I know you’re exhausted and frustrated, and just want to know how to fix this so you can feel better, so I’ll cut to the chase.
Burnout is multifaceted and insidious, meaning it is not caused by just ONE thing and it affects every area of your life.
It affects not only your mental and physical states, but your emotional health, your relationships, and your career.
It can sneak up on you over time without you even knowing that you’ve progressed through its stages.
Signs and symptoms of burnout change depending on which stage you’re in.
This is because initially your nervous system is highly energised and is in a flight/flight state.
Over time your body eventually says “No”, and shifts into functional freeze or shutdown.
It’s crucial to understand that the further you progress into burnout, the harder it is to recover
as you have less capacity, fewer resources and a dwindling support system.
Burnout is cyclical with the recovery periods becoming closer together, making it harder to naturally ‘bounce back’.
But you already know this because chances are you’ve frustratingly already encountered this beast before.
How do you know you're burning out & aren't 'just' stressed?
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Burnout?
Signs of early to mid-burnout
- You feel overwhelmed, overstretched and exhausted.
- You wake up depleted, and drag yourself to work, or through your day like it's groundhog day.
- You’re losing your confidence in your ability to do your job - even though you know you used to be good at it.
- You work harder and longer but feel you aren’t as effective as you used to be.
- You’re increasingly becoming more cynical and irritable with those around you.
- Forgetfulness and brain fog make completing tasks and formulating plans difficult
- You procrastinate more. Like when you get caught in doom scrolling on social media before going to bed, numbing out on Netflix, or knowing you need to do the housework but can’t bring yourself to do
- You battle to fall asleep and stay asleep and when you do, it feels like you drift in and out of consciousness rather than sleeping deeply.
- You’ve become increasingly busy and have an energetic buzz – but there never seems to be enough time to do all you need to. You often play catch-up after hours, when you would previously be sleeping, spending time with loved ones or doing something you enjoy.
- You cannot switch off, you push harder, prove more and find it difficult to prioritise.
- You put work above socialising with colleagues, friends or family.
- You may feel a nervous energy, anxiety and notice eating disruptions and weight fluctuations.
Later signs of burnout
- You’re emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. You feel like you are running on empty and just have nothing left to give. You have enough energy to wake up but not to function.
- Your normal upbeat self who used to thrive on a challenge is increasingly becoming detached, not caring as much, and feels hopeless. Thoughts like, “ What is the point?” often enter your mind.
- You feel that your energy is limited and often weigh up the amount of energy that it would take to do one task over another as you know you can't do both.
- Family and friends are concerned as your behaviours are so out of character to what they once were. You feel uncomfortable in your own skin like you are a shell of your former self.
- You try to cope by increasing your use of external crutches like excessive exercise, caffeine, food, drugs, and alcohol. You may even turn to thrill-seeking behaviours just to feel ‘something’ as emotional numbness has set in.
- You’re battling to focus and make decisions as the brain fog makes it near impossible to concentrate.
- You may feel like a failure or that what you do is meaningless.
- You may start to feel alone and that no one else ‘get’s you’ or understands what you are going through. This causes you to withdraw even further.
- You feel numb to both physical and emotional sensations and can't recall the last time you felt joy or laughed whole-heartedly.
- You feel that your energy is limited and often weigh up the amount of energy that it would take to do one task over another as you know you can't do both.
- Often other comorbidities / conditions will present e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, depression.
End stage burnout can include total mental, physical and/or emotional collapse.
“ Burnout is a beast that limits your resources making it harder to overcome the further along you progress. The sooner you act, the better. ” Louise Johnson
Lesser-known telltale patterns predisposing someone to burning out
Are you struggling with:
- Frequently letting your inner perfectionist run the show to ensure everything is at 110% / the best it could possibly be. (Perfectionism)
- Over-performing or over-functioning whilst trying to get everything on your unreasonable never-ending to-do list done. (Over-performing)
- Relying more on the input and approval of others, whether it be through collaboration, excessive checking or through direct questions. (People-pleasing)
- Feeling like you have to compulsively prove yourself, your work and what you stand for to gain recognition and respect. (Proving)
If you’ve got that sinking feeling in your stomach because these points are ringing true for you
– know that you are not alone:
66% of Australians reported in the last 3 months that they have experienced burnout.
So what can you do about it?
You need to narrow down what is causing your chronic stress – and minimise or eliminate it completely.
There are 3 possible areas contributing to burnout:
-
Internal Factors (inherent to you)
-
External Factors (your environment)
-
The link between the Internal and External Factors
The good news is that you have the most influence over 2 of these 3 areas.
My specialisation delves deep into the areas most frequently overlooked:
- Your internal factors
- The link between internal and external factors
Internal Factors are inherent to you, and are based in your belief systems, conditioning, coping mechanisms and past traumas.
Some of these survival patterns are obvious whereas others are subtle and need to be uncovered as they fall in your blind spots or subconscious.
Here’s an example.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not productive enough”, or “I’m not far enough along in my life to where I should be” or “ I don’t want to let anyone down as everyone is depending on me”. These thoughts can continue to drive you even when you know you are tired and need to rest. When you explore what is behind these thoughts, you uncover beliefs and values. Your values determine your beliefs which determine your thoughts which determine your actions and behaviours.
When you experience burnout, there is an element of lacking safety. You will try to create that safety by being ‘busy’ and taking control. By doing this, you are in survival mode.
