The end of year crunch can be when burnout symptoms really start to rear their ugly head. So… what’s the first thing you should do if you think you might be suffering from burnout? And what steps should you then take? We talk to Nikki Taylor – a Kiwi who has built a successful international career in HR, training, business strategy, sales and coaching, and was trained by some of the world’s best experts and coaches (including Tony Robbins, Dr. Richard Bandler, and Dr. John De Martini) and is also the author of Is This It: Essential Lessons to Navigating Midlife Confusion with Confidence
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Yip, it’s that time of year when the calendar starts getting busier… and busier. The demands at work start mounting up, right as everything at home also gets busier with end-of-year events. It’s no wonder that it’s this time of year that cases of burnout start ramping up.
Symptoms can show up physically, with constant fatigue, body pain and frequent sicknesses – as well as emotional symptoms like a loss of joy, cynicism, self-doubt. You may find yourself procrastinating more, having a short temper or withdrawing from people or the activities that used to bring you joy.
If you feel like you might be suffering from burnout, Nikki says the first thing to do, might not be something that would ever occur to you – but it’s to be proud of yourself.
“The first thing is to be proud of yourself for recognising that things are not quite right.”
So often we keep moving forward, ignoring what our body or mind might be subtly – or not so subtly! – trying to tell us. If you’re having those ‘I think I might have burnout’ thoughts, you’re starting to tune in and listen to your body.
“Then I suggest taking time, a couple of hours or longer, if possible, to give yourself space to work through what you are feeling,” says Nikki. “Ask yourself some simple questions: How am I really feeling? What areas of my life feel overwhelming? What has changed recently? Am I still finding joy in the things I normally enjoy? Take your time to work through these, write down the answers and pay attention to how your body reacts to them as these are key signs for you.”
Nikki would also encourage you to talk to someone you trust. “Sometimes the people closest to us notice changes in our behaviour before we do and help us to see things from different perspectives,” she says.
“Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, and recovery isn’t simply about catching up on sleep. However, sleep, rest and self-care are important pieces of the puzzle. If you suspect burnout, take it seriously. Seeking support from a health professional, coach or someone experienced in burnout can help you understand what’s happening and identify the best path forward. Often, if you’re wondering whether you’re burnt out, you’re probably further along the path than you realise.”
Nikki says she has unfortunately experienced burnout multiple times.
looking back there were clear patterns. I would say yes to everything, take on too much responsibility, stay constantly busy, and at times use work as a way to cope with difficult situations rather than processing them.
The challenge with burnout is that it often sneaks up on you. What starts as a busy period gradually becomes your normal way of operating and you can entre survival mode. Long days, constant pressure and always being the person others rely on can feel productive (or you tell yourself this), even when they’re unsustainable.
For me, the signs were physical, emotional and mental. During my most recent experience, I gained 20 kilograms in six months. I lost my ability to feel any joy, was constantly exhausted, ate my feelings, felt empty, and couldn’t remember what it felt like to genuinely enjoy life. I was functioning on auto-pilot.
I’ve also come to understand that my burnout experiences often followed significant life stresses or difficult events. Rather than slowing down, I would work harder, stay busier and ignore what needed to be addressed. I have made the mistake previously of going back to what was familiar over what I needed to improve the quality of my life.
Recovery required me to do the opposite. I stepped away, took time off and gave myself permission to pause. Doing the inner work, exercise, sleep, good nutrition, long beach walks, travel, and spending quality time with friends and family all played an important role in my recovery. I used a holistic approach and when needed went to professionals for support. Writing my book also became part of the healing process, helping me make sense of what I had experienced, what I wanted the next chapter of my life to look like and how I could help others avoid this experience.
Perhaps the biggest lesson has been recognising and interrupting my own patterns. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, and neither does recovery. The earlier we notice the warning signs, the better chance we have of changing course before we reach breaking point.
Is This It? – Essential Lessons to Navigating Midlife Confusion with Confidence by Nikki Taylor is out now.
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