From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Find Your Inner Zen and Slay Your Goals

Ladies, let’s face it. We’re amazing. We juggle careers, families, relationships, and more with ease. But sometimes, all that juggling can catch up with us, and we find ourselves facing burnout. Burnout is that feeling of exhaustion, overwhelm, and stress that comes from trying to do too much. It can happen both professionally and personally, and it can leave us feeling like we’re at the end of our rope. On top of it, burnout can occur both in our professional lives and our personal lives too!

Work burnout is commonly talked about. It is that feeling when you wake up and realize it’s Monday… again. Or when you spend all day dealing with Bob’s complaints about the break room coffee, only to come home to a sink full of dirty dishes? Yeah, we’ve all been there.

But in all seriousness, work burnout is that feeling of exhaustion, stress, and overwhelm that comes from trying to do too much at work. It’s like being stuck in a hamster wheel and going nowhere fast. We feel like we are never enough in our job and we can’t make anyone happy. Most of us have been there at least once in our professional lives.

You know you’re experiencing Work burnout when:

1. Your morning coffee becomes your life support system.
2. You spend more time staring at your computer screen than doing work.
3. You fantasize about taking a sledgehammer to your computer.
4. You start to dread your commute more than anything else.
5. You can’t remember the last time you actually took a lunch break.
6. You start hiding in the restroom just to avoid everyone.
7. Your desk is a graveyard of empty coffee cups and half-eaten snacks.
8. You must remind yourself what day it is, because every day feels the same.
9. You dream of quitting your job and running away to manage a sloth farm in Costa Rica.
10. You start to question the meaning of life itself.

But fear not, my fellow burnt-out work warriors. There are ways to combat work burnout and keep your sanity intact.

Tips for Dealing with Professional Burnout:

1. Take a break: Sometimes, all you need is a little time off to recharge your batteries. Book a spa day, go out with friends after work, or plan a weekend get away without your phone.
2. Prioritize: Make a list of what needs to be done and tackle the most important items first.
3. Talk to your boss: Let your boss know that you’re feeling overwhelmed and see if there are any ways to lighten your workload.
4. Take a mental health day from work: Sometimes, a day off to focus on your mental health can work wonders.
5. Find a hobby: Having a hobby outside of work can help you relax and destress.
6. Learn to say “no”: It’s okay to set boundaries and say no to things that don’t serve you.
7. Get moving: Exercise can help boost your energy and improve your mood.
8. Hire a career coach and explore if you are in a the right industry.
9. Talk to your friends and ask them what they do to help when it becomes “too much”. Look for support and determine if what you are experiencing is common or if your work life balance is out of sync.

So, let’s take a look personal burnout which is often less talked about and even accepted! There are many symptoms of personal burnout and what we can do to help ourselves when we’re feeling burnt out. Personal burnout can occur when we prioritize others above ourselves. We give to everyone else and we are left feeling empty, and often we find ourselves feeling very resentful. Sometimes we even move into depression and anxiety from the dysregulation of burnout. There are many signs to indicate when you are in burnout mode.

Symptoms of Personal Burnout:

1. You start using your free time in unhealthy ways – even “checking out” from routine daily activities or withdrawing from family and friends.
2. You don’t remember the last time you had a full night’s sleep.
3. You feel like you will have a mental breakdown at the thought of doing one more load of laundry.
4. Your favorite form of exercise is lifting a glass of wine.
5. You’ve become an expert at ordering takeout because it is the path of least resistance.
6. Your boundaries suck and your ability to say no is non-existent.
7. You snap at your loved ones for no reason.
8. You’re too tired to even think about having sex.
9. You may feel a void inside and try to choose unhealthy options such as junk food, letting dust bunnies grow, and tripping over piles of laundry.
10. Your social life consists of scrolling through Instagram.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, don’t worry. You’re not alone. But how can we help ourselves when we’re feeling burnt out?

Tips for Dealing with Personal Burnout:

1. Take a break: Take a day off work or schedule some “me time” to recharge.
2. Prioritize: Make a list of what needs to be done and tackle the most important items first.
3. Talk to someone: Whether it’s a therapist, friend, or family member, talking about your feelings can help you feel better.
4. Practice self-care: Take a long bath, get a massage, or indulge in your favorite hobby.
5. Get moving: Exercise can help boost your energy and improve your mood. Just ten minutes of exercise and movement can redirect your brain to feel more positive.
6. Learn to say “no”: It’s okay to set boundaries and say no to things that don’t serve you.
7. Get enough sleep: Make sure you’re getting enough restful sleep to help recharge your batteries.

So, there you have it, ladies. Burnout happens to the best of us, but with a little bit of self-care and some humor, we can get through it. Remember, it’s okay to take a break and take care of yourself. You have given so much to others, now it is time to give yourself the same amount of love and caring because you deserve it.

Sources:

1. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Burnout: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642
2. American Psychological Association. (2021). How to Recognize and Manage Burnout. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/burnout