by Kathy Zering
Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions in life, without a clear sense of direction or fulfillment? If so, you’re not alone. Many people struggle to find meaning and purpose in their lives. Discovering your life purpose can be a transformative experience that brings numerous benefits. Below are my top 10 benefits of discovering your life purpose and how it can positively impact every aspect of your life.
Benefits of Discovering Your Life Purpose
Life purpose work with a coach like me involves a structured process of self-discovery, goal setting and personal development aimed at helping you identify and pursue your life purpose. With many of the clients I coach, we inevitably spend time either discovering or rediscovering their life purpose. It occurs naturally based on their current needs and struggles, and helps with providing a clear path forward. These additional 10 benefits of discovering your life purpose include:
1. More Clarity and Focus
One of the most significant benefits of discovering your life purpose is gaining clarity and focus in your life. When you know your purpose, you have a clear sense of what you want to achieve and where you want to go. In other words, using Thomas Carlyle’s famous quote: “The person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.”
Having a purpose and the clarity and focus that comes with it enables you to make better decisions and prioritize your time and energy on activities that align with your purpose, reducing distractions and enhancing creativity.
2. Increased Productivity
Knowing your life purpose can also boost your productivity. When you’re passionate about your work and see its direct connection to your purpose, you’ll naturally become more focused and driven. This can result in increased efficiency and a greater ability to accomplish your tasks and goals.
3. Increased Motivation and Better at Overcoming Obstacles
Having a strong sense of purpose can be a powerful motivator. When you’re passionate about what you do and understand how it contributes to your overall purpose, you’ll find yourself more motivated to tackle challenges and overcome obstacles. This increased motivation can drive you to achieve your goals and reach new heights in your personal and professional life. Much of my work as a coach involves helping clients identify and overcome obstacles, limiting beliefs and self-doubt that may be hindering your progress toward your life purpose.
4. Improved Mental, Emotional and Physical Well-being
Discovering your life purpose often leads to improved mental health. When you have a clear sense of meaning and direction, you’re less likely to experience feelings of emptiness or existential angst. This sense of purpose can provide a buffer against stress, anxiety, and depression, helping you maintain better mental, emotional and physical well-being. It can reduce stress, anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
5. Greater Satisfaction and Fulfillment, Personally and Professionally
One of the most significant benefits of discovering your life purpose is the deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment it brings. When you’re living in alignment with your purpose, you experience a profound sense of contentment and happiness. You’ll wake up each day with a sense of enthusiasm and excitement about pursuing your goals, which can lead to a more fulfilling life overall. I see this in clients who are uncertain about their career path or unhappy in their current job, and we work together to identify a career that aligns with their purpose and passions.
6. Enhanced Self-Confidence
Knowing your life purpose can boost your self-confidence. When you’re aligned with your purpose and actively working towards it, you develop a sense of self-assuredness and belief in your abilities. This self-confidence can spill over into other areas of your life, making it easier to pursue your dreams and face challenges with resilience.
7. Stronger Relationships
Discovering your life purpose can also have a positive impact on your relationships. When you’re clear about your purpose, you’re more likely to attract like-minded people who share your values and goals. Your sense of purpose can also make your interactions with others more meaningful, as you’ll be more focused on building authentic connections and supporting each other’s growth.
8. Increased Resilience
Life is full of ups and downs, and having a well-defined purpose can help you navigate these challenges with greater resilience. When you encounter setbacks or face adversity, your sense of purpose can act as a guiding light, motivating you to persevere and learn from your experiences. This resilience can be a valuable asset in both your personal and professional life.
9. Positive Impact on Society
Many life purposes are not solely self-focused but also involve contributing to the greater good of society. When you discover your purpose and work towards it, you can make a positive impact on the world around you. Whether you’re advocating for social justice, promoting environmental sustainability or improving people’s health and well-being, your purpose-driven actions can ripple out and create a better world.
