I have spent the last seven years balancing, simultaneously, anywhere from three to seven jobs. Yes, the maximum I hit was seven…I know, crazy! But, believe it or not, I thrived in this kind of lifestyle.
I liked the variety, socialization, independence, the growth, the impact, and everything in between. Yes, I worked all seven days of the week and my shortest workday was eight hours. Yes, I had the occasional days off for holidays and such. But, on average, this was my normal routine.
And you bet I heard it all!
I heard that I would eventually burn out and that this lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. I was told that working this many hours and days wasn’t healthy and eventually I would hit a wall.
I refused to believe it, though. I was far too passionate about all the things I was doing to ever let that happen. There was no way that I was going to slow down or that I was going to burnout.
I was convinced.
Well, at least not in the ways people were telling me I was going to.
Yes, much to my surprise, it finally happened…the worst had happened, in my opinion. I did eventually come to experience burnout. However, it didn’t come to me in the ways people had warned me of and expected. In fact, it had nothing to do with the workload, the hours, or the lack of time off. It was all about the grit.
So what was it?
Well, ladies, I will share with you, based on my own reflection, what to watch out for in your busy, yet passionate, schedules to avoid these hidden places that provoke burnout.
Forcing Yourself To Stay In Places You’ve Outgrown
You will hear me say time and time again that it is normal to outgrow your passions. Just like you outgrow your style, your shoes, taste in music or food, etc. Passion is no different. Sometimes as we experience the world and grow as a person, we create new scopes in which we view the world around us. Our new lens can change the things we are passionate about and what we choose to dedicate our lives to. It’s not that we don’t love those things anymore, but rather our experiences have changed us and built us to take on something new.
Feeling guilty about releasing a previous passion can keep you locked into a place you’ve outgrown, eventually causing discontent and burnout.
Staying somewhere just because you feel guilty about releasing it is serving no one. You will notice you become distracted about thoughts of your new passions and start resenting the space you are in for holding you back from pursuing it.
This choice is entirely up to you. Yet, if you are having thoughts of leaving it’s best to do it sooner rather than later as to not grow resentful of a passion you once loved.
Leave it on a positive note.
Gravitate To Where You Are Appreciated And Your Energy Is Reciprocated
This is a vital one. When you have limited time and energy as is, you want the spaces in which you are dedicating that time and energy to also be nourishing you. If you feel underappreciated and notice that you are one of the only ones carrying the passion, then let it go. Nothing will burn you out faster than an environment that doesn’t want to grow with you. You need a community of like-minded people to sustain your passionate energy. It’s defeating when you don’t receive that support and instead have people putting you down and not meeting your expectations.
Take this as a clear sign that the universe is pushing you on to a new venture and be grateful for the guidance.
Make Yourself, Health, and Happiness A Priority
Take the time to notice how you feel—emotionally, physically, and mentally. This is where you will notice clear indications of burnout. It’s important to not justify how you are feeling or trick yourself into believing you feel the same as you use to. Notice how your body is responding, how you’re talking to yourself, the things you’ve lost interest in, and what you need in order to stay motivated.
If these pieces are not aligned, they can become quickly toxic and unhealthy. It’s important that you listen to these signs and take action when needed. No amount of comfort is worth risking your mental, physical or emotional health.
Happiness is the root of all life and passion, so be sure that it is always your number one priority and protect it.