Hey, beautiful introvert friend! Heidi here, and though I’m on summer break, I couldn’t hold back from sharing these powerful steps to overcome burnout. If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or trapped in your work, this one’s for you. 

I share three actionable steps with you to help you see a path through burnout. Just being aware of these steps can help you feel more at peace with where you’re at. Use theses to guide you on your unique journey to get over burnout.

{ If you’d prefer to listen to this instead, you can find the podcast episode here. }

Step 1: Recognize and Reframe Burnout

• Recognize Burnout: Acknowledge the signs of burnout, such as exhaustion, bitterness, and physical discomfort. Move from frustration into compassion and curiosity. It’s so much easier to find solutions when you’re curious! 
• Reframe Burnout: as an opportunity for growth. I truly believe it’s an invitation for you to create work that you love. Although, it feels terrible when you’re in the midst of it, what you learn as you overcome burnout will take you closer to being the person that has a life you love.
  
  

Step 2: Uncover the Root Causes

• Engage in Self-Reflection: Dive deep into your habits, thought patterns, and energy levels to uncover what led to burnout. Identify any people-pleasing or perfectionist tendencies that contribute to overworking.
  
  Separate out the external pressures and expectations from your internal mindset, habits and behaviors. The more you can see what you have control over, then more you can change your situation internally before ever changing jobs.
• Define Your Version of Success: Have you been living someone else’s definition of success? As an introvert, you might not care so much about power, money and status but, instead, desire peace and deep connection.
  
  Get clear on what success means to you. Take into account your values, energy and dreams, even if they’re unconventional.
  
  To help you create a get clear on your version of success and make a plan to create it, you can download my free Wildly Successful at Work Guide or purchase the workshop.

• Identify external stressors: Introverts, projectors, many neurodivergent folx and other unconventionals don’t fit well into traditional 9-5 work or the cultures they contain. With curiosity (instead of bitterness and AFTER you’ve identified your internal role), identify what is depleting in your work space. Is it the number of hours? The high expectations? The extroverted culture?
  
  When you know what’s not working, you can then make requests to change your current job conditions or find different kinds of work to that fit you better. 

Step 3: Take Empowered Action

• Prioritize Self-Care and Rest: Give yourself permission to rest and recharge, especially if you’re exhausted. This might mean taking a big break like a vacation or staycation to do an initial recharge of your battery.
  
  Then, you need to restructure your energy and activity so that you avoid further depletion. Take breaks, engage in activities you enjoy, and consider alternative therapies for rejuvenation (acupuncture, Ayurvedic body therapies, herbs). 
• Experiment with Positive Changes: You’re going to need to change some things about your life, which can take some effort to figure out. Implement changes gradually, such as setting boundaries, communicating your needs at work, and integrating self-care routines into your daily life.
• Seek Support and Coaching: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and family. Consider seeking professional coaching to challenge limiting beliefs, help you develop new strategies and to accelerate your growth so that you move through burnout with greater speed and ease.

Remember, this journey is about rediscovering yourself and designing a work life that aligns with your energy and authentic self. Embrace these steps, and you’ll be on the path to a fulfilling and vibrant work life!

Get the Wildly Successful at Work free guide here.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio.