The Burnt-Out Bitch: Ditch the Perfectionism, Let Go of the Guilt, and Break the Burnout Cycle

by Gwen Taylor

Feel like you're carrying everything for everyone while silently falling apart inside?

The Burnt-Out Bitch is a blunt, relatable guide for women exhausted from trying to do everything right. If you're stuck in perfectionism, people-pleasing, mental overload, and constant guilt, this book will help you understand why burnout happens and how to break the cycle.

This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about letting go of the pressure that never should have been yours to carry.

Inside you'll learn how

• Recognize the hidden patterns behind burnout
• Break the perfectionism and people-pleasing cycle
• Set boundaries without drowning in guilt
• Calm emotional overwhelm before it explodes
• Stop living in constant survival mode

You'll also read real stories from women who reached their breaking point and found a healthier way forward, plus get access to a free companion workbook to help you put the tools into practice.

If you've been the strong one for too long, your mental load never ends, or you're tired of pretending you're fine when you're not, this book is for you.

Start here if you're exhausted and overwhelmed. Then continue with The Regulated Bitch to learn practical tools for emotional regulation and rebuilding stability.

You don't need to keep surviving like this. Start breaking the burnout cycle today.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Gwen Taylor didn’t set out to write these books—she wrote them because she needed them.

For years, she was the one holding everything together: family, work, responsibilities—while quietly running on empty.

At 50, after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, things finally started to make sense. Not overnight, but enough to stop blaming herself and start understanding what was really happening beneath the surface.

That shift changed everything.

Now, through The Regulated Woman Series, Gwen writes honest, practical books for women who are overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, or tired of carrying everything alone.

Her work helps readers understand their patterns, regulate their emotions, and build a life that actually feels like their own.

Reviews

[Ntombezinhle Nzama]

I feel so understood! Everything im going through but fail to articulate is articulated so well. what i like most about this book is that she doesn't advocate for doing "more " to get out of burnout. I understand better what is happening and I like that. its a great read for anyone going through burnout

[Victoria]

Could not finish this one - this reads like a copy and paste from a ChatGPT response “what do I do if I’m burnt out?” Yikes!!!

[Caroline Hurry]

Permission to Drop the Masks and Reclaim Yourself
Gwen Taylor’s The Burnt-Out Bitch is a fierce, clear-eyed, compassionate call to arms for every woman trying to be the nicest, most competent version of herself, even if it leaves her hollow.
Drawing on a mix of workbook exercises, practical somatic tools, and raw personal stories, Taylor dismantles the cult of perfectionism with the precision of someone who’s lived every page she writes. From the first chapter, it’s clear this book is here to crack the armor you’ve built around your worth.
The tone is direct. “What if being hard on yourself is the thing keeping you stuck?”
Taylor encourages you to look at the beliefs driving your burnout: the need to earn your existence, to apologize for your needs and keep everyone else comfortable while you come undone.
I loved the “Real Talk” interludes from women who wore the masks of The Chill Girl, The Fixer, The Overachiever, until their bodies and spirits finally gave out. These stories feel like a mirror, reflecting the hidden exhaustion so many of us deny.
Practical strategies abound. Taylor offers bite-sized, actionable tools for regulating your nervous system - breathwork, weighted blankets, grounding mantras (“I’m safe,” “It’s okay to rest”) - as well as mindset shifts like replacing “Sorry for the delay” with “Thanks for your patience.” She also challenges readers to get radically curious rather than controlling: What if uncertainty isn’t failure, but freedom?
The Burnt-Out Bitch encourages you to stop believing every thought that scolds you. To ask, Would I ever say this to a friend?
If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying everyone else, this book is for you. Read it with a pen in hand and a willingness to get uncomfortable. You will emerge softer, clearer, and freer.

[Melanie Burzynski]

I spent 2.l days reading this book. It’s not too long - and the shortened chapters are easy reads. It gets to the point: how to choose yourself over everything else. It is well formatted to give real life examples you can relate to. And even though the author specifically calls out women in their 20s and 30s, it’s for all of us (including myself - as I am in my 50s). It is a book that calls out the bullshit and tells you that it’s time to give yourself grace. It won’t happen overnight; but it can happen. If you are kind to yourself and open to making small steps - which I am. And I needed this book. I’ll be giving it to a colleague who I know would appreciate the knowledge shared by the author. Thank you!

