The Truth About Burnout

Avery Thatcher
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  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Truth About Burnout, where high achievers find the key to unlocking peak performance without burning out. If you're a go-getter feeling the weight of stress and burnout, join us as we explore the strategies and mindset shifts that will revolutionize your approach to productivity, focus, energy, and motivation. This is not your typical stress management podcast where we talk about meditation, mindfulness and self-care. We go much deeper than that to discover all the different factors that contribute to high acheivers burning out at alarming rates with the insights you need to reclaim your work-life balance and achieve your goals without sacrificing your well-being. Tune in to discover actionable steps, expert interviews, and real-life success stories that will empower you to make a lasting impact without compromising your health. It's time to elevate your performance, enhance your focus, and supercharge your motivation, so you can not only meet but exceed your aspirations. Don't let burnout hold you back – let's embark on a journey together to achieve greatness while maintaining your mental and physical well-being. Subscribe now and unlock the secrets to sustained high performance. Your goals are within reach, and we're here to guide you every step of the way.

  1. 09/23/2024

    Shelly Starks on Reigniting Passion and Prioritizing Wellbeing

    On this episode of The Truth About Burnout podcast, we are honored to feature Shelly Starks, the CEO of Inline Consulting Services, LLC. With over 20 years of experience in both Extended DISC® coaching and business advising, Shelly has been a transformative force in communications coaching within the business community. Her expertise lies in helping businesses and individuals understand behavioral styles and team dynamics to unlock scalable growth. Shelly is deeply passionate about helping businesses realize the ROI of investing in their people, making her insights invaluable for anyone looking to foster a healthy, productive work environment. Shelly's personal journey with burnout adds a compelling layer to her professional achievements. As a high achiever from a young age, she found herself exhausted in her career by 2022, not living authentically, and facing significant health challenges, including a radical hysterectomy that led to early menopause. As a breast cancer survivor, she navigated the complex road to hormone replacement therapy, all while grappling with the mental, emotional, and physical tolls of burnout. On this episode, Shelly shares how she rediscovered her spark for life through career coaching, grounding techniques, and prioritizing self-care, offering listeners powerful strategies for overcoming burnout. [00:00 - 05:30] Introduction to Shelly Starks Introduction to Shelly Starks, CEO of Inline Consulting Services, LLC. Overview of Shelly's 20+ years of experience in Extended DISC® coaching and business advising. Discussion on the importance of understanding behavioral styles for scalable growth. [05:31 - 12:15] Shelly's High Achiever Mindset Shelly shares her journey as a high achiever since childhood. How the high achiever mindset has both served and sabotaged her over the years. Insights into the pressure and expectations that come with being a high achiever. [12:16 - 20:00] The Burnout Experience (2022) Shelly describes her exhaustion and lack of authenticity in her career leading up to 2022. The impact of her radical hysterectomy and the onset of full-blown menopause at 45. Challenges faced as a breast cancer survivor, especially in managing hormone replacement therapy. [20:01 - 28:45] Recovery Strategies Shelly's path to recovery, including working with a career coach to reignite her passion. The role of calming techniques such as grounding, meditation, and breathwork in her healing process. Importance of prioritizing "me" time and self-care at home. [28:46 - 35:00] The ROI of Investing in People How Shelly helps businesses find ROI in investing in their people through communications coaching. The tangible progress her clients achieve by focusing on team dynamics and behavioral styles. Closing thoughts on the importance of addressing burnout in the workplace.   Guest Links: Website: https://shellystarks.com/   Social Media Links: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram

