Rethinking Burnout.
We're all going to experience burnout at some point in our lives.
Burnout is when we lose our joy, want-to, and personal identity professionally.
Maybe you've been there.
Maybe you are there.
Please know - you don't have to stay there.
The recent research on it highlights five stages to burnout:
1. The honeymoon phase - the good outweighs the bad at work
2. The onset of stress - the bad begins to wear us down
3. Chronic stress - the bad becomes overwhelming
4. Burnout - the bad takes a toll on our mental and emotional health
5. Chronic burnout - we're drowning in the bad and can't find our way out
Personally, I've never experienced stage five. But, I've had countless conversations with people who bounce between stages three, four and five.
If you're dragging yourself to work.
Trying to mentally pump yourself up to face the day.
Constantly criticizing everyone on your team.
Find yourself resenting your boss or company.
Can't remember the last time you had a "win" on the job.
Or, escaping regularly through some activity, distraction or substance.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but you're probably experiencing stage four burnout.
True story.
And, believe it or not, your situation isn't impossible.
All hope is not lost.
There is a way out and through.
As I've mentioned before, stress is another word for pressure. Extreme stress is caused when we experience uncertainty, a loss of control, and constant conflict on the daily.
The only way to manage it is to either reduce the load, or to ask for support. In order to successfully manage burnout, we have to be willing to do both.
We need to find someone who will listen with empathy and help us see what's really happening. And, we need to find ways to retreat, recharge, and reset weekly.
Another way to think about it is we need to regularly seek outside-insight and practice self-care.
This also means getting past the self-inflicted wall of embarrassment, guilt, and shame of feeling like we don't have our shit together. All of us go through these cycles of self-doubt and dips in feeling worthy.
We can't afford to fall into the trap of self-pity. That's just our ego and pride in reverse.
We have to reach out.
Speak up.
Step away.
Then reengage when we're ready.
The truth is we're not to blame for our burnout. But, we are responsible for putting ourselves first. Which requires staying open to the possibility that what we're experiencing is just normal life happening.
That, and, the hope-filled belief that we're not alone. We have family, friends and loved ones who can help, if we'll ask. But it's up to us to let people in on what's really going on with us.
This requires honesty and a helluva lot of openness on our part.
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Take some time and reflect on these questions:
1. Have I noticed any recent changes in my attitude towards work or team? If so, what might these changes reveal about my current level of burnout?
2. Am I prioritizing self-care and taking regular breaks to recharge, or am I constantly pushing myself beyond healthy limits?
3. When faced with challenges or stressors at work, do I tend to isolate myself or seek support from others? Why?
4. Considering the stages of burnout outlined, which stage(s) do I recognize in my own experiences, and what steps can I take to prevent progression to more severe stages?
5. How do I navigate feelings of embarrassment, guilt, or shame associated with burnout, and what strategies can I implement to overcome these barriers in asking for help and prioritizing self-care?
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Thanks for reading. Forward or share this with someone you know is battling in the trenches right now. Encourage them to reach out. And, let them know they're not alone.
Steve Knox | Birmingham, AL