What do you do if your motivation and enthusiasm as a public speaker are waning due to burnout?

Being a professional speaker can be a lonely business at times. There is the travel, the solo stays in hotels and behind-the-scenes preparation. Having a strong, supportive network of people who understand you is important. If you are no longer enjoying what you do and are not engaged in the topics you are speaking about, your audience will notice. Authenticity is key. Taking time out to work on your self-care is the first step, and working with a coach and therapist to determine the way forward. Maybe a change in direction, revisit values, or consider new or different offerings.

1. Self-Reflection: Identify triggers causing burnout. 2. Prioritize Self-Care: Rest, exercise, and hobbies. 3. Set Boundaries: Define limits for work and personal time. 4. Seek Support: Talk to mentors or peers for advice. 5. Reconnect with Purpose: Revisit your passion and mission. 6.Adjust Goals: Break tasks into manageable chunks. 7. Learn and Grow: Attend workshops or seek professional help. 8. Take Breaks: Schedule time off to recharge. 9. Rediscover Joy: Explore new topics or presentation styles. 10. Stay Balanced: Maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Burnout is serious business and should not be taken lightly. If you‘re feeling these symptoms seek help! Even if public speaking comes naturally to you, remember that you will only be effective and move your audience if you’re all-in. And, for that, you have to be at your best!

Recognizing burnout often involves paying attention to both physical and emotional signs. Physically, you might experience fatigue, headaches, or changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Emotionally, you might feel detached, cynical, or irritable, and you may lose interest in activities you once enjoyed. To prevent burnout, it's crucial to prioritize self-care. This means setting boundaries, both at work and in personal life, to ensure you have time for relaxation and activities that recharge you. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep are also vital. Additionally, finding ways to manage stress, such as through mindfulness practices or hobbies, can help build resilience.

I love this part! I will fast my sleep for like 7 days for 1-3 hrs each day for a midnight worship, praise and dance to Elohim. During this time...I drown every noise, within and outside and after this joyful serenade of The POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, my strength will be renewed. Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.""

Don’t get burnt out in the first place! 1. Watch your bookings and say no when it’s too much. 2. Don’t be greedy! It’s about serving your audience not making more money. If you’re tired say no more often. 3. Don’t do keynotes outside your area of expertise. Save yourself for when you can do the best job because that’s your niche. 4. Eat well, drink water, exercise and stretch daily. 5. Select a team of health care professionals to keep yourself well: chiropractors, Physios, naturopaths, acupuncturists, GP, Masseuse. etc.

For you to be successful at anything you must look after yourself. Especially when you’re giving your energy to audiences on stage. Exercise, being hydrated, taking time off to do your hobbies, hanging with friends and loved ones as well as working on your personal growth goals. All of this matters and will ensure you don’t burn out or forget to balance your speaking schedule with other meaningful things that matter to you.

As a doctor that is a public speaker, this issue is of utmost importance to me and I make sure to highlight it during presentations. Public speakers need to set boundaries in the number of speaking engagements they take to avoid burnout. It’s also important to have good sleep and rest adequately especially before an event. Partaking in hobbies also helps as well as eating a healthy diet. Take care of your mental health as a public speaker and remember that self-care helps in delivering excellent presentations as you look and feel good.

As speakers we often want to make as many engagements as possible and, in between, we are doing business development. A great way to focus on self care is to schedule time to eat, sleep, exercise and/or meditate as vigilantly as you do your business. Make it a habit to put this time in your calendar and follow it religiously.

Sit in on some similar presentations to see what others are doing and get re-energized if you know you can do it better and concentrate on those facts to liven up your presentation. AND tell your face that you are having fun

Reviewing and revising what the public speaking journey is for you, can rejuvenate your motivation and allow you to ensure that you are staying abreast of current thought leadership, topics and different angles to a problem or idea you are working through. It may be a revision of goals, or simply a review of how you are approaching the impact you are making, but the action alone of finding new ideas, and techniques will only enhance your craft.

I would try to schedule less and/or schedule further into the year to give myself time to reflect. Everyone needs that one mental health day in their lives.

It's easy to get the "rock band dilemma". How do you enthusiastically play the same song over and over for hundreds of audiences and keep the same passion from the first to the last. One possible answer is to evolve your talk. Add bits and pieces here and there and replace parts that don't enthuse you anymore. If you're doing 10 engagements there are no rules that say the first has to be identical to the last. You audience wants to be moved and excited, so it's important you evolve to be able to stay that way yourself.

Consider, retreating or a retreat that inspires you, or challenges you from your core, there are many ways to retreat and read articles and books you have had good intentions to read or write, write more about yourself and your private struggles and see the areas that need attention, mental hygiene is critical in creating a spark from within, I call it (Inner Gardening) it’s like any garden, get at the weeds of your life before the weeds of your life consume your vital energy.