10. Legacy and Longevity
Finally, discovering your life purpose can leave a lasting legacy. When you’re driven by a sense of purpose, you’re more likely to engage in meaningful activities and leave a positive mark on the world. This legacy can endure long after you’re gone, as your contributions and influence continue to inspire and benefit future generations.
Hopefully these 10 benefits of discovering your life purpose have convinced you of its importance in living a fulfilling life. Are you encouraged now to discover or rediscover your life purpose, ideally with the assistance of a coach? This leads to the next question:
When’s the Right Time for Life Purpose Discovery (or Rediscovery)?
Discovering or rediscovering your life purpose with a coach can be beneficial at various points in your life, depending on your individual circumstances and needs. One example of a situation when it might be a good time to explore your life purpose is if you’re feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or dissatisfied with your current circumstances, a (life) coach can help you gain clarity on what you truly want in life and how to pursue it.
Life purpose work can be particularly valuable if you’re going through a significant life transition like graduating from college, changing careers, retiring or experiencing a major life event like a divorce or the loss of a loved one. As a coach, I help clients navigate these transitions and rediscover their purpose.
Many people experience a “midlife crisis” or what I like to call a “midlife reflection” period in their 40s or 50s. Working with a coach during this time can help you reassess your goals and priorities.
Additionally, anytime you feel uncertain about your life direction or lack clarity about your purpose is a great time to be guided through the process of self-discovery.
And lastly, life purpose rediscovery can also help you if you’re striving for a better work-life balance because it will help you align your career and personal life with your values and priorities.
So there’s no specific age or stage in life when you should engage in life purpose work with a coach. The right time is when you feel ready and motivated to explore these aspects of your life.
The Process
The discovery or rediscovery of your life purpose involves a structured process of self-discovery, goal setting and personal development aimed at helping you identify and pursue your life purpose. The life purpose work that I do with clients is a highly individualized and collaborative process. I serve as a supportive partner, providing guidance, encouragement and accountability while helping clients uncover their unique purpose and live a more fulfilling life. The duration of the coaching engagement can vary depending on the client’s goals and needs. Learn more about working with me here.
Are You Ready for a More Purposeful Life?
Discovering your life purpose is a transformative journey that can bring numerous benefits to your life. It provides clarity, focus, heightened productivity, more motivation, improved mental, emotional and physical well-being,greater satisfaction and fulfillment, enhanced self-confidence, stronger relationships, increased resilience, a positive impact on society and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.
While the journey to discovering your purpose may not always be easy, the rewards it offers make it a worthwhile endeavor. So, take the time to explore your passions, values, and interests, and embark on the journey of uncovering your life purpose. Your life will be richer and more meaningful for it.
Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash
by Kathy Zering
While stress is a natural response designed to keep you alert and safe, the prolonged strain of chronic stress acts as a silent strain deteriorating your body and harming your health. Stress is inevitable for many of us in the fast-paced world we live in. So, the key to managing your stress levels and staying ahead of any detrimental effects stress can have on your body and health is to understand more about chronic stress and how it shows up, its connection to burnout, and the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in maintaining your overall health. Keep reading to learn more.
The Nature of Chronic Stress
Stress is a physiological response that dates back to our ancient ancestors. It evolved as a survival mechanism, helping our predecessors react quickly to life or death situations. This “fight or flight” response floods the body with hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing you to either confront or flee from a threat. Nowadays, you still experience this sympathetic, or “fight or flight” response in times of stress or perceived danger. However, it can become chronic if, for example, you’re in a high pressure work environment and putting out fires throughout the day, most days.
In moderation, stress can be beneficial, enhancing our performance and boosting our responsiveness. Unlike acute stress, which is short-lived and often beneficial, chronic stress is persistent and ongoing. It can be triggered by various sources like work-related pressures, financial worries, relationship problems and health concerns. As you juggle these stressors day in and day out, your body struggles to return to a state of equilibrium, leading to a range of health issues.
Burnout is the Culmination of Chronic Stress
One of the most concerning outcomes of chronic stress is burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of stress. It often affects individuals who are deeply committed to their work or responsibilities, pushing themselves beyond their limits without allowing for proper rest and recovery.
