Burnout - A Disease, but also a Chance

This post is about a topic that is very close to my heart. Burnout. I’m pretty sure that most people these days are confronted with Burnout in their family, circle of friends or colleagues at work. Or even wondering if they are showing signs of a Burnout themselves. 

Hopefully, we as a society are on our way to demystifying this disease, which is still too often considered a taboo. Or even thought of as something that happens to people who just cannot deal with pressure. We need to act now more than ever to prevent people from burning out, and to help those that are suffering from burnout already.

So what is burnout? Burnout happens when there is a gap between personal values, talents and ideals on the one hand, and the reality at the workplace on the other hand. When this gap lingers on, it will mentally and physically drain us over time. When our body constantly spends more energy than it gets back, we literally burn out.

Those at risk of a Burnout are very often people who have a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility, and sense of purpose. Sounds like great employees to have, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, those are the people that will suffer the most from situations at work that are perceived as unfair, unrewarding, or even senseless. 

The good news is that Burnout can be avoided, by making the right choices before things get out of hand. This is of course easier said than done - people often find themselves in a deadly spiral, feeling hopeless and helpless. The right intervention, such as Coaching, can help escaping the spiral. 

Sometimes though, the intervention comes too late, and Burnout has already happened. From experience, I know that with the right support, people will recover, and oftentimes find a hidden gift at the end. A newly found passion, or an uncovered talent.

This is, after all, a comforting revelation. Burnout is tough to recover from, but it can be a chance. A chance to reconnect with our true self, a chance to build a meaningful life. 

Live your life!

Chris