  2. 09/23/2024

    Energy vs Stress Management: Balancing Non-Profit Workloads

    In the non-profit sector, where your passion and purpose drive your daily grind, the threat of burnout is a shadow that often lingers just a little bit too close. You pour your heart into your work, striving to make a meaningful impact on your corner of the world, but this relentless dedication can take a toll. As a leader, you bear the responsibility of supporting your team while grappling with your own burnout. Understanding and addressing the difference between energy management and stress management is crucial for sustainable productivity and well-being. Let’s take a moment to talk about these concepts and how they can help you find balance in your workloads and those of your team. The Heart of Burnout in Non-Profits Burnout in non-profits is often a result of your deep emotional investment in your work. You care deeply about your mission, which can make the stakes feel incredibly high. This emotional intensity, combined with limited resources and high demands, creates a perfect storm for burnout. It's not just about managing the stress of the workload; it’s about managing your energy in a way that allows you to sustain your passion without depleting your reserves. Understanding Stress Management Stress management is often the first thing that comes to mind when you think about coping with burnout. It involves techniques and strategies to reduce the physical and emotional strain that stress causes. This can include mindfulness practices, exercise, adequate sleep, and time management strategies. While these are essential, they often address the symptoms rather than the root cause of burnout. The Role of Energy Management Energy management, on the other hand, focuses on maintaining and optimizing your physical, emotional, mental, and fulfillment energy. It’s about understanding how different tasks and interactions either drain or replenish your energy. By recognizing this, you can structure your days to balance energy expenditure with activities that rejuvenate you. This proactive approach can help prevent burnout before it starts, rather than just mitigating its effects. Key Differences Between Energy and Stress Management To truly support your team and yourself, you need to understand the key differences between energy management and stress management: Focus: Stress management often focuses on minimizing negative outcomes, whereas energy management is about maximizing positive energy. Approach: Stress management is reactive, dealing with stress after it has occurred. Energy management is proactive, aiming to maintain a consistent flow of energy. Impact: While stress management can reduce the immediate effects of burnout, energy management helps build long-term resilience and sustainability. Implementing Energy Management in Non-Profits So, how can you incorporate energy management into your non-profit work? Here are some strategies: Identify Energy Drainers and Boosters: Encourage your team to identify tasks and activities that drain their energy and those that boost it. Create a balance between these activities throughout the day. Flexible Planning Based on Current Energy Levels: Look ahead and adjust your tasks based on the kind of energy you have that day. If you’re low on mental or emotional energy, choose simpler tasks or look for ways to make your day easier. If you’re low on physical energy, choose tasks that require more brain-power and make sure to take short rest breaks to continue to boost your energy. It’s important that you not only do this for yourself, but also demonstrate and support your team to do it as well. Promote Breaks and Downtime: Encourage regular breaks and ensure your team takes adequate time off. Downtime is crucial for recharging energy levels. Cultivate a Positive Work Environment: Foster a supportive and positive work culture. Recognition, appreciation, and a sense of belonging can significantly boost emotional energy. Professional Development: Invest in training and development that focuses on personal growth and well-being, not just job skills. This can empower your team and help them manage their energy more effectively. Practical Steps for Leaders As a leader, you have to walk the talk. Your team looks to you for cues on how to handle workload and stress. By prioritizing your own energy management, you set a powerful example. This means being open about your own struggles with burnout, practicing self-care, and showing that it’s okay to prioritize well-being. Self-Awareness: Reflect on your own energy levels and identify what drains and replenishes you. Share these insights with your team to foster a culture of openness. Set Boundaries: Clearly define work and personal boundaries. Respect these boundaries yourself and encourage your team to do the same. Delegate and Empower: Trust your team with responsibilities and delegate tasks. This not only reduces your workload but also empowers your team members and builds their confidence. Regular Check-Ins: Have regular one-on-one meetings with your team members to discuss their workload and energy levels. Offer support and adjust workloads as needed. The Power of Community One of the most powerful resources in a non-profit is your sense of community. Model a culture where team members support each other and feel safe to bring up mistakes, near misses, or struggles. This can be through peer mentoring, collaborative projects, or simply creating spaces where people can share their experiences and challenges. Creating community anchors such as: a book lending library,  regular cookie-swap events where your team members bake or buy a dozen cookies and then bring them in to share/swap with the rest of the team so everyone still leaves with a dozen cookies, wellness challenges lunch and learn speaker series with either guest experts, or members of your team sharing about their culture and heritage potluck meals once a quarter or once a month an employee recognition bulletin board Give people more reasons than just collecting a pay-cheque to come into work. Moving Forward with Balance Balancing workloads in a non-profit is a continuous journey. It requires you to be attuned to your own needs and those of your team. By shifting your focus from merely managing stress to actively managing your energy, you can create a more sustainable and fulfilling work environment. This not only helps prevent burnout but also enhances your ability to make a positive impact. From my own experience, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the mission and forget about your own well-being. I’ve learned the hard way that ignoring the signs of burnout can lead to more significant issues down the road. Taking the time to manage my energy, rather than just reacting to stress, has made a profound difference in my life and my work. I encourage you to explore these strategies and find what works best for you and your team. You’re in this together, and by supporting each other, you can continue to do the vital work that drives you. Balancing workloads in the non-profit sector is not just about managing tasks; it’s about managing your energy and supporting each other in meaningful ways. By understanding the difference between energy management and stress management, you can create a healthier, more resilient work environment. Commit to taking care of yourself and your team, ensuring that you can continue to make the world a better place without sacrificing your own well-being.

  3. 09/09/2024

    Functional Medicine and Burnout: Discovering the Roots of Wellness with Dr. Laura Miles

