Weekly Nugget: Diagnose Your Burnout

Hi friend, 

Most of us experience burnout at one point or another in our careers. 

Some of the common strategies people are advised to use in dealing with burnout are,  

• take more breaks during the workday to relax, 

• exercise or engage in physical activity, 

• spend more time with family or friends outside of work, 

• and/or think about how their work contributes to their future goals. 

Whereas these strategies could help produce some relaxation and freedom from stress, unless we investigate the underlying causes of burnout, we are likely to remain in its grip. 

One of the worst strategies people use to deal with burnout is to ignore it, bury themselves with more work, and secretly wish for or plan an exit. 

If you're experiencing burnout, DON’T suffer silently or plan to peel away. 

Burnout isn't a death sentence - it's a wake-up call.

I propose four dimensions of burnout to help you listen to this wake-up call and diagnose what's really going on and what you might do next. These are 1) Physical, 2) Emotional, 3) Existential, and 4) Cultural. 

1) Physical Burnout is rooted in our biology.

Factors that can lead to physical burnout include a lack of sleep, rest, nutrition, hydration, and exercise, and might be exacerbated by ignored underlying medical problems. 

Ask yourself: Are you taking care of your health, or are you ignoring your well-being? What new practices might you need to adopt to keep your biology in optimal shape?

2) Emotional Burnout comes from enduring ongoing emotional distress or abuse.

If you don't confront or address emotionally draining situations like bullying, you will pay the price of burnout. The key here is to have the courage to confront these situations and change the dynamics.

Ask yourself if there is a conversation you have been delaying but need to initiate with a specific coworker, partner, boss, or client. What nonsense have you been tolerating and ignoring that’s wearing you out? 

3) Existential Burnout happens when one achieves results but finds no meaning or spiritual nourishment in their work. 

Addressing this requires reframing the situation, seeking guidance, or establishing a more profound connection to the purpose behind one's work.

Ask yourself, who are you serving, and what value does your work add to their life? Or what work might you take on that would be deeply meaningful to you? 

4) Cultural Burnout is possibly caused by a communal infection of bad moods such as resentment, resignation, anger, frustration, and selfishness. 

It generally happens when a group of people convince themselves and each other that we are victims of the situation. Moods are infectious, and whole communities, cultures, and organizations are often infected by degenerative stories.

Ask yourself, what bad moods in my community are infecting everyone? What is the history of these moods? How do they create waste and stuckness? Then, begin to make bold assessments of these wasting moods and speak with each other about the waste they create and new practices and moods that would be good to cultivate. 

So, if you are experiencing burnout, ask yourself:

• What dimension of burnout are you dealing with?

• What are you committed to doing about it?

• Whose help are you going to ask for when dealing with burnout?

Our only warning is that whatever you do, do not suffer silently and plan to peel away. Changing jobs and teams might not improve your burnout.

I would love to hear your thoughts and what this provoked for you. Talk to me if you think I can help you deal with burnout individually or as a team/group. 

With care, 

Saqib