Bouncing Back

Burn-out is a phenomenon of human behavior that likens our ability to function successfully with the life cycle of a fire. For example, a fire will only continue burning when there is enough fuel to feed its progression. A fire's fuel consists of both combustible materials and oxygen, and the fire simply cannot continue without both of these elements being present. In humans, our progress towards goals and objectives is fueled by both our external and internal resources. For example, in our work lives, external elements might include capital funding, access to expert resources, computer equipment, raw materials, our network of related professionals, etc. While these external elements are necessary, the real key to our success is the strength of our internal resources.



Just think for a minute.... There is no goal or task that could ever be completed without the willpower, intelligence, persistence and follow-through of the person working toward the goal or task. While external factors are of significant importance, the internal factors must be present for any endeavor to succeed. This explains why burn-out is such a destructive force when it overtakes us. In a state of burn-out, there seems to be no inner self giving us the push to move; there is no desire to move; there is no hope that movement will be worthwhile; there is no interest in or enthusiasm for moving forward; instead, there is only standing still and wondering what went wrong. While you're in the throes of burn-out, it will seem as if all of your internal fuel for creating action and moving forward has disappeared forever.

Don't despair! The good news is that your feelings of burn-out will eventually dissipate, and your desire to get back to work will once again reappear, especially when you learn to respect yourself and take the time to explore the reasons behind the burn-out. Burn-out occurs when one (or more) frustration factors are present for an extended period of time. These factors may include: 1) working for too long on a single project without a break; 2) working too long or too hard without reasonable appreciation, feedback or reward; 3) attempting to do too much with too little external resources, and being unable to see a positive outcome at the end; or 4) enduring too much routine or repetitive activities in your work, causing chronic boredom.

When you've become mired in the feelings of burn-out, it can be difficult to pull yourself. The very internal resources you'll need to turn things around are the same internal resources that are already depleted and exhausted. So you'll need to pursue a strategy that gets at the heart of your burn-out -- replenishing your internal fuel! Specifically, don't try to tackle the frustrations at work. Instead, turn to activities, hobbies, personal projects, or even work tasks that you enjoy. Add fun and interest back into your life -- have dinner with friends who help you laugh; head out to the country to breath the fresh air and find peace away from hectic daily life; take a yoga class; redecorate your family room; or go to a funny movie. And, most importantly, commit to do these fun things for at least three to four weeks! Your goal is to refresh your soul, and this takes a new perspective and a bit of time. Don't be in a rush and be sure to view this time period as a gift that you're giving to yourself.

One last thought.... In many cases, you may not be able to walk away from the job situation that caused your burn-out in the first place. You need to keep your job and your income! But there are ways to provide yourself with some much-needed distance from your job. You can choose to make your work more distant in your thoughts -- make it feel less important; begin realizing that life will continue without your constant worrying; and be slightly less committed for a few weeks. Since most cases of burn-out occur in high performers anyway, ask yourself if your company can afford it if you deliver a little less value for a few weeks. Now, I'm not advocating for you to become a bad employee. But if you're valuable to your company, you should realize they would probably rather have the old, energetic you back anyway! So give them a little less for a few weeks, and you'll more than likely give them much more over the long haul.