Being everything to everyone, willingly committing to things that just don’t interest you, and sacrificing your precious time and energy will eventually be your undoing. I hate to say it, and you probably hate hearing it, but burn-out is a real thing. I should know because I have been there. Got the t-shirt baby, and now I am on a crusade to help women navigate the choppy waters before they end up bed ridden or worse yet - lose their confidence.
Every so often, I will be chatting with a coaching client, and out of the blue she will burst into tears - completely undone by the amount of pressure mounting on her. A sure sign that burn-out is close. The good news is that it is completely avoidable and reversible.
As women we have been conditioned to think that if we don’t jump on every opportunity that comes our way, then we will lose momentum and fall way behind the curve. But, that mentality only creates an ugly competitive drive. And, not the type that has you winning at life. Rather the type that has you trying to out-do your female counterparts on the climb to the top.
Newsflash ladies… there is enough work and creativity to go around. Full stop.
It is possible to create your own place in the world without turning yourself inside out. And, further to that, it’s ok to pace yourself for the long game. Because if you are living a purposeful life, then you are playing the long game my friend.
If you start to feel the pressure mounting, look for the following signs that may be an indication that you are close to burn-out and overwhelm. Super important to note - you have to be your own advocate and stay vigilant so you don’t crash and burn.
1) Impossible expectations. If you find yourself never being able to meet the high standards you set for yourself or that others set for you, it’s time to re-evaluate your level of expectation. As a coach, I would be the first to tell you to set the bar high, but if you find that you are never happy with your success, it’s possible you are being too hard on yourself.
2) Saying ‘Yes’ with no boundaries. It’s easy to want to please others by saying yes to every opportunity that presents itself. Especially when you are looking to climb the corporate ladder and have a boss who is eager to offload work onto you. But, this can also happen if you work from home. The life of an entrepreneur is not an easy one - go easy on yourself. Create some accountability around your work hours and energy management.
3) Excessive pressure to succeed. Although the feeling of success is amazing, it can be addictive, and send you down the wrong path. Fight the urge to be successful at everything you do. In fact it can be healthy to try things that you know might fail, just so you can test the waters of creativity.
4) Perfectionism. This is my favourite because I am a self proclaimed perfectionist in recovery. The idea that we can do everything perfect just doesn't exist. Let go of perfection and embrace excellence.
5) The need to control. I know you're a brilliant woman, but you don’t have to have the answer to every problem, or be the solution to everyone’s predicament. Let one of those balls drop, it’s likely the world won’t fall off its axis.
If you feel like you are bordering on burn-out, it’s time to reach out and get the accountability you need to avoid a crash. Your first step will be to admit to yourself that you can’t do it alone, and then ask for the help you need from a mentor, coach or counsellor.
Step two, put some healthy boundaries in place. You'll be amazed at how everything will change once you have set some parameters around what you are willing to commit to.
If you are unsure at how to proceed, I'd be happy to help. Let's set up a time to chat so you can get the clarity you need. Click on the button below to schedule a FREE 30 minute STRATEGY SESSION. Let’s determine how you can take some steps forward.
