Katja Mia is starting a new chapter

But why are we under so much pressure to be busy? Trends like the ‘5-9 before my 9-5’ have tricked us into thinking that being busy is everything, but it really isn’t. Sometimes stepping off the world and taking a time out is key to avoid burnout, but it’s something many of us are failing to do.

We may think the people we see as we scroll through Instagram on our lunch breaks have it all, but they’re dealing with problems we can all relate to, including TV presenter Katja Mia. 

The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon ambassador recently opened up to Her.ie about the pressure women are under to have it all figured out and how suffering from burnout in 2024 helped her reprioritise things in her life.

"Women feel pressured to be filling up their days with so much."

She shared: “Life is meant for living; it's not just all work, work, work. I don't know if it was through social media, but it was almost a trend to be busy and fill your day or fill every hour in your day with something.

“You see on Tik Tok my 5:00 to 9:00 before my 9:00 to 5:00 and maybe through seeing that a lot of women feel pressured to be filling up their days with so much and you forget that, you know, it is a lot physically, emotionally, hormonally.

“We need to take time for ourselves and also listen to your body,” Katja stressed.

“I girl bossed a little too close to the sun, and I kind of crashed. I had burnout last year, and that's why this year, I really want to prioritize my health and my fitness. The fact that the VHI Women's Marathon falls into my fitness goals for this year is just amazing. It's the cherry on top.”

Exercise has been a major help for boosting Katja Mia’s well-being, and it’s one of the reasons she loves it so much. She said that working out isn’t about the physical side for her but more about how much it helps her mental health.

“I love the mental health aspect of working out. I'd say that's probably the main reason why I work out. I think for ourselves, a lot of women lead really busy lives. People are moms, or they work 9 to 5, or they're in college. It's good to take time out for yourself. That's just for you.

"I feel really lucky that I have a social media audience that isn't judgmental."

“I find you get that when it comes to exercise, whether it's a walk out in the park or a jog or a strength training session.”

Another thing that has been a major help for Katja after suffering from burnout is stepping away from social media. The presenter is refreshingly honest online and often opens up about her mental health and tells her followers if she’s struggling.

This authenticity is incredibly important for her and one of the reasons why more Irish women should follow Katja online. Having such a genuine and honest presence on your feed helps you feel better, especially in a world where women are pressured to live a ‘perfect’ life.

Katja shared: “I feel really lucky that I have a social media audience that isn't judgmental and that is actually 99.9% uber positive. I can have that space where I can communicate that I'm not having a good few weeks.

“Getting messages back from people that are saying to me, 'I'm actually feeling what you're feeling right now' is everything. We’re all human, and we’re allowed to have days and weeks like that.”

Registration for the 2025 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is open now. The 43rd event takes place on Sunday, 1st June, in Dublin City Centre on the June Bank Holiday weekend

Find out more www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie.