What do you do if your stress levels are skyrocketing and burnout is looming?

Noticing the signs of stress and overwhelm is essential in mitigating burnout. But it's not enough to recognize them, we need to NOT brush them off, NOT excuse them away and NOT make ourselves wrong for experiencing burnout. Burnout can have serious emotional and physical repercussions if not taken seriously and addressed in a proactive fashion.

Agreed. We view boundaries as walls instead of guidelines or limits of what we're willing to accept. Think of boundaries in terms of expectations: If we hold and communicate these expectations to others, we give them the opportunity to both meet our needs and adhere to our limits. Boundaries are essential for healthy relationships, both in and out of the work place. They're also essential for feelings of groundedness and balance.

Stress and burn out sucks, that is why I use a mantra "Me first" To me, this can be applied when you are stressed or feeling burnt out. Before you respond to texts when you wake up...try reading for 10 minutes. Before you check social media...hit the gym or go for a walk. Before you check emails...write, meditate, etc. **Put yourself first to focus on your mental and physical well-being before anything else** Get yourself in a good headspace to start the day to better manage stressful situations forthcoming and potential burn out day

Self care is not a luxury, but an essential part of life that can vastly improve the quality of your work. Taking the time to look after yourself will lead to greater levels of motivation and creativity, allowing you to produce higher quality results. Additionally, when you make self care a priority in your life, you are more likely to maintain a healthy work-life balance which can help stave off burnout. When you prioritize self care, it pays off for both you and your team by helping you stay physically and mentally sharp so you can continue providing expert care.

- Identify 1-3 non-negotiables in your self-care practice e.g. a 20-min workout, 8 hours sleep, gratitude practice. - Start small. Find a routine and rhythm that suit you. - Seek help from a coach, or find an accountability partner you can trust to support you on this journey.

Self-care does more than mitigate or cope with stress. It actually builds resilience (and fights off burnout) when engaged in on a consistent basis. Everyone should have a toolbox of self-care strategies that are routinely and systematically employed to buffer stress and create balance. YOUR strategies are unique to you. What works for someone else, might not be useful to you. Focus on those elements that shift your mindset or induce optimism. Effective self-care measures will change how you process information, ensuring clarity, positivity and innovative thinking.

Time blocking is a way to manage your time where you schedule (or block off) every part of your day. To be effective, it has to be every part. Now, at first glance, you may feel this can be overwhelming as you can't possibly know every aspect of your day. It is relatively straightforward but, when done consistently, will unlock a world of time you can reclaim so you can focus our your most goals and vision. "A 40 hour time-blocked work week I estimate, produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure." -Cal Newport

For individuals who have recovered from burnout, reflect on "what is the gift from this challenge?" E.g. You've probably learnt that you need to connect with a trusted friend weekly, or that you need to eat 3x healthy meals. Write a list of 1-3 non-negotiables, something that you can come back to should you feel your stress levels skyrocketing.

A daily ritual of practicing stress-management is necessary for the high-performing executive. Stress-management could include: ? Meditation ? Breathing exercises ? Journaling ? Prayer/Gratitude ? Mindset Work ? Or a combo Carving out even just 15 minutes daily will make a difference. In addition to stress-management, working out, eating whole foods, getting 7-8 hours of sleep, and keeping yourself well hydrated will keep your body in tune to perform at your best to manage stress and avoid burnout.

- Take a step back and reflect on what is causing you stress. - Identify what is within your control and what is outside your control. - Breathe. - Prioritise one thing to focus on. - Prioritise one thing to let go of.

To combat skyrocketing stress and impending burnout, prioritize self-care by identifying activities that rejuvenate your mind and body, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies. Establish boundaries between work and personal life, ensuring you have dedicated downtime. Additionally, consider seeking support from a therapist, coach, or support group to develop coping strategies and make necessary changes to your lifestyle or work environment, emphasizing the importance of mental health and well-being.