Read Before Burning #16: Burnout and Perfectionism — A Balanced Perspective
Some people see burnout and perfectionism as badges of honour, but neither is healthy. Could there be a way to address both of these at once?
Read Before Burning #15: The Curious Case of Burnout Brain
This issue of Read Before Burning examines “burnout brain”, a phenomenon where burnout interferes with our cognitive capabilities. Its a phenomenon supported by lots of evidence and it has important implications.
Read Before Burning #14: Your Burnout Defences Have Holes
In this issue, I explain that your organisation’s burnout defences have holes — holes that allow people to burn out in what might otherwise seem like a well-run workplace. Fortunately, you can find those holes and fill them!
Read Before Burning #13: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
In this issue of Read Before Burning, I try to answer the question so often asked by people burning out at work: “Should I stay or should I go?”
Read Before Burning #12: Can Injustice Trigger Burnout?
In this issue of Read Before Burning, I ask “Can injustice trigger Burnout?” If someone is already burning out, could unjust treatment trigger a shift to severe burnout? I explore how this might happen and what you can do about it.
Read Before Burning #11: Burnout — From Disclosure to Action
In this issue, I discuss the actions that you can (and in many cases should) take after someone has disclosed to you that they are burning out. These include offering help (which can be trickier than you expect), respecting confidentiality, making a formal report, and keeping a record of details.
Read Before Burning #10: How to Handle Burnout Disclosure
In this issue, I cover what you SHOULD do when someone discloses to you that they are burning out. There are four simple principles to remember: Listen, Empathise, Ask, and Do. Read this article to be able to LEAD someone in the direction of recovery.
Read Before Burning #09: Disclosure Don’ts
When someone finally has the courage to open up about feeling burned out, the response they get can make a huge difference. A supportive response can facilitate trust, hope, and effective recovery. A poor response can do the opposite — and you would be shocked at how many “poor response” stories I’ve heard.
This is an article about what NOT to do.
Read Before Burning #08: Returning After Burning
Returning to work can be hard after any illness or injury, especially burnout. This issue looks at return-for-work programs and how to improve the return-to-work experience for workers who have been recovering from burnout.
Overcome Obstacles to Burnout Recovery
I appeared on the Share, Inspire, and Explore podcast to discuss why recovery from burnout can be so difficult. Across two episodes I explain six obstacles to recovery, and I provide some advice on how to overcome them.