[Britt Porter]

There was so much AI writing in this it was ridiculous. Every third sentence was “it’s not ____, it’s ____.” As in, this isn’t someone’s own thoughts and writing, it’s AI. I read about 3/4 of the book and did take away a few good nuggets, but they could all fit on one page.

[Annette]

Enjoyed the bitch slap into all the yesteryear trauma I’ve been ignoring in the periphery, so thank you!

BUT… I had to mark it down a little bit, purely because I don’t think burn-out is only experienced by women. Our boys and men struggle through it too and having seen it first hand, it’s unnecessary to put a gender on emotional or mental health in general; it makes it an unwelcoming space, purely because we’re ego based beings too. Burn-out amongst all other varying mental health applies to all humans, we have to normalise our boys and men being comfortable with their emotions and mental state too. It can start with spaces that address it so well (like this book has), without it isolating it for just women / men.

Just my opinion and my take away…Otherwise, enjoyed it 🙃 have recommend it to some of my friends - both male and female.

[Julie Barrett]

The Burnt Out Bitch by Gwen Taylor
Interesting to understand that you do have to take care of yourself first before you help others. You get burnt out. There are many forms of just overdoing things but the author gives you advice on what you need to do to get back on track. You must learn that you have a voice and you hae to use it, usually with the word 'no'. but your plate is overfilled already.
Practical advice when another committee wants you to volunteer your time but there's no more hours in the day to do so. Don't feel guilty your family should come first along with time for yourself each day.
Really good advice to take care of yourself.

[Charli Sparks]

helpful

I was tired of always being walked on and never really knew how to say no this book was so informative. It gave me a lot of tips and strategies on how to stand my ground and be firm on my feelings. I was able to set firm boundaries and make my life More fulfilling and satisfying.

[Albert Butler]

Amazing Book I had to Read to the end.

I loved this book. It’s honest, funny, and so relatable for anyone running on empty. The advice is simple, practical, and gives you real permission to rest and set boundaries without feeling guilty. It feels like a friend finally telling you the truth you needed to hear. Perfect for burnout recovery.

[Brandy]

The burnt out bitch

This was an amazing book. I took my time on this one and read the book twice, actually. As a mom who stays home, getting burnt out is truly a thing these days. Highly recommend this book to anyone who is burnt out and about to just give up.

[Dorothy'e Gott]

This was just ehhh. Read AI generated with some nuggets. Felt more like talking to someone who just hit you with a bunch of affirmations and one liners. Also this book didn’t rely on a single piece of research or cite anything…. But that might just be a personal hang up.

[KHoopMan]

With a title like that, I knew that I had to read this book. 🤣

[Ashley M. Moore]

I’ve never highlighted so much in one book in my entire life. Such an insightful, encouraging, and refreshing self help book. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

[Holly Breault]

Helped me understand a lot of what I experience every day. Tips for self regulating.

[Savannah Bass]

Good little tidbits of advice

[Kaitlyn Brownfield]

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard for me to put it down in the evenings.

[Stephanie]

What a great read!!! It gave me some great insights and things that I could improve myself on-real support for my real self.

[Hope Hardin Borbely]

Good pace and warm. I definitely will revisit the last few chapters. They are great reminders of focus and acceptance of self.

[Miranda Kibler]

Very very very AI. Hard to read because of it. I had high hopes :(

[steffi Seitz]

Read this book!!!

The Burnt-Out Bitch is a bold, refreshing, and empowering guide for anyone stuck in the cycle of doing too much and feeling never enough.

Gwen Taylor blends humor, honesty, and practical tools to help readers drop perfectionism, release guilt, and finally break free from burnout. It feels like getting tough love and a warm hug at the same time.
A quick, motivating read that leaves you feeling lighter, seen, and ready to reclaim your energy and boundaries.

[Vivian Deselms]

Almost every chapter came with some ouchies, but still well worth the read.