Everyone’s talking about burnout — at conferences, in captions, on every corner of the professional world. But there’s a hidden truth many people won’t admit: a lot of us aren’t burned out… we’re bored.
Not bored with our purpose, but with the repetition, the routine, and the pressure to stay the same. In the full article below, I share why boredom is so often misunderstood, how curiosity reignites passion, and what it really takes to stay engaged in an industry that demands so much of us.
I also talk openly about my own story — from redefining what success means, to navigating a life-changing health crisis in 2022 that forced me to learn how to truly rest for the first time. I dig into the lies the fitness industry has told itself for years, the shifts I believe we need to make, and the long-term habits I’m building today that won’t pay off for years… but matter deeply.
✨ Read the full interview with the Orlando Voyager below to explore the honesty, lessons, and lived experience behind the work I do.
We recently had the chance to connect with Jessica H. Maurer and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica H., thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Burnout is such a buzzword.
We talk about it in conferences, post about it on social media, and wear it like a badge of honor. Burnout seems to show proof that we’ve been grinding hard enough to “earn” our exhaustion. But here’s the secret a lot of professionals don’t say out loud: many of us aren’t burned out… we’re bored.
Not bored because we don’t love helping people or believe in what we do. Bored because we’ve been doing the same thing for so long that the spark has faded. The same tasks. The same projects. The same schedule. Even the same small talk. As humans, many of us crave challenge and creativity, but somewhere along the way, we stopped permitting ourselves to evolve, explore, and create.
Boredom is trickier to admit than burnout because it sounds like you’re ungrateful or lazy. But in reality, it’s a signal. It’s your brain saying, “I need something new.” A new idea, a new goal, a new way to stretch your skills.
When we ignore boredom, it festers. It turns into resentment, detachment, or autopilot, which are the quiet killers of joy and longevity in any industry.
The truth? You don’t have to quit to reignite your passion. You have to get curious. You need a space to create. You need a new challenge.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I energize audiences with science-backed strategies that help leaders keep top talent and build cultures centered around mental wellness. I cut through the noise with clear, actionable solutions that drive retention, reduce burnout, and boost team happiness. Known for my dynamic presence and practical tools, I inspire leaders to turn workplace challenges into opportunities for growth and success.
As the Director of Education for the Mental Wellbeing Association, I’m dedicated to helping people integrate mental wellness practices into their daily lives—empowering them to build resilience, reduce burnout, and create a healthier balance between work, life, and well-being.
With two decades of experience in fitness, wellness, and organizational transformation, I show audiences how small shifts in personal and professional habits can lead to significant improvements. My talks empower individuals and teams to reimagine success—not just by keeping top talent, but by fostering environments where employees feel valued, supported, and happy to stay. Dynamic, relatable, and packed with actionable insights, I help organizations transform today’s workplace challenges into opportunities for long-term impact.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was younger, I thought success meant being the best in the room. I chased grades, awards, and recognition, believing that if I could just outwork, outperform, or outshine everyone else, I’d finally feel worthy. That mindset served me for a while; it drove me to achieve, to push harder, to never settle. But it also kept me constantly measuring myself against others, always striving, rarely satisfied.
Over time, and honestly, through a lot of personal growth, I realized that being “the best” isn’t the goal. The real magic happens when you stop trying to stand above people and start standing with them. My purpose isn’t to be the smartest, the strongest, or the most accomplished in the room. It’s to help others see what’s possible for themselves, to guide them as they rise, and to create spaces where everyone can thrive together.
Now, success looks entirely different for me. It’s no longer about being the one who shines the brightest; it’s about helping others find their own light.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In 2022, my entire life stopped. I suffered from a medical poisoning that resulted in heavy metal toxicity, and by the time we discovered it, the damage was already deep. My liver, kidneys, stomach, lungs, heart, and spleen were all affected. My body wasn’t functioning the way it should. Some days, I could hardly breathe, focus, or even think clearly. I was in constant pain and an even deeper state of worry.
Everything that had once felt so natural — teaching, leading, creating, showing up for others — became impossible. I couldn’t go to the grocery store without feeling overwhelmed. There were days I couldn’t leave the house at all. I didn’t have the energy to be the mom, wife, or professional I wanted to be.
For most of my life, I had built my identity around movement, momentum, and achievement. But suddenly, pushing harder wasn’t an option anymore. My body simply said no.
That season of stillness forced me to learn something I had never truly understood before: how to rest. Real rest. The kind that isn’t earned, but necessary. The kind that heals, rebuilds, and redefines who you are. I finally learned that sleep isn’t the only type of rest. There are so many styles of rest that are necessary.
Rest became my survival. It also became my teacher. I realized that success isn’t about how much you do, but how deeply you live while you’re doing it. It’s not about how far you can push forward, but how well you can pause, listen, and honor what your body, mind, and spirit are asking for.
That experience didn’t just change my health; it changed my definition of happiness, success, and strength. I stopped striving to do more and started learning to be more present.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I started my career in the fitness industry and have come to realize we have a reputation problem. For too long, we’ve been selling promises that live in the future like “lose five pounds in five weeks,” “get your dream body by summer,” “transform your life in 30 days.” But here’s the truth: fitness can’t promise that.
What happens inside the gym is powerful, but it’s only part of the story. Real change happens in the hours, choices, and mindsets outside of it. And because we’ve built our message on numbers, metrics, and timelines we can’t control, we’ve lost the trust of the very people we want to help. People start to believe we’re liars when in reality, we’re just stuck in the wrong conversation.
It’s time to change that. We need to stop selling fitness as punishment or perfection and start sharing it as presence and relief. Movement isn’t about weight loss, sets, or reps. It’s about how you feel right now in this very moment. It’s the instant gratification of stress relief, the quick shift from tension to release, from chaos to calm.
If we can change the conversation, we can rebuild the relationship. Fitness can become what it was always meant to be: a way to feel better immediately, to move through life with more confidence, and to remind people that they already have everything they need inside them.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
When I think about what I’m doing today that won’t pay off in seven to ten years, it’s this: missing personal space and time.
I spend so much of my energy serving others. I am productively creating for others, saying yes to clients, and building things that help other people rise. And while I know that my purpose and success are rooted in lifting others higher, I also know that it can sometimes come at the cost of my own personal time.
I overwork. I take on more than I should. And in doing so, I miss moments that actually matter, like tennis practice with my son, making dinner with my husband, and quiet hours in my crafting space. These late nights and that constant feeling of overwhelm don’t build a better future. They build burnout. And I know that very well, but it doesn’t stop me from falling into the hustle mentality at times.
The truth is, the hustle culture mentality is a lie. It’s not the people who work the hardest or longest who win at life. It’s the people who understand how to ebb and flow.
Life isn’t about balance; balance implies a finish line or equal measures. It’s about rhythm like the ocean tide. Too much, and it floods. Too little, and it dries up. The key is in the movement, the ability to pull back when needed and push forward when the tide is right.
That’s what I’m learning to protect: the ebb and flow that makes life full, sustainable, and worth living.
