Burnout is not a dirty word! It’s a way our body, in its infinite wisdom, works to get our attention – a signal that we need to restore ourselves. But when burnt out, even taking on self-care seems like another thing to do…or worse, to feel guilty about if we don’t get to it… which only adds to the underlying sense of exhaustion and overwhelm. But it doesn’t have to be. I want to show you how to make some very realistic, small shifts to get you back to balance. Here are 8 steps to relieve burnout now!
Burnout is Trending
Before you start, we need to tackle that it’s OK to acknowledge you’re burnt out, and with good reason.There’s a lot of fallout coming to light post-Covid that’s not being talked about but is real. The world got turned upside down overnight. We scrambled to adapt – and we did, remarkably so. But leaders had to go beyond the call of duty during it all, and on the uneven reentry.
You did your best under incredible global challenges with sustained unknowns over a prolonged period. You kept on point, using all you’ve got for the better part of the last 3 years! It’s no wonder that, now that we’re technically on the other side of it, you may be experiencing a huge level of exhaustion. And as that impacts your ability to lead, it can only add more weight on your tired shoulders. You need to help yourself to help anyone else – including your staff. So what can you do?
8 Steps to Relieve Burnout
- Exhaustion means you need rest – physically and mentally. Find the courage to step away FULLY – even if only for an afternoon. And (this is key) resist being at your desk in your head! You may not do it perfectly at first, but try and keep trying. The work will be there when you get back, and you need to do this to be able to do that work.
- Create some breathing room in your day (or week/month) anywhere you can. Start by giving yourself 20 minutes (even 10) to look at your schedule. Cancel what is non-essential, and reschedule what you can (If needed, make it clear you will rebook at their convenience -then be sure to do that).
- Do a head dump of all you have to do – work, home/family, health. Just write it all, and get it out of your head onto paper or computer. This relieves the strain of it all ricocheting around in your head. Circle or highlight the 3 top priorities. Then allow that just for today, you only progress on those, resting easy that the rest is all safely on a page you can return to. Repeat each day this week and see how much shifts for the better!
- Make good use of the adage ‘better done than perfect” where applicable. You’ll find it works for more tasks than you realized and is quite freeing.
- Delegate anything, no matter how small. Hire someone to handle a piece. Ask a friend to help with another. Call upon anyone in your Support Circles, which I wrote about in April’s blog. If you didn’t catch it then, I know you’ll find it extremely helpful.
- Take license to give up the gym, or not do a self care item, grab take out, let laundry or the lawn wait a day or two to unburden yourself.
- Taking a walk, moving your body in some way, preferably in fresh air, to shake out mental knots. Notice how the static in your body and spirit truly shifts with movement.
- Do not underestimate the transformative power of noting what IS working through the day, what bits of beauty there are to take in, and the many small and big things to be grateful for. Part of what causes burnout is how we speed from one thing to the next without taking time to pause, breathe and reconnect ourselves to the moment. This leads to making CHOICES about what we do next rather than juggling it all, all at once –which we know is impossible to maintain.
You’ve Got This!
The benefit from having some experience under our belt is this: we’ve been wiped out before and know this too will pass and get better. The good news is even the smallest shifts can significantly help you relieve burnout. With each step, a bit of energy and clarity will return, making it easier to make any bigger shifts needed. It can get you back to feeling like yourself again, from which you can perform at work and enjoy life so much more. That’s the ultimate priority! This is also a great time to call upon anyone in your
Have hope when you feel burnt out, because you have choices about how to move yourself toward it till you’re there again. If your staff is also suffering, even if it shows in subtle ways, as you know, my mantra is to fill your own well, so you can not only have what you need to then help your staff. And it’s powerful if they see you modeling it yourself.
If you want support for your planning process, I am here to help. It’s easy to reach out to me for a chat and see what can happen!