    Speaker_00 - 00:00 I completely agree. I think a lot of what's talked about is for burnout recovery is just all the stress management things which is like the band-aid but we're not actually fixing the rushing wound that's underneath that if we're not addressing the contributing factors. So I have heard a little bit about adrenal fatigue and I was working with a functional medicine physician and that was helping me with that but why don't you explain a little bit more about what that is for the people that wouldn't know. Hi, I'm Avery Thatcher, a former ICU nurse, and this is not your standard stress management podcast where we just focus on those band-aid solutions like the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and self-care. You already know that you need some kind of recovery strategy to deal with your stressful life. But what you may not know are all of the sneaky ways that society, our upbringing, and our high achieving nature, and so many other factors contribute to our risk of burnout. That, my friend, is what we talk about here on this podcast because you can't do something about a situation that you're not aware of, right? Avery- 01:03 So if you're ready to get out of the pattern of burning out, feeling better, only to burn out again, it's time for us to shut the light on the truth about burnout. I am very excited to bring on my guest today because Laura has a really interesting story to share and I know it'll be one that a lot of us can relate to in different stages. So welcome, Laura. Happy to have you here. Laura - 01:29 So glad to be here. Thank you for having me here. Avery- 01:32 Yes, course. I just think it's so wonderful when people are willing to share their story because, you know, our story can become somebody else's survival guide and I think that's just such an important piece of our human experience, so thank you. Laura - 01:46 Absolutely. Avery- 01:48 So why don't you tell us a little bit about you and when you first identified as a high achiever? Laura - 01:54 I think I've been a high achiever my whole life and it just snowballs so I was I'm a physician and I was in my own practice and I had two younger kids and it was just blowing and going everyone was busy my kids were in their own activities they were doing you know soccer and Piano, ice skating and then I had my life of working full-time I'd literally drop them off at school and I'd run to work and then run back and pick them up and then all the festivities began. I think I was living out of the back of my car is what I always said because I had soccer chairs and I had you know coolers and dinner was kind of whatever we drove by that was close and so you hate to even admit that now but it's like yeah you know how it goes. And over time that just kept, you know, I just kept thinking, well, I can do it all. You know, I'm, I'm not that busy. And they'd ask you to do something at school. Sure. Laura - 02:54 I can do that. So, you know, here's another added, added stressor and another added thing that you had to accomplish. And so over time it really started wearing, you know, wearing me out and I was really getting tired and, and I'd come home. I was just exhausted all the time. It was irritable. My cycles got really all messed up. I started kind of losing words and my kids would be saying mom we told you that and I couldn't even remember the conversation. Laura - 03:22 I named it word inversions I would be thinking something and something else would come out and I go oh wait that's not what I meant to say and it really just It just kept getting worse. So that's kind of when I first started realizing that hey there's really something wrong but I didn't recognize it as burnout. I thought there was something physically wrong with me and so you just kept plugging away. Avery- 03:52 Yeah. And that's really common. When I talk with people and they're just like, oh, I don't think I'm burned out. And then we start to go through some of the signs and symptoms and then they're like, oh, okay, so maybe. And it sounds like that's kind of where you were at is you were seeing all of some of these cardinal burnout red flags, but we didn't admit that it was burnout, didn't know it was burnout and you were still looking for something else so that you could keep going at the pace that you were. Is that fair? Laura - 04:22 Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I even went to my doctor and I said, you know, I'm starting to wonder if this is stress. Oh, what do you have to be stressed about? You're fine. Oh, okay. Well, maybe I am fine. Laura - 04:35 So you just plug away and keep going another year and then suddenly you're really starting to crash and really feeling terrible. And that's when there was one particular event that happened that really shook me up so much that I had taken my kids to school, run to work. And it was a little different day, the schedule had changed a little bit. Got off work, you know, jumped in my car and I had put a sticky note on my dashboard that morning. I didn't even remember putting the sticky note there on my dashboard though. And the sticky note said, pick up the kids. And I went, oh my goodness, I'm having to leave a sticky note to make sure I haven't forgotten to pick up the kids because their schedule changed. Laura - 05:23 And it was just enough of a difference. I was so worried that I would forget to go pick them up at the different time. And that's when I was like okay this has got to stop. I mean I was in my 30s. It should not have been that much. So I really started doing a deep dive into my health and you know traditional medicine was not creating answers. All my lab work was normal. Laura - 05:48 And I wasn't getting anywhere and so that's when I started looking even deeper into things and found functional medicine and that's when I recognized that the adrenals, the adrenal burnout, adrenal stress was absolutely real. And when I started addressing that, that's when lightbulbs started coming back on. I felt like I was in more control of my life. And I had to do a lot of work though. It wasn't easy because you really have to stop and look at what's creating that. And you have to make some changes, even though you don't want to, but you have to make some changes. Avery- 06:25 I completely agree. I think a lot of what's talked about is for burnout recovery is just all the stress management things, which is like the band-aid, but we're not actually fixing the rushing wound that's underneath that if we're not addressing the contributing factors. I have heard a little bit about adrenal fatigue and I was working with a functional medicine physician and that was helping me with that, but why don't you explain a little bit more about what that is for the people that wouldn't know. Laura - 06:53 So adrenal fatigue, you know, first off, you know, traditional medicine doesn't even recognize that term and it's not like the adrenals are like tired and need to take a nap. I think it's just more of a term of a concept of when you are in a fight or flight mode all the time. The adrenal glands are the stress gland. They are the ones that producing all the hormones that are getting you through that fight-or-flight mode. And there are several stages of the adrenals that are kind of leading to burnout and depending on where you are and how long the stress has been going on it really kind of looks a little different all you know all along those paths. So when we're really talking about adrenal fatigue We're looking at a kind of constellation of symptoms that are you know basically if everything else is normal and you're so tired and you're having trouble struggling and you're anxious and you can't get through the day especially having like afternoon fatigue which is a hallmark of adrenal fatigue then you really need to start thinking about oh I wonder if stress is creating a bigger problem that could be adrenal fatigue. Avery- 08:05 Great answer, love it. So if somebody was interested in exploring that and wanted to talk to somebody to see if they had adrenal fatigue, what would you recommend they do if their traditional medicine doesn't cover that? Laura - 08:18 So the traditional labs you know everything's done in blood work will miss adrenal fatigue now you can pick up adrenal failure in blood work okay and so to look at and rule out adrenal failure you'll get you know a lab like ACTH which is the signal that says hey let's go to the To the adrenal glands and help them make cortisol. You can check your cortisol level and then there is a marker called DHEA and they use the one sulfate so it's DHEAS. Those are the blood markers that you can you can do for adrenals. They miss adrenal fatigue though so you really have to just have that suspicion that it's there. The salivary test that you can get and there's actually some labs around that you can actually order them directly. But taking it four times through the day first thing in the morning you know right before lunch mid-afternoon and bedtime those will actually kind of flush out adrenal fatigue with a lot more accuracy and what you're looking for is that gentle ski slope but very often with adrenal fatigue You might Laura - 09:21 start out okay at the top and then you crash and it's just like you fell off the mountain or you're just dragging all day long and they're really low or sometimes when you really get dysregulation you'll be low and then you spike high at night and then of course now you're awake and you have trouble sleeping so going that extra step of looking at the cortisol levels can really make all the difference. And even if you can't do that sometimes there are just there's some questionnaires that you can do that will kind of rat you out because it really puts it in your face of yeah I have been burning the candle at both ends an

