Seven ways to keep burnout at bay

Sometimes it's difficult to recognise burnout. The effects of a drip-feed of emotional and professional stresses can take place over a long periods of time - the past 2 years are a proven example of how it can take its toll. Suffering depleted stocks and without the toolkit, knowledge or wisdom to top up and replenish can lead to not just lack of performance but a permanent debilitating state of mal-function.

I’ve worked with clients who arrived with tiredness in their eyes and emptiness in their hearts – at rock bottom exhaustion. It’s truly wonderful after working with them over 6 – 12 months to see their energy and passion returned and watch them grow back to their full potential.

Burnout can show up as not wanting to engage in every day tasks, a need to zone out, too much Netflix, not feeling able to face the day's challenges, feeling detached or trapped, defeated or alone, procrastination and overwhelm, anxiety, difficulty concentrating are also signs. For me the signs of exhaustion show up when playing with the kids is a chore not a thrill.

Some tips to avoid getting to this point are:

Stop. Simply stop what you are doing and take a moment to pause.  Too often we jump from one task to the next without time or headspace to transition in between. Stop. Give your brain a rest. Breath.

Know yourself. What are your signs that you need to rest, to pause? Are you the kind of person that listens to their body or do you work on regardless? Our society tells us to battle on, pull our socks up, work through it, be tough. But signs are there for a reason. Don’t be tough, be intelligent and listen to what your body is saying.

Plan. Properly. I’m sometimes surprised at how many clients work day by day, and although they have long term goals and milestones their weekly diaries are chaotic. Perhaps you are great at work planning but your personal realm is disordered.

Working patterns. Look at your energy drains and energy leaks. Where are you most productive? Are you batching your tasks? Working down a task list is not always the most effective used of energy. Deep work requires concentration, they are different kinds of energy, don’t flip from one to another.

Analyse your capacity. Capacity is where we so often trip up. We fill our days and our lives 100% and leave no room for the unknowns. If your capacity is constantly 100% you need to revisit your priorities and core values and see where adjustments can be made.

Rehydrate. How much water do you actually drink in a day? Signs of dehydration include light headedness, feeling tired, dry lips and eyes but over time it can impact in greater ways. Our bodies and brains need water to function – yet many of us deny ourselves this simple need through poor habits.

Look at your habits. Seriously. Daily rituals have an accumulative effect on mental, physical and emotional ability to perform. What habits are you intentionally developing to grow in your personal leadership? Which habits are preventing your progress?

When I work with a client we investigate personal leadership, working patterns, habits, beliefs and of course central work of core values, meaning and purpose, and you can do this too - creating a roadmap as a reminder that when we’re near the edge of path we know where to come back to.

In May I am running a Leadership and Wellbeing retreat designed as an inspirational break for execs who find themselves in need of professionally focussed time out or are suffering energy depletion or ‘burnout’. The retreat spans 4 days offering the chance for delegates to pause and reflect, rejuvenate and replenish and to then return to work with their leadership inspired and invigorated. Three leadership coaching sessions are blended with wellbeing and resilience workshops, gourmet food, guided fell walking (wild swimming perhaps too) and stunning accommodation to give a small group a rare all-rounded approach to boosting their professional and personal capacities. Come and join us.

Retreat page – www.kateb.co.uk/may22retreat