Sometimes you just burnt out! If you’ve ever put everything into something, you should experience this occasionally. This has been the case for me for roughly the past week or two. So, how do you identify this and how do you ultimately overcome it and re-energize?

Brandon Cannady

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#StartUpFood

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3 min read

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Jul 18, 2016

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For me, I am not a person that can just do one thing; I have to have an extremely full plate because I need to be challenged. Some would argue that it’s hard or impossible to manage so many things, but for my extreme OCD and ADD life it works perfect. I want to be clear about something, my lifestyle isn’t for most people and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re very self-aware of your strengths.

So what’s a burnout and how does one assess they are in the midst of one?

I would define a burnout as being crippled to a point where you can no longer function. Anything you’re working on cannot gain traction because the stress of it has made it physically and emotionally impossible. Understanding that this is not due to a lack of passion is the first step. I find that being self-aware of your emotions is key to understanding the early signs of a burnout. This is often the time where friends and family will tell me that I’m doing too much and that I’m burnt-out because I over extend myself.

When you’re in the season of a burnout, try not to take the advice of friends and family that will take the opportunity to de-rail you from your dreams and passions. Ultimately, you’re doing what you love for a reason and it’s ok to be burnt-out. Your body knows what it needs and if you take care of yourself, you will overcome the burnout quickly.

So how do I manage a burnout and what do I recommend you do?

When I become aware that I’m burnt-out, I take immediate action against my calendar and start to mentally check out. It’s not fair to people that count on me for advice and direction when I can’t even get a grip in the immediate moment. Let’s be clear about one thing! I slow down, not check out completely. I’m essentially on autopilot mode and take care of the things that need my basic attention. Additionally, I do more selfish thing I enjoy like hang out with friends, go on walks, be with family more and find more joy in the things I’m working hard for.

It’s important to spend time enjoying the things you’re sacrificing so much for. Basically, you get a moment to take the pulse on all that you’re building. This is not bad or a sign that you’re loosing your “hustle”. It’s easy to confuse the negative feelings you’re experiencing as a disinterest in what you’re building and that’s simply not true.

So to wrap this up, make sure to hustle like crazy! Get up each morning hungry and go to bed disappointed that you have to take a break because you need to sleep. Work hard and never stop learning and getting creative. Continually try new things and learn hard lessons. Get excited about failure because it’s an indicator of things not working so you can re-adjust. Don’t get discouraged because of the anticipation of a burnout, because you’ll want to get to this point. It ultimately means you’re passionately doing something to the brink of exhaustion. In that season take care of yourself, find proper rest and get back at it.

I would love to connect with you if you’re experiencing a long season of burning out. Here are a few ways to connect with me

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