You may associate burnout with feeling tired or fatigued. It can go deeper than that, which is what many people do not realize. Some people suffer for years because they can’t get to the root cause of where their burnout is even coming from.
I know, because I’ve been there.
You’re busy. It’s a busy world. We’re moving at paces faster than we could have ever imagined. We’re living life in the fast lane, so what happens when that thought creeps in? The next day you awaken and say, “Wow!” I’m exhausted. I’m burnt out.
The good news is there might be a hidden culprit lurking under the surface – one that’s actually far easier to catch and fix than, say, getting four more hours of sleep at night. Let’s be real: making a drastic change to your sleep schedule is oftentimes easier said than done, and sometimes even straight up unrealistic (parents of young kids – you know what I mean).
Let’s take a look at three hidden culprits of burnout you might be experiencing right now and how to stop these in their tracks so you can get back to feeling like the most energized, happy version of you.
After having my second child and becoming a mother to two children under 2, I recall feeling exhausted and like I couldn’t sleep for ten years. As you can see, I was exhausted, and headed for burnout. I thought to myself, “Holy crap. I’m going to burn out if something doesn’t change soon.”
After realizing that I wasn’t feeling energetic, I tried to take naps throughout the day and drink coffee.
It was different from any tiredness I’d ever felt before. It was in my bones and in my soul. It was clear that I had to move it quickly.
After carving out copious amounts of quiet time and doing what I call a “life inventory checks”, I uncovered the source of my almost-burnout and realized it was coming from three specific things:
1. My power was being given away.
Aside from being a new mother of two, I was running a business, leading people, and I had more responsibilities than I’ve ever had ever before. I also had people that were helping me – like mentors and coaches.
While I will always be an advocate for getting support, it’s critical to not make the mistake of putting your success in someone else’s hands. In other words, remember who you are and don’t ever give your power away.
Because I was willing to follow directions and be guided, I often forgot that the key was within me. YOU hold the key to moving the needle in your life, your happiness, and your career — and you always will. You can take back control of your life and see your energy levels increase.
Your job is to do the inner work to shift back into a place of remembering who you are and what you’re capable of. It is not possible for anyone or any external force to do this. This will help you feel more energy. You’ll find yourself overcoming that sense of tiredness or fatigue that you once thought was burnout. Reconnecting with the power in you is key.
It’s time to take some time to reflect on how connected and in control you feel right now. Grab a piece of paper and write down every single thing you’ve accomplished or overcome in this lifetime (big and small – it ALL counts). Take a look at the list, and know that you’re the one responsible for it all. The power is yours.
“Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.” – Michael Gungor
2. I wasn’t in full alignment with every area of my career.
It is possible that you are not a business or entrepreneur. Your job might be demanding, or you may have a 9-5 job. My experience is that you can easily become disoriented and lose your way if your career direction is not aligned.
I didn’t wake up every day intending to be out of alignment – it happened accidentally over time as I filled my head with more external voices and noise. Slowly, I lost touch with who I am and what I want to do in my work.
If you’re feeling this now, it’s time to do another inventory. Ask yourself, “Am I in the career I actually want to be in? Am I on a path that’s moving me towards the career that I want to be in? Are I running my business as I really want or in the manner that I was told to by someone else in order for it to succeed? Do my daily habits support me and help me move closer to my goals?”
If any of your answers are no, it’s time for a change so you can get back into alignment and avoid burnout.
Important: Being honest and non-judgemental with yourself is the key to this. You will be able to openly admit your feelings and show compassion. This will allow you to make the difficult conversations necessary to reach clarity and achieve breakthroughs. This will allow you to live a fulfilling life and career.
3. I wasn’t giving myself enough play time.
Hear me out when I say it’s time to be more like our kids.
If you’ve ever watched a two year old play on a playground you know what I’m talking about here: it’s that sense of not having a care in the world, forgetting what time it is, and heck – forgetting that time even exists.
It’s that sense of being so in the moment that no external factor or circumstance could even come close to affecting you or your happiness. I realized I wasn’t giving myself enough of this and I wasn’t taking the time to actually cultivate a sense of play throughout my days. This led to me feeling tired and burned out all the time.
So, it’s time to do one final inventory:
Is it okay to let yourself have fun? Do you allow yourself to be happy despite all the adult responsibilities? Do you allow yourself to have fun doing the things you love?
Do you want to give yourself that gift?
If the answer is no, it’s time for a shift. It’s time to reconnect with your inner child because that child is begging to be let out and help you get back to the most energized, happiest, non-burnt-out version of you.
Addicted 2 Success published 3 Hidden Culprits of Burnout – How to Catch them ASAP.
Addicted 2 Success published the post Three Hidden Culprits of Burnout – How to Catch Them Asap!