The symptoms of burnout are multifaceted. Physically, you may experience fatigue, headaches and gastrointestinal problems. Mentally, you may feel detached, experience reduced concentration and exhibit signs of cynicism and negativity. Emotionally, burnout can manifest as a sense of hopelessness and a loss of motivation. Left unaddressed, burnout can severely impact your quality of life and your ability to function well both personally and professionally.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System: A Balancing Act
To understand the impact of chronic stress on your body, we must also explore and understand the role of the autonomic nervous system, specifically the parasympathetic branch. The autonomic nervous system regulates bodily functions that occur unconsciously, like your heart rate, digestion and respiratory rate. The parasympathetic nervous system acts as a counterbalance to the “fight or flight” response, promoting relaxation and restoration. It’s often referred to as the “rest and digest” response.
When you experience stress, the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the “fight or flight” response, becomes dominant. This activation is vital for immediate survival, but it should be followed by a period of parasympathetic dominance to allow your body to recover and repair. It’s all about balance.
Unfortunately, chronic stress can disrupt this balance. With the sympathetic system constantly in overdrive, your body doesn’t get the chance to return to its resting state, leading to a cascade of health problems.
The Physical Toll of Chronic Stress
Stress affects all systems of the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous and reproductive systems. It can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and diseases. Additionally, prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can lead to high inflammation, a known driver of various chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. Increased heart rate and blood pressure, common responses to stress, can strain the heart and blood vessels, potentially leading to hypertension and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Mental and Emotional Ramifications
The effects of chronic stress extend beyond your body, or physical realm, affecting your mental and emotional well-being. Persistent stress can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders and depression. And the constant activation of stress pathways in the brain can lead to structural changes that disrupt healthy cognitive functions, including memory and decision-making.
Mitigating Chronic Stress: Strategies for Resilience
The good news is that you can take steps to mitigate the impact of chronic stress on your body and mind. Building resilience is essential to navigate the challenges of modern life while preserving your well-being. Here are a few strategies to consider:
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices like mindfulness and meditation can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress hormones. These techniques encourage you to be present, fostering a sense of calm amidst the chaos.
Energy Healing: Energy healing sessions also activate the “rest and digest” parasympathetic response in your body. The practitioner guides you into this deeply relaxed state, where the body is then better able to heal itself on all levels: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Regular Exercise: Physical activity is a powerful stress reducer. Engaging in regular exercise helps you release endorphins, your natural mood elevators. Exercise also provides a healthy outlet for your pent-up energy and tension. A daily walk is a simple way to start your exercise routine.
Quality Sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for restoring your body and mind. Establishing a regular sleep schedule and creating a conducive sleep environment can improve your sleep quality and help manage stress.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices: A balanced diet and proper hydration can support your body’s resilience to stress. Avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption can also contribute to better stress management.
Social Connections: Building and maintaining strong social connections can provide emotional support during challenging times. Sharing experiences and seeking guidance from your friends and family can alleviate feelings of isolation.
Your Next Steps for Stress and Burnout Relief
Chronic stress is a silent strain that has the potential to erode your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Understanding the effects of chronic stress on your body and recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial for taking proactive measures to protect your health.
If you’re curious about the level of stress or burnout in your life and how detrimental it may be, take my complimentary “How Bad is My Burnout?” quiz to find out. The results will tell you the phase you might be in and what next steps to take to ensure your body’s health and wellbeing don’t deteriorate any further.
Additionally, start nurturing your parasympathetic nervous system and adopting one or more of the stress-reduction strategies noted above. Practiced on a consistent basis, you can build resilience and have a healthier, more balanced life in an increasingly demanding world.
Photo by jeshoots – Unsplash
by Kathy Zering
In my experience, neuroscience and spirituality are the missing keys to completely healing your burnout. While conventional approaches to addressing burnout include rest, therapy and lifestyle changes, these two powerful yet often overlooked areas provide the insights and proven techniques for deep transformation and root-cause healing of your burnout, once and for all.
