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All of us have heard the term burnout and most of us have experienced it on some level. Simply put, burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. Burnout is a direct result of excessive and prolonged emotional, physical and mental stress. Burnout is almost always linked to our professional life and if left unchecked, it can also wreak havoc on our personal life! There is a significant difference between feelings of burnout that can be cured by a quick trip to the beach and burnout that is causing mental, physical and emotional health challenges. As I often share with my career reinvention clients, if we are paying attention, there are several key benefits that come from being in a state of burnout.
Let's take a look at 5 benefits that come from the feelings of burnout.
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We Begin To Look Inside. Burnout is a sure sign that we need to take a deeper look inside and determine what we value most in our life and career. If you are experiencing burnout, I encourage you to get quiet and really look at what is causing you to feel so disconnected from your passion. Is this something you can remedy by taking a different approach in your work life? Is the root of your burnout something that will only change by moving in a different direction? The truth is, most people who are experiencing burnout simply need to disconnect from work more often and learn to set boundaries around their time. For those whose burnout is causing them significant mental, emotional and physical health challenges, creating an exit strategy is a reasonable plan of action.
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We Start Prioritizing Self Care. Burnout can cause us to begin focusing on self-care. Most of the burned-out people I coach, have neglected their physical health and because of this, they lack the energy necessary to take charge of their life. When we feel like shit, we think shitty thoughts. When we feel good, we think good thoughts. Let that soak in! When we start prioritizing our self-care, we begin to make decisions that are more in alignment with our beliefs and values and we start feeling the stress leave our body. Feelings of overwhelm are replaced by feelings of self-control. Schedule activities that are centered around self-care. Start you day with exercise and focus on putting the right fuel in your body. To make exercise more fun, recruit a workout partner. You can keep each other accountable and it keeps things more enjoyable. When you do things that are good for you, your outlook will change.
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We Become Focused On Our Personal Happiness. Burnout can cause us to reevaluate our overall happiness. When we are in a stressful state, we are unhappy. When we feel in charge of our destiny, we feel happy. Happy people tend to be productive people and unhappy people tend to underperform. When we counter feelings of hopelessness with feelings of happiness, we have effectively changed our state. I recently visited with a client who lists joy as one of her top must haves in her career. Recently, her company went through a management change and in a short period of time her level of career happiness went from a solid 9 to a 2. We are currently working on an exit strategy as it is clear that regaining her level of career happiness in her current position would be an extremely tall order. She is focused on her personal happiness and that will carry her to a more satisfying position.
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We Realize We Must Make A Pivot. One of the clearest messages burnout sends us is that it's time to make a pivot. When we no longer find joy in what we are doing and feelings of anxiety and dread clog our mind it's time to head in a different direction. For many, it takes years to reach this conclusion, for others, it takes a shorter period of time. When our career is void of passion and purpose and we are struggling to get through any given day, moving on is the only logical option. We come to realize our mental, emotional and physical health is more important than our job. Making a significant pivot can be scary, but with the right guidance it can lead you to a career peace you may never have known was possible.
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We Take Meaningful Action. Once we have made the healthy decision to head in a new direction, it's time to begin taking meaningful action. One of the most impactful action steps you can take is to hire a career reinvention coach. I am certainly an option, but there are some very good coaches out there! I would encourage you to interview several coaches in order to find a coaching relationship that works well for you. A good coach will guide you through the process of identifying a new career path, then help you design a strategic plan for getting there. They can also help you reframe your burnout story and help rewrite a new, more empowering one! Meaningful action is the best antidote for combating burnout.
Burnout is real. Millions of professionals are experiencing it on a daily basis. There should be no shame in choosing to honor yourself by finding a career that offers you an opportunity to thrive and grow. If you would like to talk with me regarding career reinvention or take advantage of my 45 minute complimentary strategy call, send me an email at johnpageburton@gmail.com or give me a call at 520-873-8624.
Here's to honoring yourself!
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