I want to get out before I burn out – and choose a much better career
Once you’ve had this thought there’s no going back.
You’ve probably already tasted the toxic drain and overwhelm that precedes burn out.
Perhaps you’ve seen others in your profession take time off sick, no longer able to keep up with the constant demands on time that won’t stretch any further, the never ending tasks, and the shrinking resources.
When you look around and finally admit:
· too much is being asked of you (sometimes by yourself)
· too many of your organization’s goals no longer chime with your values and purpose
· values you really care about are being regularly compromised
· people you love are suffering
· you feel defeated, trapped, helpless
· you don’t recognize who you are anymore and hate this cynical attitude that’s growing by the day
· you’re procrastinating more and more
· your energy is seeping away
· you’re working ridiculous hours but still feel it isn’t enough
If you recognize and are experiencing some or all of these symptoms, it really is time to press pause and ask: what choices do I have to avoid burnout?
In 2007, Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, collapsed in her office from exhaustion and lack of sleep. Despite having been voted one of the world’s 100 most influential people, she found herself working 18 hours a day, seven days a week to build her company and attract investors.
Her collapse saved her.
By all traditional measures of success – fame and money, influence and power – she had made it. But this wake up call helped her redefine her measures of success and transform how she lives and works. Instead of climbing a ladder to ‘success’ that we may never have stopped to define, she urges us all to invest time and thought into defining our personal measures success.
In ‘Thrive’ she concludes:
‘we cannot thrive and lead the lives we want (as opposed to the lives we’ve settled for) without learning to go inward.’
Press Pause and redesign your life
While you’re pausing, an easy place to start is to use my free guide to get clearer on what success really looks like to YOU.*
If you are edging towards burnout and collapse and can see that possibility ready to sweep you away, please stop. Make space to turn inward and uncover:
· what you need to thrive in your life and your work
· what success looks like for you
· what matters most to you
· who you need with you to bring out your best
· what makes work meaningful for you
It could be the best pause you ever make.
With this intelligence, you’ll have the clarity and belief to rebuild your life on your own terms. You’ll be working towards your own version of success, doing work you love and that makes a rewarding impact, expressing your deepest values in how you design your work life.
You’ll be designing a life in which you can truly thrive. As Arianna Huffington discovered:
‘life is shaped from the inside out.’
Choose a better work life
I read ‘Thrive’ by Arianna Huffington at the beginning of my journey to create a better work life for myself. It chimed like Big Ben and I couldn’t put it down!
Gradually I was able to admit to myself that my previous way of working wasn’t doing me any favours at all. At that time, I felt rumbling resentment and anger every single day. With an ongoing restructuring exercise at work, I found my role no longer made sense. It was impossible to meet new targets in a way that I was comfortable with. Important values were in conflict with the new culture – quantity was being privileged over quality and I was deeply unhappy with that change.
Having read Arianna’s story, I knew I had to do something to stop myself disintegrating in the stress of such internal conflict. As a career guidance practitioner I had the tools at my disposal to dig into what my measures of success looked like, and what changes I might need to make.
I systematically uncovered:
· my values
· my purpose
· my strengths
· my motivations
· my ideal work day
· my ideal life
When I looked at the most crucial criteria from this data I was able to build my own compass and set sail. I was filled with energy and excitement. I could see who would benefit from the work I had identified and knew this was what I needed to do. Two years later, I launched Freestyle Careers and it has honestly been one of the best decisions I have every made. What’s more, the career change programme I now offer clients is based firmly on my own experience - it works!
Was it plain sailing? No, not always, because there are many factors outside of our control, and because we are human beings and have ups and downs. Three difficulties I faced were:
.. it was tough during Covid, especially living and working alone
.. it was challenging to build a business that served both my clients and myself
.. it was sometimes tough to believe I would attract enough of the right clients
But five years later I can see why this is a brilliant place to be. I get to work with the most amazing people who are ready to make changes for the better. I’m fortunate enough to see them grow in self-belief, come back to thriving life, and go out and get the role they really want for this stage of their lives.
I’m thriving – and so are they!
If you’re ready to set your new course, get in touch. Together, we can uncover what your first steps could be.
If you want to get started on getting your own measures of success into focus:
Your Success Criteria guide - get in touch
Values Discovery - uncover what you value most and start designing a life that aligns with them
Interview Preparation - grow clarity, confidence and prepare your authentic and compelling answers