No One Wants to Admit Burnout
A brief summer break turned into an 8-week "reset" when I noticed that my mind was filled with radio static. The normal flurry of creative pursuits and ideas had been replaced by a sort of numbness. It was challenging to think.
Yet I kept pushing forward—one day, one client, and one project at a time. The radio static didn't appear suddenly, so it took awhile to acknowledge, but eventually I realized that I'd lost my usual fire, zest, and passion. Every task had become drudgery.
I wondered, "Is this what burnout feels like?"
My thoughts had become a stream of TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, and NOT ENOUGH.
- Too much to do
- Too little time to rest, let my mind wander, or play
- Not enough inspiration
Even good stuff like family dinners, taking my dog to the beach, or an evening hike with friends started to feel like one more thing on a checklist. I struggled to make simple decisions or take even the smallest of actions. To top it off, I was heaping tons of guilt on myself for not accomplishing enough or being able to focus.
Has this ever happened to you?
Burnout is very real, and I found it helpful to learn more about it. The Mayo Clinic defines burnout as follows:
"Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.”
(Read more from the Mayo Clinic HERE.)
Learning more about burnout felt oddly satisfying and terrifying at the same time. I didn't want to admit to it. Regardless of whether I was “officially” suffering from burnout or not, it was clear that I needed to take charge of the situation, clear my mind and protect my well being!
Easier said than done. The responsibilities and expectations of everyday life never stop.
Burnout—or the symptoms of it—are all too familiar. We've all heard or felt things like:
- “My job is too demanding.”
- “There’s a recession coming, so I can’t slow down now.”
- “I don’t have the energy to make a substantial change.”
- “My people need me. I can’t let them down.”
- “I don’t know how to fix this.”
But here’s the rub: there will probably always be more to do than hours in the day. So we have to learn, somehow, to establish boundaries and manage self-care while maintaining employment. When burnout arises, NOT taking action can have serious consequences personally, professionally and for your family. You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself and protect your ability to think clearly, engage and contribute.
Here’s what I have done so far….
- Addressed TOO MUCH to do
• I’ve scaled back on the number of things I commit to and expect of myself on a daily and weekly basis. I’m committing to no more than three. Three powerful actions each day, and three important wins for the week.
• I’ve started to say, ‘no,’ or “not this time.” It was hard at first, but it is already starting to feel quite liberating! - Reset TOO LITTLE time to rest, let my mind wander, or play
• I’m starting each day with 15 minutes to myself. Instead of expecting that I will go from overwhelmed to a full-scale morning routine, I’ve opted for a 15-minute commitment that I can use in any non-work-related activity that calls to me. Yesterday it was a conversation with my husband. Today it was trimming my front yard plants and listening to the birds. Just 15 minutes has made a big difference and is becoming a delightful habit that helps me maintain a healthy perspective. - Tackled NOT ENOUGH inspiration
• Learning excites me, so I hired a coach, found a new interesting podcast, and signed up for a new coaching certification.
• I have also committed to mentoring a friend! (I always find inspiration in a mentoring relationship.)
None of actions I've chosen are complicated or unique; committing with intention and consistency makes them powerful. I’ve already found that resetting my expectations, carving out time for myself and committing to things that decidedly GIVE me energy and inspiration makes me more productive. I'm feeling more healthy, clear-headed and happy.
Have you experienced burnout? What was it like for you? How did you cope?
