Avoid Burnout and Live Authentically
Dr. Jennifer Edwards
Tired? Stressed out? Burnt out? Over time, unchecked stress can lead to anxiety, depression, increased susceptibility to colds, the flu, and even COVID because you have shot your immune system. Yes, stress kills your immunity. Even low-level stress over time can lead to burnout. My clients often ask what burnout even means. Burnout is a clinical condition defined by the World Health Organization. It’s characterized by chronic stress that has not been successfully managed. It’s now part of the official international classifications of disease used by clinicians worldwide.
Women often ask about the intersection of anxiety and depression with burnout. These are three different conditions. Each can be present situationally in the short term or grow to long-term experiences. Some manifestations are based on our environment, while others are based on chemical and biological imbalances. There is support for you no matter what. Anxiety often arises when we are uncertain about the future. Depression often arises when we are dissatisfied with the past. Both conditions are related to us feeling out of control of our lives or ourselves. Long term anxiety can lead to burnout. Burnout can manifest itself as depression. They are distinct challenges requiring support, though they can be closely related. Here are some ways to avoid burnout:
1. Have an authentic belief in your capabilities.
It is so easy to get caught up in trying to prove your work. The amazing part about focusing on wellness in career advancement is that you can tap into your true confidence and just plain not engage with your toxic co-worker. You can choose to pick up the phone instead, drop a video call on their calendar that includes others in the dialogue. Think de-escalation and genuine problem-solving instead of proving your worth and skills. You know you have those, act like it, and free yourself from so many stressors that appear at work. Advance with authenticity and strength because you are strong, not because you have to fight. Monitor your stress levels consistently. Get outside while social distancing to get some fresh air. Vitamin D from the sun is proven to boost your mood.
2. Get some coaching to equip yourself.
Burnout can show up in your life as exhaustion, negativity, depletion, even a loss of confidence. Have you been there? Short-term signs of these things can be corrected early by connecting to coaching and taking the time to restore yourself. Long-term symptoms that may last 6-8 weeks or longer may require additional support or more intentional efforts to recharge. There is no shame in getting the help you need to feel your best and show up your best in your life. The stigma of mental health in our country is unfortunate and leaves many women suffering in silence.
3. Hack your approach to time management and priority setting.
Burnout is most often acknowledged in association with the workplace, but let’s be real, burnout can happen due to other aspects of our life as well. Leading your own business, trying to build a legacy, and supporting family commitments creates a complicated journey. You may have a spouse, children, or even parents that require your time, attention and care. You may be investing in stocks and real estate, or be getting a business off the ground. These multiple competing responsibilities absolutely set us up for burnout if we are not careful. I help ladies hack their lifestyle through my Wellthy Academy’s focus on creating an intentional lifestyle and carefully managing time commitments for this very reason.
4. Don’t chase someone else’s business image.
Building a business is exciting and challenging. Focusing on authentic branding is one approach to nix burnout. Then, you are not chasing your competitors or trying to be something you are not. Building a business authentically means you are running your own race and making progress each day. You are moving forward with confidence in your capabilities, skills, and products knowing there is only you to deliver the magic you’re creating. Adopting an intentional approach toward goals and activities will decrease stress. Building a business requires resilience and consistency, but does not have to be a burden when approached with the proper mindset of authenticity.
I love connecting with ladies about living well and what that means. Living well represents self-defined success in our careers, sharing our gifts through entrepreneurial endeavors, building a legacy to increase our capacity to give, or any combination of those things. We are on a journey to be our best and do our best daily. We should strive to show up as our best version of ourselves that day, not comparing ourselves to yesterday, or to our desires to become greater. Having joy and satisfaction with the present unlocks the chance to live authentically, spread healthy energy, and remain open to noticing opportunities for our future. When we are so committed to comparison to others, to striving for a long-term goal, or wishing we had things we do not yet have, we sabotage ourselves. We miss out on opportunities right in front of us that ultimately will get us closer to our vision, goals, and purpose.
Dr. Jennifer Edwards is a wellness scientist, simplicity strategist, business builder, and host of Live Well, the podcast. She created Wellthy Academy to offer instant access to online wellness and lifestyle coaching. Dr. Edwards speaks to groups nationwide about avoiding burnout, business, and motherhood topics. The Howard University grad is a lover of yoga, hiking, and her multicultural clean beauty brand, Refinne. Grab a socially distant latte with her if you’re in the Dallas area where she lives with her husband and two children. Connect with her at JennPhD.com, RefinneSkincare.com, or @DrJennEdwards on Instagram.