  4. 09/02/2024

    Managing Team Burnout with 7 Easy Strategies

    Learn seven strategies for managing team burnout, boosting well-being, and safeguarding your nonprofit's mission and long-term impact.

  5. 08/26/2024

    Overcoming Burnout: From High Achiever to Empowering Introverts with Serena Low

    In this episode, Serena Low shares her transformative journey from a high-achieving lawyer grappling with burnout to empowering introverts. She discusses the societal pressures of perfectionism, her struggle with identity, and her newfound passion for helping others navigate similar challenges. Tune in to explore the delicate balance between visibility and privacy for introverts and discover actionable insights for overcoming burnout.

  6. 08/19/2024

    Mastering Work-Life Balance in Nonprofits Organizations

    Avery - 00:00 Work-life balance is about finding harmony between our professional duties and personal lives, something that seems even more elusive than ever. Over the past decade, the lines between work and personal time have blurred, with technology making us accessible just about around the clock. Economic uncertainties and job insecurities have also pushed many of us to work longer hours, constantly proving our worth. The expectation to always be productive has soared, yet the support systems and resources often haven't kept pace. And so this struggle isn't just about managing our schedules better, it's rooted in systemic issues that require structural change, like flexible work policies, adequate staffing, which I know you're really working on, but it's very hard as a non-profit to make sure that you're staffed adequately. And then also talking about a culture that generally values that well-being. And again, especially in the nonprofit sector, recognizing and addressing these broader challenges in a way that works for your organization is crucial for fostering a sustainable balance and truly supporting your dedicated staff to serve the communities that you do.   Avery - 01:09 So how do we do this? Hi, I'm Avery Thatcher, a former ICU nurse, and this is not your standard stress management podcast where we just focus on those band-aid solutions like the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and self-care. You already know that you need some kind of recovery strategy to deal with your stressful life. But what you may not know are all of the sneaky ways that society, our upbringing and our high achieving nature, and so many other factors contribute to our risk of burnout. That, my friend, is what we talk about here on this podcast because you can't do something about a situation that you're not aware of, right? So if you're ready to get out of the pattern of burning out, feeling better, only to burn out again, it's time for us to shut the light on the truth about burnout. So let's start off by just talking about the origin of this work-life balance term.   Avery - 02:02 This concept emerged in the late 20th century during the 1970s and 80s thanks to Generation X, which you can learn more about on the episode that I have that talks about the generation gap. The phrase originated in the UK, in the United Kingdom, reflecting a growing awareness of the need to balance professional responsibilities with personal life. During this period, societal and economic conditions were evolving rapidly. The rise of dual income households, increased participation of women in the workforce, and the shift towards a service-oriented economy. Really heighten the pressures on individuals to juggle work and home life. An originally work-life balance referred to the ability to divide one's time and energy between work commitments and personal pursuits. And it was in response to these long hours and these intense work demands that characterized these corporate cultures.   Avery - 02:57 The aim really was to prevent burnout and to ensure people could maintain fulfilling their personal lives alongside their careers. Back then, achieving work-life balance often involved setting clear boundaries between work and home. For example, people would adhere to strict work hours, ensuring that they left the office on time, to spend evenings with family, They would be able to turn off and leave their work behind. Weekends were reserved for leisure and relaxation, completely free from work-related tasks or anything that would remind you of work, and some companies began offering those flexible working hours and part-time positions to help employees better manage their responsibilities. This historical context shows that while the term work-life balance might seem like it's more modern, the struggle to achieve it has deep roots that are driven by significant societal shifts and the persistent need to set boundaries for our personal wellbeing. And we all know that boundaries are hard. So this idea that work-life balance has shifted dramatically over the years is and maybe it's just the perception of it in our cultures and especially in the nonprofit world.   