It’s common knowledge that burnout is a pervasive and serious issue affecting people across various professions and walks of life. Chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and reduced professional efficacy are a few of the common characteristics of burnout.
And burnout can have severe consequences for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. It’s a complex interplay between the brain, body, and the spiritual aspects of your life that you may not have considered before.
So let’s explore the neuroscience and spiritual dimensions of burnout and how understanding this connection can help you prevent and cope with burnout effectively. This approach addresses the root causes of burnout and fosters a journey towards resilience, restoration and transformation. It provides complete burnout healing since the root cause is being addressed, as witnessed in my personal experience and with my clients.
Understanding Burnout from a Neuroscientific Perspective
Burnout isn’t just a fleeting sense of you feeling fatigued; it’s a multifaceted experience that involves physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. The conventional view of burnout focuses on external stressors, like high pressure environments, heavy workloads and unmanageable responsibilities. On the other hand, neuroscience reveals that your brain’s intricate networks play a crucial role in the development of burnout.
Neuroscientists have discovered that chronic stress triggers a cascade of chemical reactions in our brains, leading to the dysregulation of important neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and cortisol. In other words, when you’re faced with chronic stress, your body’s stress response system becomes overactivated, and your body floods with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These imbalances and excess hormones have detrimental effects on your brain and body. They impair your cognitive function and decision-making abilities, contribute to negative emotions and weaken your body’s immune system.
Neuroscience explains the impact of chronic stress on neuroplasticity and how that affects burnout. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural, or brain cell, connections. The chronic stress you see with burnout can lead to maladaptive changes in your brain’s structure and function. For example, the prefrontal cortex of the brain, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, may shrink, while the amygdala, involved in emotional processing, may become hyperactive. These changes then show up as burnout symptoms you experience like difficulty concentrating, emotional reactivity and reduced resilience.
Neuroscience research has also revealed the role of mirror neurons, specialized brain cells that enable you to empathize and mirror the emotions of others, and how overstimulation and overuse of these brain cells can lead to compassion fatigue and eventual emotional detachment. You see it often with professionals in caregiving roles, like healthcare providers or social workers. Their burnout results from repeated exposure to others’ problems and suffering. This constant exposure to suffering can lead to overstimulation of the mirror neurons, exhausting the brain’s capacity for empathy and leading to them numbing out emotionally.
The Spiritual Dimensions of Burnout
Spirituality is often associated with religious practices, but it encompasses a broader perspective that includes a sense of purpose, interconnectedness, positivity and inner growth. When engaging with spirituality you foster a profound sense of meaning and belonging, and it helps you navigate the challenges of burnout with greater resilience.
Research suggests that spiritual practices like meditation, mindfulness (being present) and gratitude have a direct impact on your brain. Studies using neuroimaging techniques have shown that meditation, for example, can lead to increased grey matter density in brain regions associated with emotional regulation and self-awareness. These changes correlate with improved emotional well-being and stress management, that are essential components of overcoming burnout.
Mindfulness practices from various spiritual traditions, like meditation and prayer, have gained popularity for their positive effects on mental well-being. Research shows that mindfulness and meditation reduces activity in the brain’s default mode network, responsible for mind-wandering and self-referential thoughts. Engaging in regular mindfulness and meditation practices can help you manage stress, build emotional resilience and cultivate inner peace, buffering you against burnout.
Spirituality often revolves around finding meaning and purpose in your life. When you lose sight of your deeper values and purpose, you may experience a disconnection from your spiritual self, leading to feelings of emptiness and burnout. Reconnecting with your sense of purpose and aligning it with your work and personal life is a powerful tool for preventing and recovering from burnout.
Spirituality also involves being part of a supportive community that shares common beliefs and values. These communities can provide a crucial buffer against burnout by offering emotional support, understanding and a sense of belonging. In times of stress, having a spiritual community to lean on can enhance your coping mechanisms and promote your overall well-being.
