Burned-Out Consultant Finds Renewal on Horse Ranch Vacation

A mini-vacation turned into a wake-up call about burnout for a consultant who couldn't relax even on a getaway.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:23am

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While on a mini-vacation at a horse ranch, the author, a consultant, realized she was struggling with burnout after talking to other people on the trip. Even though she had researched and published on burnout, she didn't recognize the signs in herself until this trip, where she was running on fumes and couldn't settle down. The experience led her to accept that she was burned out and make changes to build a more flexible, sustainable, and authentic life.

Why it matters

The story highlights the dangers of burnout, even for those who are experts on the topic. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of recognizing the signs of burnout in oneself and taking proactive steps to address it, rather than pushing through until a breaking point. The author's experience also underscores how a change of scenery and new perspectives can help provide clarity about one's situation.

The details

The author, a consultant, was struggling with burnout for months leading up to a mini-vacation at a horse ranch in late October. Even though she was excited about the trip and the activities it offered, she found herself restless and running on fumes. It was during conversations with other women on the trip that she realized she was experiencing burnout, something she had researched and published on previously but failed to recognize in herself. The final wake-up call came on the last day of the trip when a horse on the ranch unexpectedly died, making the author realize she was not invincible either. This experience led her to accept that she was burned out and make changes to build a more flexible, sustainable, and authentic life.

  • In the third quarter, the author's light had been dimming at her consulting job.
  • The author went on a mini-vacation to Vista Verde Ranch in late October.
  • On the last day of the trip, a horse named Gilbert died unexpectedly.

The players

Tracy Granzyk

The author of the article, a consultant who was struggling with burnout.

Vista Verde Ranch

The horse ranch where the author went on a mini-vacation.

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What they’re saying

“You need to leave your job,”

— One of the women the author met on the trip

What’s next

The author plans to rest more, listen carefully, and design a life that is flexible, financially sustaining, and authentic.

The takeaway

This story serves as a powerful reminder that even experts on burnout can fail to recognize the signs in themselves. It underscores the importance of being attuned to one's own well-being and not pushing through until a breaking point, as well as how a change of scenery and new perspectives can provide clarity about one's situation.