Avery - 04:07 And what once felt achievable is now often seeming like an unattainable myth. Our work-life dynamics have changed so much with technology playing a huge role because we're always connected. Emails, messages and notifications follow us everywhere, even in our downtime. And the expectation to be constantly available and productive has become the norm. Even if you try to avoid that culture in your nonprofit, there's still that expectation, also the FOMO, the fear of missing out on something important, that really keeps your employees engaged, at least mentally, even during their off hours. And so these increasing demands really impact our time and our energy. And so this brings us to the myth that individuals alone can manage work-life balance on their own.   Avery - 04:56 Because modern discussions often place the burden on us as an individual to balance everything through better time management or personal discipline. But this ignores the bigger picture, the societal and systemic constraints that are making achieving this balance nearly impossible. So again, with the economic pressures, with job insecurity and the ever-increasing workplace demands, especially in the non-profit world as you're working with maybe limited funding and smaller staff. This balance can be really elusive and so in the nonprofit sector again these challenges are even more pronounced because the passion for the mission that your nonprofit has often leads people to work longer to have higher stress and that's compounded again by the limited resources and the high demand that you have for your services especially in this economy and it's clear that achieving work-life balance isn't just about our individual efforts It does require systemic changes. So even non-profit organizations like yours need to recognize and address these structural issues to help create environments that support rather than hinder our well-being. And this is something that I work with different non-profits about all the time.   Avery - 06:06 Because there's really, we've got to look at it from the top down as well as the bottom up. When we approach it from both sides that's where change really happens so much more consistently and so much faster. So when we're looking at how to help your organization better support work-life balance, we have to look at things from a wider structural perspective. Because for instance, employees in the nonprofit sector often experience high levels of stress due to that deep commitment to the mission combined with limited resources and high demands that we've been talking about. And so this can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed. In a lot of the employee engagement surveys that I do prior to coming in and working with the team, I see a lot of people that feel undervalued and feel like they're working extra And not being recognized or even noticed for the effort that they're putting in, not to the degree that they feel like they're deserving.   Avery - 07:00 And this is frustrating for some leaders to hear because they feel like they're doing so much already to try and make sure that people know that they're valued and that they're appreciated for the work that they're doing. But it's learning how to really celebrate those things in a way that's meaningful and that's something that we talk about in the workshops as well. And so when these people are feeling undervalued this just makes mental health issues even more prevalent and really just drains their fulfillment energy which leads to burnout. And so all of these challenges that we're facing really just show that achieving work-life balance isn't just about the personal effort on the individual level, on the frontline staff level. It requires more broad changes in how we operate and how we support our staff. So creating environments that prioritize well-being and that provide realistic workloads and proper support because I know that sometimes deadlines happen and you really just have to scramble to get things together but the proper support is really crucial for fostering this work-life balance for your employees.   Avery - 08:11 And rethinking work-life balance in the nonprofit sector requires us to acknowledge and address its unique challenges and the deep passion and commitment and drive that really pushes nonprofits work does lead to burnout if it's not being managed. And so employees that are deeply invested in their missions, frequently working long hours, trying to meet the high demands and limited resources, all of this dedication, of course we can see that it's admirable, but we also know that it is detrimental to their well-being. And this means that you're going to have more absenteeism, you're going to have higher turnover rates, Increased recruitment costs. All of these things do trickle down into the bottom line as well. And I know that you care about your team. You do want to have them feel better, have good mental health, feel really well supported. So this is where we need to again look at the systemic issues.   Avery - 09:10 And the good news is that there's actually some small changes that can have a huge impact. And this is what we talk about when I meet with the leadership teams is we talk about the different strategies that we can use to either address some of the sources of stress and work-life balance that are being thrown off for people if we can do something to fix them. But for all of the things that we can't do something to fix, Like inflation and funding and how hard it is to find people to work for you right now. All of those things are somethi

  7. 08/12/2024

    Navigating Burnout: Family Vision and Energy Management with Joseph & Melissa Neary

