What I Don’t Want to Admit About Burnout

I was really proud of myself for recovering from burnout a few years ago and creating a better life for myself. In fact, I thought I could make it so it would never happen to me again and that I could cure my clients from ever having burnout again, too. But, it occurred to me recently while I was talking to my own coach during my particularly busy year that, unfortunately, that’s just not the case.

There will be seasons in life that are accompanied by burnout that you just can’t avoid. Maybe you’re building a business and working full-time, maybe you’re in school and working, maybe you’re in the thick of motherhood, maybe a family member is going through a health issue, maybe you want to switch jobs but haven’t found a good alternative and it’s eating away at your soul. There are so many things that when combined can cause burnout. Which really stinks, right? 

But those seasons are temporary. And unfortunately, we have to go through them to get to the life we’re working so hard for. There are some things you can do to lessen the heaviness you’ll feel. As a coach that specializes in healing from burnout – here are my suggestions:

What to Do When You’re in a Season of Burnout

Keep your boundaries – that includes setting time for rest. Now is not the time to be wishy washy. Avoid people and behaviors that make you feel bad and prioritize the things that are important to you.

Take care of yourself – drink a lot of water, get enough sleep, move your body, get fresh air and sunlight, have some treats but also nourish your body, and whatever else you need to feel like you

Feel your emotions and work through them – this is definitely not a time to cover up or just push through your emotions. Work through them and don’t live there. It’s important to know that emotions are also temporary. Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. And don’t be hard on yourself. You’re going through a lot.

Work with someone – a coach, therapist, or both. It’s extremely helpful to have someone that can listen, give advice, and help you make changes. Friends and family are great support systems but having an unbiased outside perspective is key.

Unfortunately, there will be times in life that you can’t avoid burnout. Being prepared and fighting back against it will help you feel less helpless until you can get to the other side. Remember, you’re not alone in the challenges you face. And you’ll get through whatever life throws at you.

I recently released a free 10-Minute Reset for When Everything Feels Like Too Much and if you’re in the middle burnout you’ll find it helpful. It’s a simple way to slow down, calm your mind, and catch your breath when life is moving too fast. Grab yours here and take 10 minutes for yourself!

Want to learn more about recovering from burnout? I have many other posts about it on my blog but start here and here.