Create a counsel of 5. Pick 5 people that understand the challenges of speaking and reach out when you need them. I heard some time ago that we are the sum total of the 5 people we seek counsel from and it's very true. Who's in your 5?

Speak out. It's ok to feel enough but you need the help of othhers to get you through your down time. It might not seem like it will have an effect but trust the process and SPEAK OUT. TELL SOMEONE BEFORE IT EATS YOU UP

your team should be your first basis for support. They have seen you present. They know when you are good, or when you are bad. Get some that will be honest with you and help when you need it.

Often, we feel isolated during tough times in life, leading us to believe we are alone. However, the truth is that many share these challenging experiences. Reaching out and drawing support from our close-knit community can lessen the burden. Sharing our struggles with a trusted community not only provides relief but also fosters a culture of openness and the creation of safe spaces for those experiencing burnout to receive necessary support. If needed, seeking professional help is advisable. It's also important to take time to pause, reflect on your current responsibilities, and prioritize your well-being. Remember, feeling overwhelmed doesn't mean you're lazy; it may be a sign of burnout.

Diversifying content combats burnout. Shift from repetitive topics to exciting new ones. Try interactive methods like post-it notes instead of PowerPoints or breakout rooms instead of online voting. Challenging and changing your established routines sparks passion and ignites fresh energy. It also helps you gain new valuable insights while revitalising your presentation style.

Look for references outside of the field you are speaking about. Those additions can keep you audience involved and by doing so can keep you energized.

Apart from content, the structure of speaking engagements can be diversified - exchanging long talks with Q&As or panel discussions for some time can be helpful

This is a two step process: 1.) Take regular breaks 2.) When on them, unplug completely...and, yes, that means turning off your phone. Life, the universe, and everything will survive without you and you will rejuvenate without them.

Anything and everything you do in excess, even if you love doing it, becomes either mundane or loses its charm. So sit back, take a break only to keep the love alive for your profession. Get inspired again, get that zeal again after your cleansing break.

Taking scheduled breaks, especially my two month-long sabbaticals in July and December, is crucial for my wellbeing and effectiveness as a public speaker. During these periods, I completely unplug to vacation, spend quality time with family, and enjoy a schedule-free life. This freedom allows me to listen to my body's needs, which replenishes my spirit and reinvigorates my creativity. When I return to the world of public speaking, I feel on fire—refreshed, motivated, and ready to make a meaningful impact. This practice has been a game-changer for sustaining my passion and performance.

There was a time when I was overwhelmed by a task that seemed incredibly complex from every angle. In a frenzy, I reached out to a friend who calmly helped me realize that I had been toiling away at the same thing for hours without pausing for a break. The reminder was to take it 10-minutes at a time, leave alone a day at a time. You can't make a significant impact running on empty. Plan deliberate breaks to rest and rejuvenate. And why not treat yourself to that long-delayed massage or facial? It will do wonders for you.??

As a keynote speaker and retired FBI Special Agent , I find immense fulfillment in what I call the 'flow zone,' where public speaking becomes effortlessly engaging. My life's mission is to empower individuals and organizations to avoid becoming cybercrime victim through my CyberSecure Mindset tecahings. This passion is ingrained in my DNA and propels me every day. Despite the challenges—sleeping on airport floors, enduring long Uber rides, and returning home from grueling redeye flights exhausted—I would embrace it all again in a heartbeat. The joy of getting paid to do what I love is unparalleled. Reflecting on this, I pose a question to you: Do you truly love what you speak about? Let your passion be your guide.

Some burnout happens when a free talk you're passionate about becomes a paid event and necessary to pay the mortgage. Fun time on stage becomes a relentless pursuit of the next gig. Excitement to talk turns into anxiety about where your next check is coming from. If you've gone from happy to stressed and excited to burned out, it may be time for a change. Evaluate what made you really happy about speaking. Is it the topic? The money? The people? Would you be just as happy doing it part time or free? People come to see your talks because of your passion so make sure you know where yours comes from.

My background as an actor is invaluable to me in my role as a speaker. Creating a character, getting into his skin, and living each performance as if it is the first time that event has ever happened keep things fresh. Connect with your audience. Know that it's the first time they have heard what you offer. It's not that it's the hundredth or thousandth time YOU'VE said it, but that it's the FIRST time you've said it to these people. Adjust accordingly.

After recognizing that you are on the verge of burnout, self-care is critical. An important thing to do however is to revisit your purpose. Explore a process of enquiry into your purpose, motivation, drive and enthusiasm to get to the root cause. What led you into public speaking? What was the driving force then? What changes did you make in people's life by sharing your story and your solution? How did it make you feel? What do you need to do to bring back that feeling of exhilaration that you once had? Has your purpose shifted? Is there a more compelling goal that you now wish to pursue? This process of enquiry will help you to align your purpose with a possible new direction that may once again enliven you.