Sandra Patel-Stewart
15th December 2022
Overwhelming is a chronic, prevalent problem — and, over time, it becomes unsustainable. We become tired … exhausted … burned out. Is burnout avoidable? The answer is a resounding yes!
When you’re in burnout mode, you lose that perspective and do whatever it takes to power through your days. Exhausted, you rob yourself of the opportunity to relax, recharge and rejuvenate, and the downward spiral continues. Fantasising about leaving your job — shutting down your business- especially one that you used to find fulfilling — or losing interest in activities you used to enjoy could be other signs that you’re overwhelmed and on the fast track to burnout. Don’t ignore or underestimate them!
I know full well; I have experienced it before. I was burnt out so severely that it caused me to have a severe breakdown, and I took a break from my role at Transition Partners as CEO and had three months off. It did me good, but why did I get to that stage?
As a leader, we are committed, achievement-oriented and hard workers; it simply did not occur to me that my internal enthusiasm, mood swings or lack of energy and motivation was being I was experiencing burnout.
Taking those three months out of business was the best thing I have ever done in my career. I came back feeling re-energised and motivated, with a clear mindset and vision of who the leader I wanted to be and how I wanted others to perceive me.
That time off did not make me weak, vulnerable or incapable of being a leader; it made me strong and empowered me to be the better version of myself for my career and my teams.
So what have I learned after recovering from burnout?
Take time for your own self-care
I recently visited the spa on my own for the weekend; it was pretty daunting. I was very nervous as this was my first solo trip. But I enjoyed the time to myself. Although I didn’t turn my phone off, which I initially wanted to do, I had some real positive conversations with close friends and family, which I wouldn’t normally do at home. When you have time, you can articulate what you want to say better. However, I put my laptop down and enjoyed some delicious food, freeing my mind from work and tucking into some outstanding leadership and positivity books.
Get an external mentor.
This one I have found incredibly empowering. Leadership is about continuous development, I may be the CEO of a company, but I still want to learn and grow; the world is constantly evolving, and as leaders, we need to adapt. My external mentor is also very empowering; I go through stages of experiencing imposter syndrome; we all need reassurance, even leaders, right?
Have an outstanding work-life balance and know when to log off!
Not only am I a CEO… I am also a mother, a daughter, a sister, an auntie and a friend. Life can get very hectic. We must find the willpower to say, ‘right, it’s time to log off now’, or ‘I am leaving the office at this time today’ because if not, we will consistently overwork ourselves and start to feel tired and overwhelmed and that’s when we begin to stress. Regularly exercising, spending quality time with my son and enjoying lovely long walks help me with taking breaks from work.
Recognising the causes of burnout, unlearning bad habits and recommitting to a more balanced life may take a little effort, but it is well worth it in the long run. Trust me; I have been there!