    Joseph - 00:00 Okay, one day we're gonna conquer the world, the next day is like, don't bother me, I'm not getting out of bed. So it's just like learning how to do all this manic swing of energy, not energy, not energy.   Avery - 00:13 Hi, I'm Avery Thatcher, a former ICU nurse, and this is not your standard stress management podcast where we just focus on those band-aid solutions like the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and self-care. You already know that you need some kind of recovery strategy to deal with your stressful life. But what you may not know are all of the sneaky ways that society, our upbringing and our high achieving nature and so many other factors contribute to our risk of burnout. That, my friend, is what we talk about here on this podcast because you can't do something about a situation that you're not aware of, right? So if you're ready to get out of the pattern of burning out, feeling better, only to burn out again, it's time for us to shut the light on the truth about burnout. Okay I am so excited today because this is my first ever double guest episode and I feel when I first met Joseph, I just connected with him right away and felt like we had so much to share and talk about and then when he shared about his partner I was just like okay I think I need to talk to both of you because I feel like Melissa and I have a lot in common which is both nice because then you have someone you can talk to but also sad because he knows what somebody else is going through So welcome Joseph and Melissa.   Melissa - 01:32 It's so nice to be here.   Joseph - 01:33 Yeah it's really a pleasure and Avery you're doing a great work you know just in the community of professionals I think the more we can talk about the subject and how we can support it's just our own careers and ambitions but also kind of a holistic life approach is really good.   Avery - 01:48 Absolutely and I'm sure we're going to talk a little bit about this Melissa but I feel like there are some skills that I was forced to learn That would have been so much more helpful earlier on, the like energy pacing and some of the other components. You're just like, well, why didn't I learn that sooner?   Melissa - 02:07 Yeah, it's been it's been a long road, lots of learning, that's for sure.   Avery - 02:13 Yeah, absolutely. So tell me a little bit about that road for you. What does your journey look like?   Melissa - 02:18 So I was diagnosed with my first autoimmune disorder disease. I've heard it a lot of different ways. When I was seven and so I was in elementary school and this is like a month of school and it wasn't at the time it didn't feel like a huge deal because it was just psoriasis and so nobody really got it besides like oh you've got dry skin or like that's kind of what they assumed and it took me years as a child to realize How it was affecting me outside of like what you could see that I was more tired than the other kids or that I got sick a lot more. Little things like that. So then my second autoimmune disease showed up in high school and I was 15 and that's when I got rheumatoid arthritis and that one felt a lot harder. Because I was a competitive pianist.   Melissa - 03:33 So that was the first time that it severely affected my life because everything hurt. I couldn't play sports, I wasn't active. And I did cut back on piano. I ended up, it ended up being the reason that I didn't major in piano in college or like these different life choices that I had to spin around that. And that was pretty much it until COVID hit. And as you know, stress just makes another one pop up. And it was lockdown.   Melissa - 04:14 We had become foster parents right before lockdown. And so we had a little baby and then we started homeschooling because our older five weren't doing really well with the online school like at all because we have some other kids with learning disabilities from adoption. And that's when the Graves' disease popped up. And that one affected, affected everything, but I'd say that my energy was the biggest one. Energy and brain fog, those are the two things I remember. Like, all of a sudden, I couldn't remember what I was doing. Like, I would be halfway through a sentence and just lose it and that was the first time for me.   Melissa - 05:01 Like, the brain fog hadn't showed up before and it showed up with the Graves' disease and that was really bad. Plus, you know, everything comes with Graves' disease. I had the hyper... when your weight is too... Hyperthyroidism? Yes, but I... metabolism, thank you. Look at this, we're playing trades over here.   Avery - 05:26 That's it, brain fog in action. I recognize, oh good.   Melissa - 05:31 Yeah, so the hypermetabolism made my anxiety super bad.   Avery - 05:38 Oh, of course.   