The Integration of Neuroscience and Spirituality for Burnout Prevention and Recovery
One of the key intersections between neuroscience and spirituality lies in the understanding of the mind-body connection. Neuroscientific research demonstrates that the brain and body are intricately linked through complex pathways. Spirituality emphasizes the importance of cultivating awareness of this connection, which enables you to harness your innate ability to regulate your stress responses.
Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, highlights the potential for change and growth. This concept aligns with spiritual principles of personal transformation and renewal. By combining mindfulness practices and meditation, you can actively reshape your neural pathways, fostering more resilience and enhancing your emotional well-being.
Gratitude is a central theme in many spiritual traditions; it’s been linked to increased resilience and improved mental health. Neuroscientific studies reveal that practicing gratitude can lead to the release of dopamine and serotonin, your neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and happiness. This taps into both neurological and spiritual mechanisms to bolster your emotional well-being.
Burnout often stems from excessive self-criticism and a lack of self-compassion. Combining neuroscience and spirituality, you cultivate your self-compassion and forgiveness, and activate your brain’s “care-giving” systems. Neuroscience reveals that your self-compassion and forgiveness can lead to increased activity in brain regions associated with positive emotions and reduced activity in areas linked to self-criticism.
At the same time, your practice of empathy and compassion towards others aligns with the interconnectedness and personal growth emphasized in spiritual practices, promoting a sense of belonging and reducing your feelings of isolation. You can mitigate the negative effects of burnout on your brain and your emotional well-being by cultivating self-compassion and practicing forgiveness .
The intersection of neuroscience and spirituality offers a variety of mind-body techniques to prevent and address burnout effectively. Practicing meditation, energy healing, yoga, qigong, and tai chi have been scientifically proven to reduce your stress, improve your emotional regulation and foster your resilience. Integrating these practices into your daily routine can positively impact both your brain and the spiritual aspects of your life.
A big part of my work is to help my clients reconnect with the deeper meaning and purpose in their lives. Spiritual practices that promote reflection and introspection can also help you reconnect with your sense of purpose and meaning in life. And by aligning your life purpose and values with your work goals and important personal desires, you can find renewed motivation and energy. This is a powerful defense against burnout.
Break with Tradition: Recommended Next Steps
The journey towards complete healing from burnout requires a multidimensional approach that goes beyond traditional solutions. Hopefully you have a better understanding now, and can start integrating the insights from both neuroscience and spirituality mentioned above to address and heal your burnout.
I recommend you take these next steps as part of your journey to completely healing burnout:
- Reread the above or let the concepts sink in so you really understand the connection between neuroscience and spirituality and burnout; that there’s an intricate relationship between the brain, body and spiritual aspects of your life concerning burnout.
- Go take my complimentary “How Bad Is My Burnout?” quiz to help you figure out the severity of burnout and stress that you’re experiencing and what you can do about it. Understanding this is the first step towards healing and reclaiming a healthier, happier and more balanced life.
- Start taking proactive measures to prevent and address burnout effectively, like mind-body interventions, cultivating self-compassion and reconnecting with meaning and purpose. This will help you foster resilience, enhance your well-being and ultimately thrive in both your personal life and professional life.
If you have any questions, leave them in a comment below. And please forward this blog to your colleagues or loved ones that may be suffering from burnout and need this information to start feeling better.
Photo by Christina Wocintechchat – Unsplash
by Kathy Zering
Burnout is a prevalent and serious issue in our fast-paced, demanding world. It’s a state of chronic exhaustion and reduced motivation that affects both your personal well-being and professional performance.
To effectively determine if you have burnout and address it, you need to understand the three phases that burnout typically has. By recognizing the signs and symptoms of each phase, you can evaluate where you stand in your burnout journey. And take action to heal and eliminate your burnout before it’s too late.
Please read on to learn about the three phases of burnout and how you can assess which phase you might be in. I’ve also developed a complimentary “How Bad Is My Burnout?” quiz to help you figure it out. Understanding your burnout phase is the first step towards healing and reclaiming a healthier, happier and more balanced life.
