isn’t just learned—it’s lived.

The bottom line? Kate makes good leaders great.

Curious about what makes her coaching style so impactful? Book a call and experience it for yourself at CoachTheLeaders.com.