The Story Behind Conquering Burnout
Why I write this newsletter and the journey that started it all
Hi everyone and welcome!
If you're new here—thank you. I’m truly grateful you're part of this community. It means a lot that you’re here, reading these words, and supporting Conquering Burnout. I thought this would be the perfect moment to share a bit more of my personal story—so you know who’s behind these emails, and how I got here.
My name is Jani Konjedic, I’m from Slovenia, and I’m the creator of this newsletter and the host of Podkast Benessere—something that has become a deep part of my life and mission.
But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, for a long time, I felt completely lost.
I grew up as an athlete. I played football, then moved into volleyball, and by high school, I was competing at a professional level. Before college, I transferred to Calcit Volley, one of Slovenia’s strongest clubs. In just two seasons, we won two national cup championships, placed second in the national league twice, and competed in the second-highest European league.
But during my next season, with a new club, everything changed.
Halfway through the season, I burned out—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Suddenly, I wasn’t just tired. I was completely depleted. It felt like my entire world collapsed. I blamed myself, wishing I had done things differently. Since I couldn’t properly recover and I was in a very dark place, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life:
I quit volleyball.
It was more than just a sport—I lost what felt like my identity. For the first time, I had no direction, no map forward. I felt alone, broken, and unsure of who I even was without that part of me.
But slowly—over time—I began to see that what once felt like a curse… was actually a turning point.
My burnout cracked me open and forced me to start over. It led me toward healing, deeper awareness, and a completely new path. A path that aligns with who I truly am. A path filled with new knowledge, growth, passion, and meaningful work.
I never thought life would bring me here—creating content I believe in, having deep conversations with inspiring people, and sharing what I’ve learned through my own pain to help others heal.
Looking back, I see now: the hardest parts of life often hold the greatest gifts. I had to lose myself to finally find the version of me that feels real.
And life keeps showing me—again and again—that when I surrender, when I trust, something beautiful unfolds. Opportunities I never imagined start appearing. But they only come when I stop clinging and start opening up.
So if you’re in a hard season… if you feel lost, stuck, or unsure of what’s next—hold on. What feels like the end might just be a beginning.
The message I want to leave you with:
The most painful chapters often carry the seeds of our greatest growth. Trust your path, even when it doesn’t make sense yet. Life is always working with you. Just give it time.
Thank you for reading!
If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read my story. I hope that in some way, it reminds you that you're not alone—especially if you're navigating burnout, change, or a period of uncertainty.
We all carry invisible battles, but there’s something powerful about being honest, slowing down, and trusting the process. Healing isn’t linear, and growth doesn’t always look pretty—but it’s happening.
If you resonate with my story, or if you're on your own journey of recovery, reinvention, or rediscovery, I invite you to stay connected.
👉 In Conquering Burnout, I share tools, reflections, and real-life strategies to help you rebuild your energy and reclaim your life.
Thank you for being here. Truly.
Take care,
~ Jani ❤