Life Lessons in How to Rebound from Burnout at Work
Burnout sounds like another one of those buzzwords you hear all the time. But for those who have in the past or are currently experiencing burnout at work, it is a real problem. 🛑
So what is burnout at work? What are the symptoms? How do you know if that is what you are dealing with?
And, more importantly, how do you overcome and recover from burnout at work? 🤔
First, let’s talk about what burnout at work looks like. Too often, I see professional women burning themselves out, completely overwhelmed, exhausted, angry, frustrated, and resentful, because they are constantly going above and beyond.
You are trying so hard, making sure all your t’s are crossed and your i’s are dotted. Taking on extra projects, training new hires, and doing all your regular job duties, just to get yourself noticed at work. 😩
You believe that in order to get that promotion, get that raise, move up in the company, you have to go above and beyond your normal duties to get that recognition.
But, if you’re being honest, that extra effort has only left you overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated. You feel that no one is noticing all your hard work, no one is recognizing the value you add to the company, and no one is acknowledging your expertise.
Here are two truths I want to share about burnout at work:
1️⃣First, no one asked you to go above and beyond at work. You have convinced yourself that if you don’t do it, it won’t get done. You think that everything you do has to be perfect. But if we really stop and think about it, did anyone ask you to do all those things?
*And if your answer is yes, you need to set up appropriate boundaries that state, “I don't have the capacity, the scope, the team, or the budget to do all of that. So what would you like me to take off my plate so that I can take on this new work that you're asking me to do?”
2️⃣Second, it says that you don't trust yourself enough to just do your own job without putting all that extra on yourself. It says that you don't believe in yourself and your ability to do the work. So you're going above and beyond to overcompensate for your skillset.
So there is the tough news. But you know I got good news to share too!! 😉
You don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle of being burned out. You can overcome and recover.
➜My first tip is to articulate your expertise well. Simply put, articulate your value in a meaningful way. Do your work and speak to your expertise on a regular basis. Don’t try to overcompensate feelings of inadequacy by always going above and beyond.
➜The second tip is to only do the work required of you. Whoa! That tip was loaded! I know that is a radical concept for many of us to grasp and accept. I work with some of the smartest, brightest, most high-achieving, and successful women in the world, so I know that doing the work required of you will be your best work. You don’t have to do more than your best work to get noticed.
➜And my final tip is to work for only those organizations that value you as an individual and as an employee. You can’t continue to work for organizations that don’t see value in you and your expertise, and who aren’t willing to pay for that experience. You have to find those organizations that are going to align with your values, and I can help you do that. Learn more about how to make a career transition here.
Let me mentor you this month so that you can get out of that burnout cycle. You don’t have to stay in that place of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, angry, frustrated, and resentful at work. You can be fulfilled, happy, content, rejuvenated, and well-compensated at work.
Learn more about the Accelerator program and join today! You can join the group of women who have graduated from the Accelerator program, like my mentee Erica, and leave the burnout at work as a thing of the past. 💁🏾♀️
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