Burnout is not an unfamiliar term in today's fast-paced world. It's a state of chronic stress leading to exhaustion, cynicism, detachment, feelings of ineffectiveness, and lack of accomplishment.

When experiencing burnout in the workplace, you don’t only struggle professionally - the effects trickle into your personal life too. However, burnout doesn't happen suddenly. You don't wake up one morning and all of a sudden "have burnout." Its nature is much more insidious, creeping up on us over time like a slow leak, which makes it much harder to recognize. Still, burnout can be healed if you know the signs and symptoms.

We know you’re passionate about what you do. Sometimes, that’s the easiest way to slip into an overbearing feeling of burnout. We don’t want to dull the passion that burns in you for what you do, so let’s talk about three tips to help you transform your burnout to balance in your personal and professional life.

Passion and Burnout

It's a common belief that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. But what happens when the work you're passionate about leads to burnout?

The reality is, even when you love what you do, there's a risk of doing too much of it, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion. It's important to remind ourselves we’re human, and we can't do everything. Setting boundaries in the workplace is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary step to ensure we remain effective and productive. Working without boundaries isn’t sustainable.

Think about it this way: would your team rather experience you working at 120% for three years, or at 90% for ten years? Managing your workload helps you build a more enriching career. Let us help you. 

The Burnout of Community Building

Community building is a fulfilling task, but it can also be a major source of burnout. The reason is simple: there are always more people you can help and better experiences you can provide. We get it - it feels like the work never stops.

While it's easy to say "set boundaries" or "take care of your mental health," it’s much harder to know where to start and what to do. It's essential to have tangible tactics to help manage the stress that comes with community building.

From Burnout to Balance: Practical Steps

Be Realistic with Yourself

Understanding your own boundaries and working within them is the first step towards balance. Trying to fit into a mold that doesn't suit you will only lead to more stress.

For instance, if you're not a morning person, find ways to incorporate the gym into your afternoons or evenings instead of forcing yourself to wake up early. We get that you might be jealous of the rise-and-grind people running 10k before 9am, but if that’s not you, that’s okay. It’s better to do something small and manageable after work than nothing at all, which will be the case if you put unreasonable expectations on yourself.

For another example, if an 8-hour workday feels too long, consider proposing a 9-hour day with an hour break in the afternoon to your boss. You can spend that break getting some fresh air, running some errands, lounging on the couch, or, a personal favorite – having a nap. Everyone operates differently and accepting that is the first step to making changes that work for you.

Take Breaks Properly

The way you take breaks can significantly impact your burnout levels. Spending your evenings constantly checking work emails or Slack messages can lead to a feeling of never truly being off work.

While it may not be realistic for everyone to completely disconnect from work at 5pm, it's crucial to be fully present during personal activities, such as family dinners or outings with friends. Even if you aren’t doing what you consider to be ‘working’, you also aren’t… not working, right? If this is something you struggle with, like anything else, start small. Pick a block of an hour or two at night or on the weekend when you aren’t allowed to open Microsoft Teams.

Being fully present helps you actually feel fulfilled by the experiences in your life. It sounds simple, but more people will benefit from this tip than you think. Enjoy where you are.

Set Targets Within Your Goals

Working towards a large goal can be daunting and stressful. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task and the pressure to succeed. If you’re working on a project with a 2-3 month timeline, you might feel like you haven’t accomplished anything until that goal is hit. However, setting smaller, achievable targets within your larger goal can help manage this stress. You'll feel more productive as you check off these smaller targets, reducing the looming stress of the larger goal. It can also help keep you on the right track to achieve that goal on time. If you need to extend the timeline of the project, it won’t sneak up on you so quickly. People always say celebrate the little wins and it’s true!

Patience and Persistence

Ultimately, it’s important to remember to be patient with yourself. Burnout doesn't occur overnight, and neither does recovery. Keep track of the strategies that work for you and build up a repertoire of ways to manage your stress levels. This will not only help you become a more effective member of your community but also lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Next Steps

Now that you are aware of the steps to transition from burnout to balance, it's time to put them into action. Start by being realistic with yourself about your boundaries and limitations. Incorporate proper breaks into your daily routine and set smaller, achievable targets within your larger goals.

These things don’t just help you in your personal life, they’ll also help you be more effective at work, too. Remember, the journey to a balanced life requires patience and persistence. It's a marathon, not a sprint. By implementing these strategies, you'll be well on your way to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.