What are the best ways to use positive psychology to overcome burnout?

I have used the values clarification exercise for myself and with clients (the one from the VIA Institute on Character) to discover what matters most. Then, I've set goals and taken actions that are consistent with my values. As positive psychology pioneer Martin Seligman explains, "When what we do fits with who we intrinsically are, we feel alive, engaged, authentic, and energized." Aligning your daily activities and choices more closely with your deepest values can help overcome exhaustion and disillusionment. Regular reflection and checking in with your values compass can help guide you toward renewed engagement and meaning.

So many of us are living in a way that doesn't really align with our core values because we don't really know what they are. Often the values we are living to are values that were given to us, rather than being truly ours. When you know what you really value, what your core values are, then you can build a life that reflects those values. This makes it easier to make decisions about what you do with your time and energy, what work you do, who you spend time with, and makes it easier to say no to things that aren't in alignment. Being able to say no to things that aren't right for you is a fantastic step towards a life that supports your wellbeing rather than burning you out.

Gratitude only works when you feel the impact of your words in your being-body and mind. Yes gratitude is the most powerful practice we should cultivate daily. Just not words but feeling the power of what you meant as you write them down. Feeling is the secret to attract more of what you are grateful for.

Flow is going with the energy that moves you to the next level of satisfaction and fulfillment. Be honest with your guts feeling. If what you are doing is contributing to higher level of stress and minimal satisfaction. Choose again and again and again until you find what matters to you. Mental health is real. You don’t have to be part of the statistics.

Flow can occur in any domain, such as work, hobbies, sports, or learning. As Csikszentmihalyi describes in Flow, "People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy." Once you achieve flow, you feel rewarded, intrinsically motivated, and want to repeat the experience - helping lift you from burnout and re-engage with meaningful activities. Csikszentmihalyi also notes that "The best moments usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile." Flow provides meaningful experiences and joyful effort, which is precisely what a burnt-out person needs.

I use this all the time. Everything to me has a positive and negative outcome; it's just how our mindset sees it. Focus on the positives. If I have some difficult tasks or jobs then I focus on something positive happening after these tasks. With this, I can overcome most things (I don't want to create hubris!)

Every experience is positive and lesson learned. Once oneself able to accept that, time and energy will be used more wisely and efficiently. Ask why I need to work hard? To satisfy who? My ego or to get recognition from others. Travel along the journey of what makes me happy, satisfied and motivated, you are heading onto an enjoyable and fun adventure. There is no burnouts but pure experiences that you allowed yourself to explore and investigate with curiosity.

Penn State and Yale do a great course, each of these areas free on Coursera. Some great case studies in both courses. Positive psychology changed how I looked at problems and even life!