Overwhelmed by the Storms of Uncertainty? Get Rest & Skip the Worry-induced Burnout

It’s hard right now to find calm from the economic, geopolitical storms of the moment. The sky is dark and waters are choppy for nearly every business. Here’s the recent conclusions I arrived at with a client recently for finding peace in the storm of uncertainty.

Kay and I recently met for the fourth time. She found herself reaching out for coaching initially after emerging from a very difficult season of work consisting of drama, workplace politics, and the depletion of energy of her entire division. It was the result of a poor leadership decision there was no turning back from, only a grin-and-bear-it trudging forward through the muck, mire and mess. She’s on the other side now and we’ve declared this upcoming season will be one defined by much needed rest. She’s calling it her season of rejuvenation.

BUT, we’re just a month into her season of rejuvenation and we’re noticing together how hard it is to embrace rest in the midst of uncertainty in the economy and global affairs. And her company, like many, isn’t thriving in this season while the news only communicates there will be continued scarcity, fear and desperation.

It was difficult and felt selfish, but we arrived at the acknowledgement today that these problems are not her burden to carry, and she simply can’t afford to carry these burdens while avoiding burnout. Her burnout would result in lower productivity and possibly in her eventual departure from the company altogether, which would cost the company far more than maintaining a rest-aligned pace of work focused just on what’s within her job description and influence.?

MAYBE YOU CAN RELATE?

Your company is like a ship. ...Though you’re sympathetic to the captain (CEO) and engine room mechanics (sales team), your responsibility is not to steer the ship to safe waters or to keep the ship fueled and moving. And worst case scenario, this ship isn’t the only ship in the sea and the sea is not shark infested. When you’ve sacrificed much to get to a job and to make a contribution while building relationships and a reputation, it can be hard to separate your value, worth and future from that specific job, but the reality is that though loyalty is admirable, some separation and independent thinking is healthy.

HERE'S WHAT KAY IS DOING:

So, Kay and I faced the facts together. She has a life raft (savings account and professional network) and a plan to continue investing in that raft. It’s unlikely she’ll need that raft but making sure it’s ready if needed is largely what’s in her control. And so, beyond that, she has a job to continue focusing her attention on. Regardless of whether she continues her career on this ship or will need to find another, the reality is that she still needs to figure out how to rest during this season. If she doesn’t, what’s more certain is she'll be less effective in her current role and have less capacity and confidence to find another. And most importantly, she has two young children and a marriage at home. As she responds the potential threats to her career, the resulting narrowed focus creates a threat of it's own to the well-being of her family.

So, together we’ve crafted a plan for rest including a list of ways to continue ensuring she gets the best season of rejuvenation possible, and I’ll continue championing that as her coach. The fear is real, but she accepts her limits, owns what is truly her responsibility and will continue focusing on prioritizing her rest - for her good, the good of her family, and the good of the company.

HERE'S HOW THAT MIGHT TRANSLATE IN CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOU:

1. Accept your limits. You can fight against them but sooner or later they will win.
2. Own and focus on what is your responsibility. Any extra worry is a waste of time.
3. Trust others to do their jobs (whether that be your colleagues or elected officials).
4. Trust yourself. Don't forget the talent and hard work that got you where you are.
5. Plan for what's in your control and sphere of influence. Direct all worrisome thoughts to effort towards this plan.
6. Prioritize your rest. You may need it for what's coming next more than ever.
7. Remember your work is only one part of life. Continue to savor and attend to what's most important. Your family needs your attention, not your success or mere provision.
8. Count your blessings. No matter how dark the storm clouds appear, the sun is always on the other side.

If this has been helpful, please subscribe to stay tuned in for future articles designed to equip you to make the shift towards seizing the day at both work and home living life to the fullest. And fill out the Make the Shift Declaration today if you’re ready to make a change. -- Please note any client details shared have been altered to maintain confidentiality.