Melissa - 05:40 And I didn't realize that would do that. Like, it was like I was being attacked by a lion all the time. So since then, I've made some major life changes and got a medication. Like, I'm a true believer of both. And so, Diarrhea is in a good place. Obviously, it doesn't, like, go away, but it's in remission right now. So, at this point, I'm trying to just not make anything happen.   Melissa - 06:09 Does that make sense?   Avery - 06:11 Absolutely.   Melissa - 06:11 It's like constant fear of like, okay, if I get too stressed, I already have three. Like the chances that another autoimmune issue pops up for me are very high if I get too stressed for an extended period of time. Like it does take a while, but I'm trying. Like we do have a lot of kids and we do whatever happens. So there's a lot of energy pacing. I still suffer with chronic fatigue, obviously the brain fog as we've already seen. And that's kind of where we're at.   Joseph - 06:44 I think there were a few things she left out there, so I'll toot her horn for her. She is a mother of nine, so she has three biological children and then now I guess it's six adopted. We did have four foster children. So it's talking about a high achieving woman. When she was in college and she stopped her job at the math department, you have to hire three people to replace her. So what she can accomplish in five minutes will probably take me about an hour. She's a hyper-efficient, hyper-focused, can get a lot of stuff done, amazing planner, hence why we're even able to have this large family.   Joseph - 07:26 Because I'm often in la-la land, you know, creative soul over here. And she's thinking about what has to get done and then we can get stuff done because she does that. She was top of her class in high school, you know, she had a full ride scholarship to the university that we had. So all around like she gets stuff done, she's ambitious. Conditioning, just get stuff done, meets up with these kind of consecutive walls of chronic disease and then burnout has been kind of the cycle we've gone through several times. We've learned how to like Okay. One day we're going to conquer the world.   Joseph - 08:12 The next day is like, don't bother me. I'm not getting out of bed. So it's just like learning how to deal with this like manic swing of energy, not energy, not energy. Plus we have kids and oh, guess what? We're both sick. You know, like that's, that's been some of the serious, um, difficulties we've had to face along with, you know, just job career changes and things of that nature.   Multiple speakers - 08:36 So I think that'd be interesting to look at some of those I think my biggest challenge currently is not overdoing it when I do feel good.   Avery - 08:48 I hear you. It's so tough to rein in the high achiever side of you and be like, hey, I need to like save up some of the energy for today so that I still have some tomorrow. Yeah, so tell me what that dynamic is kind of like. Like when, because obviously like Joseph shared and I loved hearing him talk just about you and how you could see how proud he is. Like he's definitely such a wonderful supportive partner you can see. So tell me a little bit about how that shift continues to go and like what was the hardest part for your high achieving side to accept once all of these chronic illnesses started piling on?   Melissa - 09:32 Oh, there's two. A, because I'm very much a person that's like, I will do anything I want. I don't care what it is. I can learn how to do it, I will do it, and I will become proficient at it. I don't want to be great, but I will become proficient. Like, I will do that. And learning that there's actual things that I will never be able to do is frustrating.   Melissa - 09:58 I don't like that. And then the things that are within my spectrum of achievability have started taking twice as long to get there. And I don't like that either.   Avery - 10:12 Oh my goodness. Like I said before we hit record, like I feel so seen right now because everything you're sharing, Melissa, are things that I've talked to my partner about, I've journaled about, I've gotten a therapy over, and it's just like, it's this loss of who you saw yourself as and what you saw yourself as capable of.   Melissa - 10:32 It's hard because I'm like good at not comparing myself to others. I've worked really hard on that, but I will compare myself to my old self. And I'm like, well, that was me, but obviously we're not the same person that we were, you know, 10 years ago when we were doing this, or even 5 years ago when we were able to do this. And, like, trying to simultaneously improve myself because I'm so goal-oriented, but, like, accept exactly where I am no matter what it looks like that day. That self-compassion has been really tough.   Avery - 11:12 Of co

