Are you feeling burned out?
As a coach, burnout is a word that I frequently hear – maybe too frequently.
Many of our discovery calls, coaching sessions, and trainings lately circle back to a feeling of extreme exhaustion and emptiness.
And let's face it – you've been through a lot in the last 24 months. There was a pandemic, learning how to work from home, discovering if you were "essential" or not (... don't get me started), a relentless 24-hour news cycle that highlights the low points of our world, then transitioning back to a new normal of hybrid work, hybrid school, new gas prices and grocery shortages — and more wars, natural disasters, and inflation woes than we know what to do with.
Oh yeah – and all of this happened without a precedent for how to handle it.
But you still needed to live, function, work, and raise a family through it all.
This calls for a deep breath – exhale – repeat – repeat.
The reality is – the world has largely felt out of control lately. And when things are out of control, you feel stress. And prolonged stress is what leads to burnout.
Psychology Today says burnout is "an extended period of stress that feels as though it cannot be ameliorated."
Amerliorated…made better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improved.
Whenever we feel like things are not going to improve, no matter what we try, we become helpless. Hence, the stress.
If you've been under stress for a long time, you may start feeling burned out.
Maybe you can relate to the feelings that burnout causes: emptiness, apathy, and hopelessness.
If that's you, let me first empathize. Burnout is real – and what you're feeling is really hard to work through. I've struggled with burnout, and I know the pain it causes. You are not alone.
However, I've also seen the light on the other side of what can feel like a long, dark tunnel. And that light is bright, refreshing, and much welcomed after burnout's apathetic drain on you.
I want to offer a few helpful tips today – especially if you're in a season of feeling burned out.
1 - Seek support. - In any season of stress and struggle, it is important not to carry the burden alone. Friends, coworkers, and family members who care about you may all be tremendous sources of support and encouragement throughout seasons of feeling burned out. Tell them how you feel. Ask them to walk alongside you. Link arms with those around you who may be able to process (and relieve) some of your burden. And maybe it's time to talk to a trusted professional as well. A counselor or therapist can be a great resource to get you back on track toward feeling helpful, productive, and excited about what's ahead of you again. As an aside, I'm not too fond of the stigma around seeking professional therapy. Everyone can benefit from a therapist – their skills, training, and understanding of basic brain and emotional functioning. The main point here is not to carry your struggle alone – seek support.
2 - Practice self-care. - Are you getting enough sleep? When was the last time you exercised? How are your eating habits? Caring for yourself well involves taking time for yourself. Our bodies require adequate sleep to function appropriately. Certain foods can improve brain and body functioning. And as we discussed last month, when you eat well and exercise, you get the body's "happiness chemicals" flowing – dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Each of these help offset the effects of stress by restoring happiness through meaningful activities and connections with other people. Sometimes the best thing to do if you're feeling burned out is to put some time onto the calendar to do something meaningful to you. Visit a friend or a family member you haven't seen in a while. Treat yourself to a nice dinner. Serve at a local soup kitchen or your house of worship. Each activity reminds you that you're more than what you do. You are a person with deep meaning, dignity, and value – a human being, not just a human-doing.
3 - Evaluate your options. - Feeling burnout is a red flag that something may need to change in your life. If burnout is caused by prolonged stress and "out-of-controlness," consider what you DO have control of. What step can you take today to get back on track? Perhaps it's time to reevaluate your career choice or where you choose to be employed. Perhaps it's time to finish that degree you never completed or one you've never started working on. Perhaps it's time to take stock of who you allow yourself to be surrounded with and reshuffle your friendship deck. Perhaps it's time to reset your goals and aspirations or realign your priorities around who you WANT to become. You DO have options. You ALWAYS have options. Take the power to choose something today that's good for you. Write down what you're choosing, and talk with someone about it. By writing it down and enlisting the help of an accountability partner, you are giving yourself a far greater chance at succeeding in what you hope to achieve -- while stepping out of the monotony and hopelessness of burnout.
You may feel burned out right now – but you don't have to stay burnt out. And sometimes, the first step away from this feeling is believing that change is possible. Coming from someone who has experienced burnout, let me reassure you that change is possible.
If you want some help discovering what change is right for you to take, I'd love for you to sign up for a complimentary (no-strings-attached) discovery session. One of our coaches would love to help you walk through what's most important to you and help you for a powerful action step forward away from what's currently keeping you stuck.
Take a moment and click on this link to schedule your session today.
You don't have to stay stuck – there is light at the end of this tunnel.
For your growth,
Bill