Phase 1: The Honeymoon Phase
The initial phase of burnout is called the Honeymoon Phase. During this stage, you experience high levels of enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to your work or a specific task. You willingly invest long hours, take on additional responsibilities and display an overall positive outlook. However, the excessive workload and relentless pressure gradually begin to take a toll, indicating the onset of burnout.
To evaluate if you’re in the Honeymoon Phase, reflect on the following questions:
- Are you frequently working longer hours than necessary, neglecting personal time and relaxation?
- Do you find yourself taking on more responsibilities without considering the impact on your overall well-being?
- Are you experiencing an increasing pressure to meet unrealistic expectations and constantly striving for perfection?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, you may be in the Honeymoon Phase. It’s crucial to be mindful of the signs and proactively address them to prevent burnout from progressing further.
Phase 2: The Onset of Stress
The second phase of burnout is characterized by the Onset of Stress. During this stage, you begin to experience heightened levels of stress: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. The initial enthusiasm you had starts to wane as the demands of work or life take their toll on your overall well-being and performance.
Signs and symptoms of the Onset of Stress may include:
- Increased stress levels, manifesting as persistent anxiety and unease.
- Fatigue and exhaustion, even after getting enough rest and sleep.
- Difficulty concentrating and finding it challenging to complete tasks efficiently.
- Emotional instability, like irritability, frustration or frequent mood swings.
To evaluate if you’re experiencing the Onset of Stress, consider the following questions:
- Do you frequently feel exhausted, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, despite attempts to rest and rejuvenate?
- Are you finding it harder to concentrate and struggling to complete tasks efficiently?
- Are you experiencing emotional instability, such as heightened anxiety, irritability or a sense of frustration?
If you identify with these symptoms, it’s crucial to acknowledge that you may be entering the Onset of Stress phase of burnout. Taking action to address these issues and implementing self-care strategies can help prevent burnout from progressing further. You may want to consider professional help from someone like me to ensure you’re getting to the root cause of your burnout so that it doesn’t progress to phase 3.
Phase 3: Chronic Burnout
The final phase of burnout is the most severe and debilitating, called Chronic Burnout. In this stage, you experience a state of chronic exhaustion on all levels: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. You may feel emotionally detached from your work, experience a sense of hopelessness and develop a negative attitude towards your job or work-related tasks. Physical symptoms like headaches, insomnia and frequent illnesses, may also manifest and are common.
Signs and symptoms of Chronic Burnout may include:
- Chronic exhaustion, even after resting and time off.
- Emotional detachment and cynicism towards work or previously enjoyed activities.
- Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and a lack of motivation.
- Decreased job satisfaction and performance.
Physical symptoms related to stress, such as headaches, insomnia, dis-ease or frequent illnesses. (I’m purposely writing it as “dis-ease” to emphasize that disease is merely the body in a state of un-ease; bring ease back to the body, and healing begins. The energy healing work I do with clients works beautifully for this.)
To determine if you’re in the Chronic Burnout phase, reflect on the following questions:
- Do you constantly feel exhausted, regardless of how much rest and relaxation you build into your routine?
- Have you developed a negative attitude towards your work or tasks, finding it increasingly difficult to find motivation?
- Do you frequently experience physical symptoms related to stress, such as headaches, insomnia, dis-ease or a weakened immune system?
If you resonate with these signs, it’s crucial to acknowledge that you may be experiencing Chronic Burnout and you need to take immediate steps to address it. Support from loved ones, practicing self-care, setting boundaries and seeking professional help are actions you can take towards healing and recovery.
My Experience
In my personal experience, I went through the first two stages of burnout without really understanding how serious burnout can become if ignored. At the time, I didn’t have the knowledge or a proper support system and before I knew it, I was in the Chronic Burnout phase experiencing all the debilitating symptoms mentioned above.
