Burnout Surge: The Side Effect of Long-term Burnout
Overwhelm is a feeling that I know all too well.
It was my oldest addiction. Because of that, sometimes I can still feel it’s tremors. Sometimes it still tries to sneak back into my life and take a hold of everything - especially my peace.
What I have learned about overwhelm is that it builds over time. It tells us that we just need more hours in the day. That we don’t have enough time to do it all. That we aren’t enough. That we are alone. That we need to be cloned. As overwhelm builds and we continue to hustle and do everything and work extra long hours, and then we get sick or our kiddos get sick. Then, it slams us.
Burnout surge
It hits us hard, like when you get slammed by a big wave surfing. You get hit and then, BAM, the wave sucks you under the water and rolls you a few times for good measure. Sometimes a second wave hits us shortly after and the tumble continues. Burnout surge in our businesses is when we get sick, we can no longer make decisions, and nothing even feels good anymore. We feel numb. We've pushed too hard, for too long, and it hits us HARD.
So what can you do?
Step #1 Get Grounded and Feel Alive Again
First, you need to put on your oxygen mask. You need to nourish yourself, your being and get re-grounded. You have to push pause on all of the deadlines. You need to do what makes you feel most alive. For me, that means I need to move my body and workout. I need to be outside with my dog, in nature. I need to listen to a podcast or my favorite songs. Sometimes I need more self-care and I need to take a bath and go get a massage. Meditate. Journal. Do an energy shower. Or be with friends without an agenda.
Scaling your business cannot happen when you feel this way. Hiring support cannot happen either because you are shut down and merely surviving. But shortly after you excessively re-ground yourself, that is when you can purge and declutter your old ways and start fresh.
Step #2 Set a Boundary
Like I said, overwhelm was my old addiction. Now, I have tools that I implement. After I get grounded, I set a boundary. I say to myself, “I won’t tolerate this anymore in my life. I am loved. I have support. I have peace and joy.” I encourage you to do the same and set a boundary for yourself. I write mine on a notecard and keep it near me.
Step #3 Take Action
Stop the hustle. Re-align. Ask for help. Delegate. Brain dump. Delegate. Brain dump again. Visualize completion. Step into that feeling. Be intentional in doing what you need and what you crave.
Hire help. Hire accountability. If you don’t know how to delegate, hire support to hold your hand to learn this skill and apply it habitually. You are not meant to do it all. Drop that belief before you are in a crisis situation that causes you to sell your business or end up in the hospital.
This is crucial to sustaining growth in your business. You don't have to do everything and be everywhere to successfully scale your business- HIRE HELP. You will make more money and sleep better if you do, and you will avoid burnout and overwhelm.
Step #4 Recovery
Lean into love. Rest. Swallow a dose of patience. Fight for joy. And most of all, manage these fabricated stories in your head. There is no actual evidence that they are true. All of your excuses are lame - I promise - so don't even let those thoughts enter your head.
Get help with your burnout surge.
Dot Rock Consulting is here to help you bring your business back into balance so that you can once again love what you do. If you are suffering from a burnout surge, let’s talk. Book your free consultation here and I’ll show you how close you actually are to feeling good in your business.