  8. 08/05/2024

    Recognize and Combat Burnout in Nonprofit Organizations: Essential Strategies for Sustainable Success

    Burnout can have significant physical, emotional, and psychological effects, ranging from chronic stress and exhaustion to depression and anxiety. By recognizing the signs of burnout early on and taking proactive steps to address them, nonprofit organizations can: preserve the well-being of staff members,  maintain productivity and morale, and  prevent turnover.  By recognizing the signs of burnout and taking proactive steps to address them, organizations can create a positive and supportive work environment that enables them to fulfill their missions effectively and sustainably. However, since awareness is always the first step, here are some things to look out for to know if your nonprofit is experiencing the symptoms of burnout. 7 Signs Your Nonprofit Organization Is Experiencing Staff Burnout High Turnover Rates: One of the most evident signs of burnout within a nonprofit organization is high turnover rates. When employees frequently leave their positions, it often indicates underlying issues such as excessive workloads, lack of support, or a toxic work environment. Decreased Productivity: Burnout can significantly impact productivity levels. If you notice a decline in the efficiency and quality of work produced by your team members, it may be a red flag that burnout is taking its toll. Increased Absenteeism: When employees are experiencing burnout, they may be more likely to call in sick or take unplanned time off. Keep an eye on absenteeism rates within your organization, as they can provide valuable insights into the overall well-being of your staff. Poor Morale: Burnout can lead to a decrease in morale among employees. If you sense a general feeling of disengagement or apathy within your team, it may be a sign that burnout is prevalent and impacting their satisfaction with their work. Heightened Conflict and Gossip: Burnout can fuel tension and conflict among team members. Pay attention to any increase in interpersonal conflicts, gossip, or friction within your organization, as it could indicate that stress levels are reaching a boiling point. Lack of Work-Life Balance: Nonprofit employees are often passionate about their work, but this dedication can sometimes lead to an imbalance between work and personal life. If you notice that your staff members are consistently working long hours or sacrificing their personal time, it may be a sign that burnout is looming. Physical and Emotional Exhaustion: Lastly, keep an eye out for signs of physical and emotional exhaustion among your team members. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and emotional withdrawal can all point to burnout and should be taken seriously. Now that we've outlined the signs of burnout, let's delve into why nonprofit organizations are particularly susceptible to this issue. Reasons Why Nonprofit Organizations are More Susceptible to Burnout Nonprofit organizations are more susceptible to burnout for several reasons, stemming from the unique challenges they face in fulfilling their missions while often operating with limited resources. Nonprofits are typically driven by passionate individuals who are deeply committed to their cause. While this passion is admirable, it can also lead to a culture of overwork and self-sacrifice, as employees and volunteers feel compelled to do whatever it takes to make a difference. This intense dedication can quickly lead to burnout, as individuals neglect their own well-being in pursuit of the organization's goals. Nonprofit organizations often operate on tight budgets and limited staffing, requiring employees to take on multiple roles and responsibilities. This can result in overwhelming workloads and constant pressure to do more with less. Without adequate support and resources, employees can quickly become overwhelmed and exhausted, contributing to burnout. The nature of nonprofit work can be emotionally taxing, as individuals are often exposed to the challenges and hardships faced by the communities they serve. Whether it's working with marginalized populations, addressing social injustices, or responding to humanitarian crises, nonprofit employees frequently encounter difficult and emotionally draining situations. Over time, this exposure can take a toll on their mental and emotional well-being, increasing their vulnerability to burnout. The nonprofit sector is no stranger to uncertainty and instability. Funding fluctuations, changes in political landscapes, and external pressures can all impact the day-to-day operations of nonprofit organizations, creating additional stress for employees. The constant need to adapt and navigate these challenges can lead to feelings of frustration and disillusionment, further exacerbating burnout. Recognizing these challenges and implementing strategies to support employee well-being is crucial in preventing burnout and sustaining the important work of nonprofit organizations. How to Fix Burnout in Your Nonprofit Organization Addressing burnout within nonprofit organizations requires a multifaceted approach that involves policy changes, leadership initiatives, and frontline staff engagement. Policy changes are essential in creating supportive work environments that prioritize employee well-being. This may involve implementing policies such as flexible work arrangements, reasonable workload expectations, and access to mental health resources. By establishing clear guidelines and procedures to prevent burnout, organizations can create a culture that values the health and resilience of its workforce. Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of support and accountability within nonprofit organizations. Leaders must prioritize staff well-being and actively promote open communication, feedback, and collaboration. By modeling healthy work practices and demonstrating empathy and understanding, leaders can cultivate a sense of trust and empowerment among their team members. Additionally, leaders should be proactive in addressing issues of burnout and providing resources and support to those in need. However, addressing burnout cannot rest solely on the shoulders of leadership. Frontline staff members are often the ones most directly impacted by burnout and are in the best position to identify its causes and effects. Their input and participation are invaluable in developing effective strategies for prevention and mitigation. Encouraging staff involvement in decision-making processes, providing opportunities for peer support and mentorship, and fostering a culture of self-care and work-life balance are all ways to empower frontline staff in addressing burnout. Addressing burnout early is crucial for nonprofit organizations to maintain their effectiveness and sustainability. Waiting until burnout reaches a critical point can have serious consequences for both individual staff members and the organization as a whole. By working together to create supportive work environments and prioritize employee well-being, organizations can ensure the sustainability of their missions and the fulfillment of their goals. Why You Can’t Wait Any Longer to Address Burnout At Your NonProfit Addressing burnout early can help prevent a decline in productivity and morale within the organization. Burnout often leads to decreased motivation, engagement, and job satisfaction among staff members, which can impact the quality of work produced and the overall effectiveness of the organization. By addressing burnout proactively, organizations can maintain a positive and supportive work environment that fosters productivity, creativity, and innovation. Early intervention is essential for preventing turnover and retaining talented staff members. Burnout is a leading cause of employee turnover, as individuals who feel overworked, unappreciated, or unsupported are more likely to seek employment elsewhere. High turnover rates can be detrimental to nonprofit organizations, leading to increased recruitment and training costs, disruptions in service delivery, and loss of institutional knowledge and expertise. By addressing burnout early and demonstrating a commitment to supporting staff well-being, organizations can reduce turnover and retain their most valuable assets.

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Welcome to The Truth About Burnout, where high achievers find the key to unlocking peak performance without burning out. If you're a go-getter feeling the weight of stress and burnout, join us as we explore the strategies and mindset shifts that will revolutionize your approach to productivity, focus, energy, and motivation. This is not your typical stress management podcast where we talk about meditation, mindfulness and self-care. We go much deeper than that to discover all the different factors that contribute to high acheivers burning out at alarming rates with the insights you need to reclaim your work-life balance and achieve your goals without sacrificing your well-being. Tune in to discover actionable steps, expert interviews, and real-life success stories that will empower you to make a lasting impact without compromising your health. It's time to elevate your performance, enhance your focus, and supercharge your motivation, so you can not only meet but exceed your aspirations. Don't let burnout hold you back – let's embark on a journey together to achieve greatness while maintaining your mental and physical well-being. Subscribe now and unlock the secrets to sustained high performance. Your goals are within reach, and we're here to guide you every step of the way.

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