5 Things I Wish People Knew About Burnout, That Would Help People Heal Faster & Prevent A Repeat Episode
We can only heal as fast as our awareness allows.
Perhaps that’s why there is a tidal wave of burnout rippling around the world.
Because in the absence of a clear understanding of burnout — the causes, the impact and the recovery — more and more people are falling prey.
Without proper awareness, there is little proactive prevention.
The WHO’s definition of burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” falls frustratingly short of anything practical that could help sufferers in their time of need.
In 2019, when I came close to full burnout, it was just this book — The Joy of Burnout — that helped me through.
As the numbers of people affected by burnout skyrockets, the helplessness and futility and darkness of the burnout predicament we are faced with becomes even starker.
Because there is little recovery guidance, or burnout blueprint, or plan to prevent it recurring.
Your best option is to speak to your GP, hope that a sympathetic friend might understand, and muddle along, trying not to overload yourself again.
At the same time, you’re experimenting with your new limited capacity, and still wondering what the hell happened.
Was that a wall I hit? My edge? Did my mind finally break?
And the conditions giving rise to burnout — working beyond one’s capacity in situations causing longer term stress — are not receding.
Nor are multiple existential crises going to ease stress levels. In 2023, we are navigating out of control inflation, as the world teeters on the edge of a global recession.
These are challenging times.
Poor awareness limits healing
Initially I thought burnout was something that happened to people who hated their jobs, or who couldn’t cope with life.
Then it happened to me.
I got a firsthand taster of this soul-shattering illness. My addiction to working beyond my capacity manifested as low mood, severe brain fog and a fatigue like nothing i’d ever known.
At times, my head hurt — a lot.
Yet I was working part time and loved the variety of my life: the challenges, the people and earning a decent wage.
I didn’t realise I was moving at warp speed, impressive but not sustainable. Completely overloaded with activities, of “doing” and little time for “being” and actually — rather unhappy.
(Creaating busyness for ourselves is a symptom of a deeper issue.)
Overall, energy flowed out in abundance, and was not getting replenished.
Balance was lost.
Thankfully, my work as a Shiatsu practitioner, treating people experiencing burnout, had afforded me a deeper awareness — one that goes far deeper than the WHO’s limited definition.
But even despite that, I still ended up on rocky ground.
How to heal faster and avoid a relapse
Please know these things about burnout (that you won’t learn from the WHO).
1. Burnout doesn’t fall into 12 neat steps
2. The stages of burnout are definitely not linear!
3. Burnout doesn’t arise only in relation to chronic workplace stress
4. A burnout experience is specific to the individual
5. Preventing a repeat episode is an ongoing exploration because burnout isn’t a once-only occurrence
Do any of these insights surprise you?
I’m going to expand on each one.
For now — let me know if your burnout experience chimes with the insights i’ve outlined above.