External Factors are the things in your environment. Typically, the work environment which falls under your employer who is responsible for organisational culture, psychosocial safety, time and workload management to name a few.
The third aspect is the link between the internal and external values and specifically relates to values alignment. Do your values align with where are you are working – both with those they are trying to achieve (espoused) and their enacted values (the ones that are being carried out in the running the organisation). If there is a mismatch between your values and the values of the organisation you work for – you will feel the energy deficit.
Imagine having an expert by your side.
Someone to hold a safe & sacred space for you whilst you unlearn survival patterning & replace it with healthy, sustainable strategies that allow your limitless potential to flourish.
Let's get started...
Private Coaching & Mentoring
My most tailored experience designed to meet you specifically at the stage you are at.
Personalised private coaching specifically for high achievers who are exhausted and overwhelmed with living life at full tilt but cant seem to slow down.
Shift to feeling more like yourself, with more breathing space and bandwidth in your every day, empowering you to live you life fully expressed in as little as 90 days.
Collective Coaching Cohort
My signature program blends mentoring, self-study modules, and individual and group coaching. Cohorts are kept deliberately small to ensure intimacy, focus and a sense of safety.
From Rundown to Radiant is my high-touch mentorship & transformational coaching program for high achievers who want to feel more like themselves & create flow in THEIR version of work/life harmony so they can confidently take up the reigns of their life in as little as 90 days using the Rushed to Revived Framework.
Educational Seminars & 'Lunch & Learns'
Both preexisting expert topic and tailored organisation-specific topics sessions related to chronic stress are available upon request.
Sessions run from 20 minutes to more indepth half day workshops and educational seminars.
What Others Say...
" I was in a dark place & feeling lost... You have reignited my passion for life!"
Words cannot describe how much the support from Louise means to me, both personally & professionally. I was in a dark place & feeling lost after some extreme challenges faced at home & work ... I am now on the road to recovery faster than I could ever have wished for!
Team Leader, Perth, WA
" I was feeling so overwhelmed with everything & I really dont think I would have been able to get through without Louise's support...I finally feel like life is flowing again!"
Initially I felt like I resonated with every sign & symptom of stress & burnout. It helped that I knew Louise's personal story of burnout and knew she was the perfect person to help me get out of the situation...she gave me the tools to help me see clearly what my values are & what I want out of life. I was able to come to a place of appreciation & let go of some of the negativity I felt too often. I finally feel like life is flowing again.
HSE Officer, Perth, WA
" I felt really depleted of energy & so mentally fatigued... I now feel peaceful & inspired!"
I felt really depleted of energy & so mentally fatigued. Louise intuitively knew exactly what I needed. It's been so long since I have felt truly heart so I could express myself freely... I felt so peaceful, inspired and excited for my future choices ahead.
Student, Tasmania, WA
" It doesn't seem so overwhelmingly awful this time round... I feel like I've finally found a way out of my situation"
I very much appreciate your expert guidance. I'm ready to make some continued improvements.
Transisioning between jobs, Perth, WA
" Your calm & beautifully gentle approach cracked my shell & got right to the heart of where I was having trouble - & within minutes!"
I am so impressed by how mych growth I have experienced in such a short time by simply bringing to my attention where my pain was lying. Absolutely incredible!
Entrepreneur, Brisbane, Qld
I'd experienced stagnation & was lost as to the next steps. I know have so much more awareness & have found direction."
Louise was immediately warm and encouraged me to look more broadly at the narrative I had set for myself. I was able to gain new perspectives, not only in my job but how I'm perceived, how to communicate with others, and what my true values and priorities are."
Human Resources Manager, Qld
Hi, I'm Louise
I love to laugh – and mine is a pretty distinctive one! Someone actually identified me mid-movie in a dark cinema and asked the whole audience if I was there!
This was one of the things I missed the most when I burnt out – I couldn’t remember the last time that I’d laughed…It was like my sparkle had gone out.
I also love to work, but the way I work now compared to my pre-burnout days is significantly different. Now I laugh both in- and outside of working hours!
I have burnt out a few times with my most ‘spectacular’ experience landing me in hospital and on extended stress leave from work. Even then, I couldn’t see what was happening – and still tried to work. It was only many weeks into my stress leave and I was at a lady doctor and explaining that I wanted to start a side hustle, when she said to me, “But, you’re at capacity.” It was then that it hit me like a ton of bricks. I hadn’t resonated with the term ‘burnout’. In my mind it was something that “happened to other people” and ‘being incredibly busy and stressed at work’ was just part of having a career.
So, burning out was not something that I ever looked into or accepted could happen to me - before then. When the specialist said “You’re ‘at capacity’”, it removed the emotional charge for me and helped me see that until I had cleared the stuff off my plate, I couldn’t take on any more.
Whilst I tried to rest, I didn’t have the skillset to calm my racing mind. I returned to work well before I had recovered and went straight back to using my coping mechanisms that I’d always used under periods of stress.
It wasn’t long before I ran myself into the ground and developed chronic fatigue. This time was even worse. My body gave out and it felt like I didn’t have access to my mind, control over my body and I was emotionally numb. It scared me. My life as I knew it was disappearing before my eyes. I felt like I was stuck in a vacuum – alone. Hopelessness began to set in. This was when I finally started to take my health more seriously...
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Stretched to capacity with nothing left in your tank?
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