4 Important Lessons We’ve Learned About Burnout

We write about burnout quite a bit here because we know it’s a challenge many changemakers face. Over time, certain patterns and lessons emerge about what burnout looks like and how we can deal with it. Here are a few things that have stood out:

Burnout isn’t just about being overwhelmed

You can also burnout from not being challenged or not being able to cope with stress, even if you don’t have a lot of demands placed on you. Once you identify the kind of burnout you are facing, it’s much easier to craft solutions.

A powerful way to prevent burnout is to set aside time for yourself

Of course, this is easier said than done. However, there are several ways to carve out time for self-care. Pick up a hobby outside of work, surround yourself with supportive people, and learn how to say “no” in a way that won’t hurt your career.

The sector has to address burnout

While focus a lot on what we can do as individuals, organizations have a role in this, too. How do we start thinking in terms of “communities of care“? And how do we encourage each other to think about our work and impact outside of our 9-5s?

Job seekers can suffer from burnout, too

We often think of burnout as something that happens while we work. However, it can also happen while job hunting, as we get bogged down by applications yet feel as if we’re not getting any closer to great opportunity.

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by Allison Jones