The scariest part was a serious dis-ease taking its toll on me physically as I experienced excruciating joint and muscle pain, painful burning in my stomach and other GI issues, poor quality sleep, night sweats, fevers, exhaustion, shortness of breath, and frequent ankle and foot swelling. It lasted for almost 2 years as the traditional doctors and western medicine approaches kept treating the symptoms rather than the root cause. Multiple visits to “specialists”, and multiple rounds of steroids and antibiotics prescribed without any diagnosis or true healing, sound familiar?
I was suffering and struggling, yet kept prioritizing work and trying to “push through it”. That’s when a friend led me to energy healing as an option which – methodically and gently – provided the ease and relaxation I didn’t realize I so desperately needed. I began to feel better almost immediately and felt healing on all levels: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. The healing was on a deeper level addressing the root cause and big positive shifts were the result. Shortly after starting with the energy healing sessions, I was led to other professionals who actually diagnosed my dis-ease and provided comprehensive treatment plans that included healthy lifestyle changes for permanent results.
Your Experience
What’s your experience in dealing with stress and potential burnout while trying to balance a fulfilling career with an equally fulfilling personal life? Do you think you may be prone to burnout or in the middle of one of these burnout phases? Understanding the three phases of burnout – the Honeymoon Phase, the Onset of Stress, and Chronic Burnout – provides a framework for evaluating where you might be in your burnout journey.
If you’d like more help in understanding and evaluating burnout in your life, here’s the link to take the complimentary “How Bad Is My Burnout?” quiz that I created to help you determine which phase you’re in.
Recognizing what stage you’re in is the first step. Then, you’ll become aware of the signs and symptoms to watch out for as you take proactive steps to address them and heal your burnout, and prevent it from recurring at some future time when life gets challenging.
Learn from my experience, and don’t ignore your burnout in the earlier stages. You can’t “push through it” hoping it’ll get better by chance.
Remember, seeking support from loved ones, practicing self-care, setting boundaries and seeking professional help from someone like me are crucial in navigating and overcoming burnout. Prioritizing your well-being and taking appropriate action will pave the way towards a healthier, more fulfilling career and joyful life. Remember, it’s never too late to address burnout and embark on your own healing journey of self-restoration.
Photo by twinsfisch – Unsplash
by Kathy Zering
In today’s fast-paced world, burnout is becoming more and more common. And the connection between burnout and your physical health and wellbeing is undeniable.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, mental and spiritual exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It’s a condition where you’re completely depleted and feeling hopeless, frustrated and fatigued. Chronic stress that’s tied to burnout has a significant impact on your body and mind, and it’s essential to understand the effects of this type of stress to prevent burnout and maintain good health.
Chronic Stress Causes Burnout
Chronic stress is the most common cause of burnout. It’s the result of prolonged exposure to stressors, like work-related stress, financial stress, relationship stress, or health-related stress.
In your body, chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, triggering the body’s “fight or flight” response. When this happens, your body releases stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, to help you respond to the stressor. These hormones increase heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, preparing your body for action.
While the fight or flight response is needed for you to respond to acute stress that lasts from a few hours or days to a few weeks, it can be harmful when it’s chronic (lasts for months or years).
Burnout’s Detrimental Effects on Your Body
Chronic stress can lead to the overproduction of stress hormones, which has detrimental effects on your body. These effects include:
Cardiovascular problems
Chronic stress is known to increase the risk of heart disease by causing the heart to work harder than necessary. It can also lead to high blood pressure, which can damage the arteries and increase the risk of a future heart attack or stroke.
Immune system dysfunction
Stress hormones can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to getting sick by picking up contagious infections and illnesses from others.
Increased inflammation
Chronic stress can also increase inflammation, which has been linked to a range of chronic health conditions, including chronic joint pain, autoimmune diseases, heart disease and cancer.
Digestive problems
Stress can also lead to digestive problems like heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux and excess stomach acid. Chronic stress is linked to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Mental health issues
Chronic stress can have a significant impact on your mental health, leading to brain fog, the inability to concentrate, mood swings, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. It can also worsen symptoms of existing mental health challenges and conditions.
