Dadoi. Of COURSE burnout is a bad idea.
So why do we keep doing it?!
I know it’s a lesson I’ve sorely learned more than once.
I’ve burnt the midnight oil, powered through to deadlines, worked 3 jobs at once whilst simultaneously organising 2 regular events.
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew and then chewed like hell. And it always ended the same way.
Case in point:
A few years ago, I was working full time as a Environmental Project Manager whilst also studying to get my official quals (a Cert IV in Project Management). I decided that this would be the perfect time to also undertake my Personal Training certification. I was working 5 days a week, studying in the evenings, plus studying and training at the gym every Saturday and Sunday.
I was focused, determined, and have a great love of learning. I was having a blast. Until - BAM. I hit the wall.
At the end of my PT certification, I skipped the boat party that everyone else was celebrating at. Instead, I headed straight home to curl up on the couch with a huge block of chocolate and watched TV for hours. How ironic.
Self care? Non-existent.
Lesson learned? Not even close.
Once I had finished my PT studies, I was offered a job at a local gym and quickly moved up into a managerial role. There was HUGE pressure to turn the financially failing gym around within 3 months.
At first I was excited at the prospect of fixing a broken business. I saw myself as a grand leader that would bring the team together and we would all become a united front for positive change. I had a wonderful mentor and great staff, and for a while things were great.
But then I faced resistance from staff and members, an absent mentor and was personally directed to shoulder the responsibility of the failing business from a tyrannical owner. I was constantly asked to chop and change, I felt criticised on all sides.
And what did I do?
I tried harder. I worked longer hours. I never exercised. At the gym I was working at, I never made time to workout!
Sure there were things that were outside of my control, but I didn’t take advantage of the things that were. ie - myself.
Even other managers could see I was struggling and advised me to chill out, to make sure I was taking good care of myself.
But I didn’t. Until - BAM. That familiar sensation of burnout hit again. I was exhausted, teary, waking up in a cold sweat at 2am and constantly worried. In the end, I resigned.
Self care? Non existent.
Lesson learned? Getting there but not quite.
Even recently, as a full time entrepreneur - there’s days when I’ve spent hours at the computer. Skipping lunches, workouts and catch ups with friends. All activities that were meant to be part of my routine now that I have nothing but time.
Every now and then I’ll remember and I’ll make sure I book in something nourishing for myself. A massage, a bushwalk with a friend, or even just doing Pilates in my loungeroom.
But sadly, more often than not - I haven’t had good boundaries. I’ve poured everything I had - energy, time, thoughts and money - into growing my business. It’s not sustainable and it certainly wasn’t fun. I’ve neglected my health, my relationships and my joy.
Well, no more.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with growing, expanding and going outside your comfort zone. It’s where transformation happens.
But…
Don’t get addicted to productivity. - click to tweet
Work must be balanced with a rocking self care practice. Otherwise you don’t get the resilience you need to keep going with the work.
This exquisite self care practice is something that I will be cementing in my life in 2014. I’ve decided to step up and really walk my talk. To ensure I feel good as I achieve my goals, not only when I ‘get there’.
Because I’ll be honest with you. 2013 was a rough year for me. There’s been wonderful blessings that I’m deeply grateful for, but also some very painful lessons. And it seems many people I talk too have had a tough year too.
It’s why I created Spectrum. It’s really something that I need. It’s the anti-work course that is the antidote to overwhelm. It seems to be landing pretty well with other comrades too. Will you join us?
