The Burnout Woman

Three Easy Steps for Avoiding Burnout

Written by Christopher Pericolosi

Designed by Holly Sarah Liban | Photography by Leigh Shields

Dearburnt-out woman, is life getting stressful? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you wish you could manage your passion for life, work and love better?

First, understand that you are not alone. Many women who are passionate tend to throw themselves into their work, lives and loves with unsolicited abandon. Second, know that there are resources available to the burnt-out woman that will help you through the trying maelstrom that is life. Women as far back as ancient Greece—and before—have all experienced this phenomenon.

Here are three easy steps to avoid this and will enable you to renew your body, soul and spirit.

Step 1: Know yourself and your emotions.

You live in your body and are acutely aware of its feelings. Trust in them and don’t be afraid to experience the emotions. By experiencing these emotions, it allows your body and mind to align with your spirit and will be far easier to manage.

“When the body is flooded with positive or negative hormones, it takes up to ten minutes for them to calm down, during which your body processes them. During this process, your body and mind can and usually do feel as though you’re on this wild roller coaster. Don’t be afraid of this, it is the body’s natural way of dealing with the hormone cortisol, which regulates stress,” Dr. Nancy Chadwell, a psychology professor at Pellissippi State Community College, said.

Just remember, burnt-out woman, that you are unique, and your body will respond uniquely to the different types of stress it encounters. Now that we understand the importance of processing and accepting your emotions, let’s look at how a renewal of the mind can help this process as well.

Step 2: Renew your mind with literature and poetry.

One of the most important things you can do, burnt-out woman, is escape into a world that is different from the one you live in. Sappho, an ancient Greek poet, wrote lyrical poetry. This is a specific type of poetry that has a musical type of rhythm and often expresses romantic feelings or thoughts.

Dr. Jessica Westerhold, a professor of classical studies at UT, explained her thoughts on poetry and literature.

“Poetry of any kind should be open to interpretation. You should allow flexibility in reading and interpreting the words to fit your situation,” Dr. Westerhold said.

Sappho’s “Ode #31” relates that Sappho is lost in a sea of emotions, having become overwhelmed with the intensity of her passion. This is easily applied to love, but can also include life in general or simply your work. When we become so enthralled and consumed with the drive to succeed at everything we do—and let’s face it, we are a competitive species—it is easy to lose yourself in those things. However much we tend to lose ourselves in the things that matter to us most, step three is the most important of all.

Step 3: Surround yourself with others who share your ideals and renew your spirit.

The biggest key to success and not allowing burnout is to distance yourself from the problem area or areas and seek out moral support from others who share your mindset and ideas.

“For me, removing myself from the situation is the biggest step in avoiding burnout. I will often leave my house, office or wherever I am and take a walk, hike or some other type of leisure activity. This is extremely helpful in restoring a sense of equilibrium within yourself,” Westerhold said.

To continue with Sappho’s theme, “Ode to Aphrodite” speaks of Sappho’s desire to commune with other women. Although she was asking the goddess of love to help her obtain a love interest, it also shows that surrounding oneself with other women can be a big key to obtaining that hard-earned feeling of self-worth. Remember your value and revel in the value that communion can bring you.

When in doubt, follow the three steps: know yourself and your emotions, renew your mind with literature and poetry and surround yourself with others who share your ideals and renew your spirit. I promise you aren’t alone in this and there are many others who will help you achieve the much sought-after state of balance and spiritual happiness.