The Courage to rest- Why slowing down can be the bravest decision you make.

Having worked in the tech industry as well as some highly productive organizations. I cannot tell you the number of leaders that I have worked with that are just EXHAUSTED! They came to the organization because it was so fun and fast paced. They wanted to invent and be able to push the boundaries on whatever space their organization was in. They wanted to do things that others had never done… to pioneer. The problem is that we get so engaged in the work that we are doing that rarely is burn out noticed before we are in a place we’re working extremely long hours, taking on significant workloads, and putting a ton of pressure on ourselves. When we get into this place in our work, we are not doing any of the things we came to the organization for. Likely, we are not even being the person that we want to be. There is significant evidence in the world of Neuroscience that supports this inability to be in this state of frenzy, urgency, and demand while still being able to think strategically and effectively.  

Therefore, what is burn out and how do you recognize it.  

Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to the following:

• physical exhaustion

• emotional expression-cynicism and detachment

• Belief about one’s self- feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment

Signs of physical exhaustion: Chronic fatigue, Insomnia, Forgetfulness/impaired concentration, Physical symptoms such as (chest pain, heart palpitations, hives, strokes, migraines, dizziness, fainting, and adrenal fatigue (all of which should be medically assessed)), Increased illness, Loss/gain weight, Anxiety, Depression, and Anger. 

Emotional expressions:  Emotionally, leaders may express a short tolerance for others, lack of emotional intelligence, and chronic cynicism (or extreme evaluation of others).

Belief about one’s self: Their belief about themselves is also very critical. They often times will report feeling ineffective and report a lack of accomplishment, even if they have accomplished a lot! They cannot feel the celebration because they are too addicted to the chase.

So why is the Courage to rest the bravest decision you make! Because when you do, you be more of who you are physically, emotionally, and cognitively. You have the opportunity to show up and contribute to the world the innovative, exciting, and deep contributions you were made to give.

With that said, if you are experiencing some of these symptoms, this should be a wake-up call that you may be on a dangerous path. Take some time to honestly assess the amount of stress in your life and find ways to reduce it before it is too late. Burnout is not like the flu; it does not go away after a few weeks unless you make some changes in your life. #leaders #productivity #burnout