Burnout is real . It is detrimental to our health and wellbeing and has lasting longterm effects that need to be cared for , sometimes for the rest of our lives , so it is worth understanding it and being aware of it . Twenty years ago , when I hit burnout , no one talked about it , and burning yourself out was really showing a badge of honor regarding how hard you can work and push yourself . For me , the result was chronic fatigue syndrome and depression . It is something I have had to live and dance with for the past 20 years , but now I see it as a gift .
I had to rebuild myself from the ground up as well as how I operated physically , mentally , emotionally , and spiritually . I had to rewire , reset , rebuild , and retrain myself for long-term high achievement with sustainability built in . This has been an incredibly journey of evolution for me and one of incredible fulfillment .
What is burnout ?
Burnout is the result of chronic stress that has not been managed over time . Full-blown exhaustion physically with mental depletion and emotional upheaval .
What are the stages of burnout ?
HONEYMOON PHASE : This is when we are in our excited phase of achieving and can run on the stress hormone cortisol .
Stress onset : This is when we have little anxiety creep in and start to neglect some basic self-care .
CHRONIC STRESS : This is where we get a little angry , may miss a deadline , increase caffeine / alcohol stimulants , and start to numb the feelings .
BURNOUT : This is when we completely start to neglect our personal needs — eating well , moving our bodies , and sleeping properly . Headaches are daily , and we start to lack motivation as well as feel isolated and empty .
HABITUAL BURNOUT : Chronic conditions start to appear , such as mental fatigue , low moods , overwhelm , social isolation , and shutdown .
What is roadmap out of burnout ?
OWN AND RECOGNIZE WHERE YOU ARE IN THE STAGES OF BURNOUT . Take time to reflect and really understand where you are . What are your physical , emotional , and mental symptoms ? Writing or adding bullet points in a journal is highly recommended to declutter your thoughts .
MAKE A PLAN TO REVERSE THE BURNOUT EXPERIENCE .
Come back to your own true values ( learn how in The Life Plan : Simple Strategies for Building Confidence in a Changing World ), and set some new boundaries to support yourself in creating space .
WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH
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