How I Avoid Burnout
as a Personal Chef
(And Stay Creative in the Kitchen)
There’s a version of this job no one really talks about.
When you cook for a living…you’re always cooking.
For clients. For content. For your family.
And sometimes? Making dinner at home can feel like… you’re still at work.
If you work from home, you probably understand this. Learning to set boundaries on work, shutting it off or setting hours. Well, the kitchen is always open in my house.
The Reality
I love what I do. I really do. But when your job is cooking, it’s easy to hit a point where:
- you feel uninspired
- everything starts to feel repetitive
- even simple meals feel like effort
That’s burn out. And I’ve learned — if I don’t actively prevent it, it creeps in fast.
What I Do Instead
I don’t wait until I feel burnt out. I build small resets into my day and week — things that help me stay creative, protect my energy, and actually enjoy cooking again.
"The part that makes the biggest difference - I talk about this a lot, but it matters here too: I don’t try to do everything. Not for clients. Not at home. Not for content. Because burnout doesn’t come from doing too little. It comes from trying to do too much… all the time.."
1. I Start My Day With Something That’s Mine
Before I cook for anyone else, I do something for me. A workout. A walk. Even just stretching. It’s non-negotiable.
Because the second my day starts in “service mode,” it’s really hard to get out of it.
2. I Don’t Complicate Dinner at Home
This one changed everything. I don’t try to impress my family with elaborate meals. Or freak out about having dinner ready at a certain time. I keep it simple. Familiar. Repeatable.
Because dinner at home shouldn’t feel like another job. It should feel easy.
However, when I have the time or the creative juices are flowing after a work day, I will cook up something new or a recipe that we haven’t had in a while.
Check out these posts.
3. I Protect My Days Off (Even When It’s Hard)
This is something I still have to work at.
Not checking emails. Not answering “quick questions.” Not mentally planning the next menu. Because even a little bit of work… keeps your brain in work mode.
4. I Eat + Hydrate Before I Cook for Others
It sounds basic, but it matters more than you think. If I start cooking for clients without taking care of myself first, I feel it later.
I used to ignore hungry or thirst and just push through it – all while being surrounded by food. Ironic….but then low energy. Less patience. Less creativity.
So I make sure I’ve eaten and had water before I step into someone else’s kitchen. Plus I usually treat myself to a special drink when I’m shopping for a client and always have a full water bottle with me.
5. I Get Outside Every Day
Even if it’s just 30 minutes. Changing your environment changes your mindset.
Fresh air. Movement. A break from the kitchen.
It’s one of the fastest ways I reset my brain.
6. I Turn Off “Chef Brain” at the End of the Day
This is the hardest one. Because when you love food… your brain doesn’t just shut off. So I give it something else to focus on.
Audiobooks. Podcasts. Silence.
Anything that helps me step out of:
- planning
- thinking about food
- what’s next
Because if I don’t draw that line, work and life blur together.
Have you seen these recipes yet?
If You’re Feeling Burnt Out in the Kitchen
Whether you cook for a living or just for your family…
It’s not about needing more recipes.
It’s about:
- creating space
- simplifying meals
- giving yourself a break
Final Thought
You don’t need to love cooking every single day. But when you protect your energy…it’s a whole lot easier to come back to it.
Thanks for sticking around to read this post. I’ve learned so much over the 15+ years of doing this…and I keep learning everyday. I do believe that we all need to understand what our limits are, ways we can refuel and how to reset if we get close to burnout.
Hi, I'm Kat.
Welcome to my Kitchen Counter. I’m excited to share with you a new series called “Make my kitchen work for you” along with a collection of blog posts about a variety of topics – building a gluten free pantry, staples to always have on hand and gift guides for the Chef in your life. Take a look around. I’d love to hear from you – do you like these posts?
