Three key hard stops to help anyone avoid burnout

Three Key hard stops to help anyone avoid burnout

I want to explore a taboo topic we all avoid discussing like the plague: Burnout. Ugh. The word alone conjures up images of implosion and chaos. Failure. In-completion. Feelings of shame. Avoidance. The list of negative connotations associated with the term burnout goes on and on. We don’t discuss burnout because no one ever wants to admit they are feeling the burnout implosion coming on – it’s a horrible feeling yet awareness of it is really the first step in avoiding it.

As a 24-year, high level executive in the hospitality industry, Destination Management to be precise, I know a little bit about burnout as I personally “imploded” back in 2014. At that time I recognized if I didn’t make an immediate change – THAT MOMENT, not only was my professional life going to be at risk but so would my personal life – especially my health.

I couldn’t risk that, and I literally retired from the industry at the ripe young age of 48. I was done with an industry I absolutely loved with all my heart, the passion was gone and all that remained was angst, resentment and bitterness.

I could have avoided the implosion if I had been paying better attention to the signs that burnout was around the corner for me and made real life changes to prevent it.

How to avoid Burnout?

Consider the word “RESERVE”. It can be a noun, adjective, verb or even an idiom. For the sake of this article let’s look at it as both a verb and an idiom. As a verb, you are re-serving something to someone. As an idiom you are holding something in reserve or storage which can be served at a later time. If you think of the human body and mind as a capsule or storage tank, in order to have anything to serve to another at a later time you must have something in reserve, meaning, in your tank.

How do you build up a reserve?

1. Self-care

Lack of self-care is probably the first and biggest chip at draining your reserve and setting oneself up for burnout. I cannot stress enough to you the value of self-care. Self-care can be anything from participating in a hobby you are passionate about, getting in a run a few days a week, practicing yoga or meditation, painting, reading (or any sort of activity that energizes you really) and even walking in nature. It is anything you can do for yourself that fills you with joy, brings you relaxation and refills your tank. Even listening to music or getting pampered can help some refill their reserve. The important thing is to make the time to provide yourself with the self-care you need to feel fulfilled. Want to hear what fills my tank the quickest? Playing with dogs! It absolutely fills me with joy and gives me energy.

2. Time blocking

Forget about time management. Time blocking is key. This sounds so simple, but it is probably one of the most difficult to make happen on a daily & weekly basis. As work responsibilities pile up on us, pressure from family or even volunteer commitments, the ability to block personal time for ourselves decreases.  We start to put ourselves last when we should be putting ourselves first. Think about when you are flying and they are reviewing the emergency procedures – put your oxygen mask on first before those traveling with you. Be firm in your ability to block time for yourself and self-care. In order to be your best with plenty to reserve to others around you, you must take the time to care for yourself.

Every Sunday night as I look at the week ahead in my calendar, I literally BLOCK TIME for me to go to the gym. Should someone request a meeting over those scheduled gym times, I will suggest an alternative time to meet with them so I can keep this commitment to myself (I am not a brain surgeon or rocket scientist and the world is not going to end if I suggest a different meeting time) This is also part of my self care.

3. Set firm boundaries

Setting boundaries applies to both work and personal life. Learning how and when to say no to projects or commitments is invaluable in allowing you to create the space you need in your life to provide yourself with the self-care you need to keep your reserve filled – so you may continue to re-serve others.

While taking on a project at work may sound fun and exciting, if it doesn’t align with your values or help you to move your career forward with growth or recognition towards your professional goals, it might be best to pass on the opportunity. If becoming the president of your HOA sounds exciting is it worth taking it on if the time commitment takes you away from family time or opportunities to provide yourself with self-care?

I already sit on two boards of directors. I was asked by a third organization to sit on the board and turned them down as I knew it would not add value to my career or personal life.

All of these are simple suggestions for avoiding burnout. Keep your reserve filled and you will never risk losing your passion and imploding.

Did you find some useful gems in this article? Let me know your thoughts by sending me a message at rachelle@rstoneconsulting.com.

About Rachelle

Rachelle Stone is a 25+ year veteran of the Meetings & Convention Industry who, in 2014 left the industry to transition to full time Consulting & Executive Coaching after her own personal implosion.  She now guides business owners and stressed out executives through the strategic steps needed to breakthrough plateaus and glass ceilings, accelerate their growth trajectory, increase profits, dominate in their market and reach their goals WITHOUT burning out.