What does burnout feel like for YOU?

Well, I know EXACTLY what it feels like for me.  I'm there physically, but not mentally.

I wake up and don't look forward to the day.  I start grasping for control, canceling meetings, etc. I negatively anticipate emails and messages from people.

I don't feel sad or mad or scared.

I simply feel… blah.

Off.

Lost.

I know exactly what it feels like because I've experienced it many times in my life and in my career.

The most poignant was in 2017.  I had my first exit, was still running Ampush and didn't know what was next.

In many ways, it was a huge blessing, it shifted me into a personal growth and spiritual journey that has helped me develop more inner peace, deeper motivation and bring huge amounts of love into my life.

Not only that but feeling it deeply gave me a touchstone that helps me know I’m moving closer to burnout and allows me to avoid getting the “burnout point of no return."

Today, for example, I feel kinda meh.

Restoring

So what are some of the things I do when I’m feeling off?

This is very much one of those things I put in the "professional vs amateur" category.  Amateurs try to manage their time.  Professionals pay A LOT of attention to their energy and they honor it.

Have you had an experience where in 30 minutes, you had tons of clarity, respond to 10 emails articulately and wrote down 5 ideas?

And then another experience where you sat there for 2 hours and got nothing done?

Clearly, the variable is NOT time - it's energy.

As I got used to this, I got more comfortable canceling something or not pushing myself when my energy was low.  I realized it was counterproductive to do so.

It's better to rest, switch things up, and honor your energy.

The flip of this is when you feel energized, GO HARD!  Get all the things done!!

One of my favorite scenes from the famous show "House of Cards" is when the main character, Frank Underwood, came home and played Call of Duty.

He is doing something I call "micro unplugging." I define it as something that requires you to be so present that you can't really think about all the balls you have in the air.  Some people surf, meditate, play video games… I play tennis.  It works!

1 hour of a mico-unplug and you feel like it's been a week since you worked.  Even a walk outside without your phone or a play fight with your kids goes a long way!

For longer periods/vacations, FULLY unplug.  A few weeks ago, I went to NYC with my wife for 48 hours.  No kids, no work, nothing but us two.  I actually deleted Slack and Superhuman from my phone.  I tried to leave my phone behind at the hotel.

Vacations matter because rest and renewal are very real things.  Anyone who has been doing it long enough knows it’s a marathon (with a series of sprints).

They also know that  "the business will be there when you get back.” Realizing that all the problems will essentially freeze and be waiting for you could be stressful but it can also be empowering. You are in control of them - not the other way around.

You've heard me talk about this a lot.  It’s changed my life.  Knowing the things I’m good at is important. But knowing what you’re good at and WHAT ENERGIZES YOU is your Zone of Genius. Finding these things, and then committing to spending >75% of my time on them has helped me maintain a balance.

I don't buy that anyone is SO mission-driven that it keeps them going endlessly.  I think it's the specific activities – what happens hour to hour, and the nature and types of interactions – that energize people.  Knowing your type of "work" is where the good stuff is.

We LOVE to beat ourselves up.  This was a hallmark for me for a long time.

I either went hard at something, or I'd not do it at all…and beat myself up for it.  It was an endless cycle, and it was DRAINING.  It could be small-ish like not going to the gym or BIG-ish like "My startup idea is not ambitious enough."

All the guilt.  All the regrets.  They get you nowhere and just drain you.  Learn to tell yourself: "IT IS OKAY."  "This is fine." And let it go…

This one has been incredibly hard for me, but it’s often the answer.  Once I'm aware of burnout symptoms, I need to accept the feeling.  Oftentimes, my response has been to FIGHT it or to deeply introspect.

This can lead to an ugly spiral or just a bunch of wasted energy.  Over time, one thing I've learned is to just be with it, let it in, and sit in it.  No thoughts, no problem-solving.  Sometimes, the best thing is just: "Tomorrow is a new day", let it go and move on.  Try it, it works!

So there you have it. My 5 ways I try to create balance. Give them a shot!

-jesse