The one skill that saved me from burnout

A few months ago I was on the verge of burn-out.

I had a lot going on.

• Family life to care for

• An emotionnaly-heavy coaching program

• Two years of therapy and personal work on myself to integrate

• A professional program to run with one colleague missing in a team of two

It was too much.

What saved me? Self-awareness🗣️

Fortunately, years of work on myself helped me heed the signs in my body.

I shared how I felt.

Better: I was surrounded by professionals and friends—an executive coach, an experienced managing director, and good colleagues.

They heard me.
They saw the signs.

And I took action. I slowed down. I had to anyway.

This is probably the most important skill you need in your professional life (and personal!).

Setting up your own boundaries🫸

Life. Work. People. They keep pulling on you. All the time.

• Manager wanting you to yet another conference

• Colleagues walking over your responsibilities

• Friend asking for money again

• Kids asking one more story

This is life.

It will always happen.

Here’s how to do it:

1️⃣ First, listen to your body

How do you feel?
What’s happening?
How does it feel inside?

Put words on it. Write. Speak.

2️⃣ Second, share what you feel

Once you know what’s actually happening, share it!

To your boss. To your colleagues. To your wife. To your kids

3️⃣ Last, set your limit

Most importantly, what do you need?

Do you need more space?
Do you need more time?
Do you need support?
What? How?

Share.

4️⃣Repeat 

Repeat until you are heard.
Repeat until you get it yourself.

What I needed myself was time and space.

I had to repeat it again and again to my boss and to myself. For 5 months!

I know, it’s hard!

Believe me. There’s nothing more vulnerable than sharing your own needs to your boss.

And yet,

Only when you do will colleagues stop walking over your responsibilities
Only when you do will people stop abusing your generosity
Only when you do will you stop burning out

Sometimes you’re just being your own ennemy

.You set the bar to high for yourself
.You want to do too much
.You are too driven

Maybe your defense is overworking yourself to prove yourself. Or prove others.

So stop for a minute.
Listen to your body.

Slow down.
And share your needs.

To you and to you health!
Jean

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