Fulfillment and Burnout
We often assume that fulfilling work, work that motivates us, work we feel enthusiastic about, and work we are fully engaged in, will provide us with a protective barrier and immunity from burnout. And yet even while enthusiastically embracing our work we can inadvertently stretch, or even abandon, the very boundaries we need for self-care, […]
The benefits of reflective practice
Reflective practice helps us stay connected to our lives, our emotions, and our experiences. It helps us balance the imbalance of hyper-busyness that we have come to equate with productivity and success. Reflective practice (and it does require practice!) is key to deepening our awareness, gaining perspective, being emotionally attuned and flexible, and building our […]
Returning to work after burnout
When I work with clients who have experienced burnout and have taken time away from work for self-care or to seek help and/or support, they often have mixed feelings about returning to work. Whether a client is returning to the same workplace or has decided to embark on a career transition, these feelings can include […]
Acknowledging Our Burnout
We all identify with certain narratives and expectations about work, career, and our own professionalism. These narratives and expectations are both personally created and culturally constructed; very often they are a blending of both. Burnout can, therefore, feel incongruent with how we identify as a professional, with the expectations we have of ourselves and how […]
Experiencing Burnout
Think about your own experiences of stress, possibly of burnout. What stands out for you – physically, emotionally, cognitively, relationally? Think about your place of work, and the work you do. What are some of the prominent expectations and attitudes? How is the work environment structured? Leadership? Relationships amongst colleagues? How familiar do the following […]
Managing The Stress We Experience
Work related stress and challenging work environments are frequent topics of discussion with my clients. While our lives are never completely immune to stress, certain situations or occurrences can escalate stress and make it feel unmanageable: difficult transitions, complex work, disappointments, mistakes, or periods of exhaustion, and especially a demanding work environment we cannot change. […]