Sleep problems
Stress can disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and other sleep issues. Lack of sleep can, in turn, worsen stress and lead to a vicious cycle.
Muscle tension and pain
Chronic stress can cause muscle tension and pain, especially in the neck, shoulders and back. It can also worsen existing chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Managing Burnout and Chronic Stress
It’s important to understand that the effects of chronic stress are cumulative. The longer stress is present and not addressed, the more damage it can do to your body. So don’t ignore the signs of burnout and chronic stress. It’s crucial to take steps to prevent burnout and manage stress levels quickly.
Here are some ways to manage stress and prevent burnout:
Prioritize self-care
Self-care is essential for maintaining physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Taking care of yourself can help reduce stress levels and prevent burnout. Some examples of self-care include exercise/regular movement, getting good quality sleep, eating a healthy diet and practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or intentional breathwork.
Practice time management
Effective time management can help reduce stress levels by allowing you to prioritize tasks and manage your workload effectively. This includes setting realistic goals, breaking tasks into manageable steps, delegating tasks to others, and scheduling time for breaks and relaxation.
Set boundaries
Crucial for preventing burnout is the setting of boundaries. It’s important to learn to say “no” to requests that are not essential or that will put too much strain on your resources. It’s also important to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life, and allow and plan your time to include rest and relaxation. Hint: add it to your calendar.
Seek social support
Talking to friends, family or a professional can help reduce stress levels and prevent burnout. Having a support system can provide a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness that often accompany burnout..
Practice being present (mindfulness)
Being present, or mindfulness, is a practice that involves being fully conscious of what you’re experiencing in the now – your present moment experience. And being fully engaged with it without distraction. If you’re lost in thought, reliving the past, worrying about the future, or going through the motions, it interferes with how you act in the present.
The famous philosopher Lao Tzu said “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” Being present by focusing and listening to others during conversations, or with practices like meditation and deep breathing can help you feel more connected, reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Fully enjoying the little things in life, like savoring a hot cup of tea or coffee, or joyfully appreciating the blooms and wildlife in a garden during spring or summer, are other examples of being present.
Take breaks
Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help reduce stress levels and prevent burnout. It may not always be feasible, but a 5 to 10 minute break every hour is ideal. Taking a short walk, practicing deep breathing while stretching your body, or taking a brief nap helps recharge your batteries and keep stress levels in check. Listen to your body’s cues and don’t push through what it’s telling you it needs. Take that 10 minute nap if you’re exhausted. You’ll feel better afterwards.
Seek professional help
If stress levels are severe or chronic, it may be necessary to seek professional help. As an intuitive healing coach who specializes in burnout and stress relief, as well as a Corp HR burnout survivor, I believe everyone suffering with burnout deserves help to recover more quickly and effectively than suffering alone. I know first hand how important getting the right professional is to help you develop coping skills, manage stress and prevent burnout.
In Closing
The connection between burnout and your physical health and wellbeing is clear. Chronic stress has a significant negative impact on your body, and can lead to a range of health problems like cardiovascular disease, immune system dysfunction, increased inflammation, digestive problems, mental health issues, sleep problems, and muscle tension and pain.
Because of this direct link, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent burnout and manage stress levels before it’s too late. Prioritizing self-care, practicing time management, setting boundaries, seeking social support, practicing being present, taking breaks and seeking professional help are all effective ways to manage stress and prevent burnout. By taking care of yourself and managing your stress levels, you can maintain good physical and mental health and wellbeing and avoid the detrimental effects of chronic stress.
Additionally, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout. These can include physical symptoms like exhaustion, headaches, and muscle tension, as well as emotional symptoms like irritability, cynicism, and a lack of motivation. Burnout can also lead to a decrease in productivity, quality of work, and job satisfaction.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of burnout, it’s important to take action sooner than later. Get professional help, adjust your workload or take time off to rest and recharge. Ignoring burnout can lead to long-term and serious health issues and a decreased quality of life.
Photo by Alexander Grey, Unsplash
