Overwhelmed, fatigued, and emotionally drained. Persistent stress. At one time or another, most of us have felt burnout to some extent. I know I have.
It gets me in the night. When all that I am dealing with seems too much, I don’t sleep easily. I am too anxious to fully let go, feeling alien like I can’t find myself or my place in this world.
Burnout is on the rise in 2024. According to Gallup’s recent study, 49% of workers are stressed out. That is an astonishing number!
What Burnout Really Feels Like
As I speak to clients feeling burnout or noticing it around them, some are more physically exhausted and some more mentally exhausted. I find, as described in Psychology Today, that the physical version can show up as worn out or frenetic. The mental as underchallenged or misaligned.
For example, a CEO heading back from a too-short paternity leave after the birth of his 2nd child trying to push himself, while his worn out body is crying out for rest. Or an executive nobly taking on a departing leader’s direct reports without noticing how much she is now always in a frenetic rush, and her own team is rebelling because they feel abandoned.
For the mental aspect, a founder who you would expect to be celebrating the closing of their latest funding round, who instead sees the mountain of effort in front of her and wonders if the whole project is even aligned with her personal calling. Or the loyal employee performing the same role for ten years, apparently brilliantly, but inside the lack of challenge has completely depleted his appetite to create anything remotely new.
As this Forbes article put it earlier this year: It turns out employees who find hope in their personal growth, creativity and the impact of their work are more likely to feel engaged and invested in their roles. Giving people a sense of unleashing their potential is the surprising remedy that protects from career burnout.
How to Navigate your Next Chapter without Burnout
Take a quarterly personal retreat. I have a redwood forest near here that I just love. When we lived in Colorado, I’d go up to the majesty of the Continental Divide for the day. You can do a day at home of fasting and contemplation or a nice long run with just the pavement and your pace for company. You can also try out the Numina Transformation Retreat for a more structured tune-into-what-your-body-needs experience. The important thing is to shift your perspective, take the time to feel what is happening inside, and rest.
Weekly connection with a source of meaning. Whether through prayerful intimacy with higher power, meditation on the emptiness at the core of all, or reviewing a statement of personal mission or vision, connect with the source of your highest aspiration. Review how well your actions in the last week and direction align with that. Make adjustments as needed.
Daily release of stagnant energy. Chinese medicine suggests that tiredness is less about too little energy as it is too much. Physical, mental, emotional, even spiritual energy gets stuck in our system. It needs to be released through vigorous movement: dancing, boxing, screaming into a towel. Find a space and shake off that stagnant energy. Then make a plan to resolve whatever may be a cause of unnecessary tension.
Momentary tune-ins with your body. Several times a day, close your eyes for a moment and notice the sensations in your head, chest, hands, gut, gonads and legs. Listen for any messages your body has for you. You may be surprised at its intelligence.
I hope these suggestions help alleviate and prevent some of the burnout to which you might otherwise be prone. It’s a stressful time in the year, and in the world. I would love to hear how burnout affects you or those around you. What do you find works for you? Let us know how it goes!
Best,
David Lesser