4 Tools to Help You Cope with Burnout
“If you don’t want to burnout, quit living like you’re on fire.”
Let’s be clear. Being on fire can be good -- especially when we're talking about making progress on a goal you’ve set for yourself -- but that's not the type of fire I'm talking about.
I'm talking about the fire that has you feeling completely exhausted, pulled in countless directions, and like you can’t catch your breath (or a break).
Or, it could be the fire you feel when you’ve attached your worth to artificial markers of success like your job and job title, how much or how long you work, your current circumstances, or your bank account.
These perceived markers of personal worth have been seared into our brains for quite some time. Based on what I heard from burnout expert Jennifer Moss, what we've collectively experienced during the pandemic certainly hasn't helped us grapple with those markers.
Stats Jennifer shared:
✔ Job demands increased by 56% but our professional efficacy has bottomed out
✔ 89% of people feel their well-being is *worse* that it was at the start of the pandemic
✔ Only 1 in 5 people said their well-being was "good"
Yikes. While the true solve for burnout lives with leadership and leadership practices, we -- as individuals -- still have to find ways to cope and not live like we’re on fire.
Here are 4 ways to help you cope:
1. Connect with + fully process what's exhausting or overwhelming
2. Name just ONE boundary you can set for yourself
3. Take note of your wins + gratitudes
4. Make time to sit with yourself + be still (not with a phone or something to distract you. Just be.)
For a few other methods of coping, take a look here.
Additional burnout thoughts + support:
Is your default to suffer in silence? Watch this.
Are you feeling burned out right now? Listen in here and here.