Burnout Is Real!

Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out what has been wrong with me. I mean I know I battle with depression often, especially in the winter months and around the holidays. It’s usually due to the lack of funds or lack of love, but 2020 was our biggest year, and even before I knew our exact numbers, I knew that we were doing ok. I’ve finally accepted the fact that we will have another dollar coming in. I can’t always say exactly when but I know that it will happen, so I didn’t think that was it. 

Lack of love, well that’s another subject but I am accepting this long single season and slowly starting to embrace it. 

Anyway, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. 

It might sound corny, but I used to get excited about going to sleep simply because I was eager to get up the next day to work and create. I usually see every day as an opportunity to make money because as much as we hate to admit, it is what makes the world go around and without life can be hard, believe me I know. 

But for the past few months, I hadn’t gone to bed excited and woke up eager to seize the day. Honestly, I was dreading starting work, and my 4 o’clock mornings began to become 5 o’clock mornings. Sometimes they started even later than that. I just didn’t feel the passion that I used to feel when I sit at my desk and felt like I could conquer the world one bite at a time if only I were patient. 

I was dreading the thought of the next far too early and by the evening, I would usually be over work altogether. Nothing I did excite me. 

I talked with my therapist about my feelings and lack of concentration, and she was deeply concerned. On one hand, we discovered that I have ADD, so I began medication for that but I was still feeling exhausted and dreaded working.

I even tried taking time off from work to rest and see if that would change anything but I didn’t’ want to do anything with my time. I just sat around looking crazy and watching LMN.  

The word “burnout” began to come to mind often, but it was only after in the middle of a text one day, Arnya said a Toni Jones’s line, “Burnout is not an option.” She was saying it as to why she was about to hire an assistant, and in many ways, and I could totally relate because I knew had been quite relieved when I brought Christina, the managing editor on. But at that moment, I knew that burnout had to be what I was experiencing. 

I decided to do more research. I discovered that burnout is not a medical condition. It’s an employment phenomenon, a type of work-related stress along with mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. 

I had been warned of this for years, but if you know me, you know I am usually always working and always stressed over how the past few years of my life have gone. And while I am in a better place, I have become such a workaholic that I don’t have any hobbies, interests, or friends outside of work. 

I am working on these things of course, but after discovering what burnout was I already felt as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders because then I could do something about it. 

For one, I have begun journaling more consistently. Before I usually journaled about life, but with my Hustle journal, I journal about our business growth and experiences as well. I was already taking time during my workday to just sit through my depressing moments, and it helps as sad it may sound. Once I am done, I get up and resume work, take my kids to work, or do whatever my next task is for the day.

Another way I am combatting burnout is by working out. I know, I know! People always suggest fitness, but our endorphins are released when we are active and moving. They also are released when we are pained or stressed. Why not activate them for better reasons? Plus, I don’t know about you all but my 36-year-old body isn’t the same as my 25-year-old body. It requires a lot more stretching and yoga.

We also brought in our social media cousin intern to help with our workload and this week we hope to onboard and public relations intern as well to help alleviate some stress. 

But my strongest weapon to combat burnout is my mind. Now that I know what I am dealing with I am able to work through it and around it for the time being. Initially, I felt guilty because I had been warned of burnout so many times, but I continued pushing myself. 

Burnout is real, and I am sharing this story with you all today so that you can know that it is real. I also hope that you are able to avoid it. 

Below are some questions to ask yourself in case you may be experiencing similar.

• Have you become cynical or critical at work?
• Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started?
• Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers, or clients?
• Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
• Do you find it hard to concentrate?
• Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
• Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
• Are you using food, drugs, or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
• Have your sleep habits changed?
• Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, stomach or bowel problems, or other physical complaints?

While burnout isn’t a medical diagnosis, I would still suggest seeing someone if you think this is what you are experiencing, even I still have my therapist.