We’ve all experienced it in one form or another. Burnout.
The dictionary defines it as fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity. In plain terms, you’re just sick and tired of the whole thing, whatever the “thing” is. You’ve lost all motivation and the only thing that is keeping you from just quitting is the fear of becoming homeless, starving your kids, or *gasp* moving back to your parents’ house.
In my life, burnout seems to rear its head every few years, mostly in business. As the business grows and as my life changes, the stress, overload, and intense moments may look different, or be triggered by different activities, but they are sure to come.
At first I think I just need a vacation, or a change of pace. But deep inside, that nagging feeling, that sense of dread won’t leave. Take all the vacations you want…unless you make significant, permanent, long-term changes, you’re just prolonging the pain. One day, you’ll wake up (maybe even be on your death bed) and wonder, “What the heck did I do with my life? All that energy and life I poured into the business, clients, projects…for what?” Ugh.
Here’s the good news. Burnout is the universe’s way telling you, “Wake up! This is NOT what your life is about!” It’s a not-so-gentle prompting that it’s time to get unstuck and change direction, and keep moving forward.
I’m reminded of the Bible’s account of Peter’s miraculous escape from prison. The night before he was to stand trial for a most certain conviction and death sentence, an angel appeared in the prison and struck him on the side to wake him up and get him out, passing through prison bars unnoticed by the 16 guards assigned to watch him. The text specifically says the angel STRUCK him, he hit him hard! Peter must’ve been like, “Whaaaa?? OWWW! Whadja do that for??”
Well, burnout is kinda like that. Something has to whack us hard and be painful enough for us to take notice and get OUT of our death prison.
So if you’re facing burnout, take heart that it is signalling that you are destined for better things. In fact, since you’re sick and tired of your life or your business or whatever you are burnt out on, it’s the perfect time to sit down and reassess what you REALLY want. You’re ready to call it quits, anyway. So what would you do if you did quit? What do you really want to do with your life?
In my next post, I’ll share my burnout journey. I did sit down and do some soul-searching to figure out what I really want to be when I grow up. What do I value? What do I want my life to look like? Hint: Having the benefit of experience and deeper values that come with age, and knowing what you DON’T want is golden. Talk to you more next time!