Why burnout is not an individual issue

Have you ever been told that burnout is just a personal issue—a sign that you need to be more resilient, do more yoga, or meditate more? 

While these practices can be beneficial, they aren't cures for the broader issue at hand. 

Burnout isn't just an individual problem; it's a systemic one. 

And to truly heal from it, we need to look at both our personal lives and the world around us.

Burnout on a struggling planet

The reality is that the burnout many of us experience is tied to the capitalistic and patriarchal systems we live in (externally), and the messages of these systems that easily get internalised.

These structures create environments where constant output is valued over rest, where scarcity and urgency overshadow wellbeing, and where the pressure to perform never ceases. 

These systems also push strong messages that we may internalise. Messages of scarcity, shame, never-enough-ness. Messages that keep everything urgent and fast, with no value for rest or redirection. Messages that have us overriding our body’s cues, ignoring our values, and living our lives as though they’re somebody else’s.

This isn't something you created, and it's not something you can fix alone with a bit more self-care. It requires a deeper look at both internal and external factors.

Healing self and collective involves:

Self-Work: This involves tuning into your body, mind, and heart. It's about understanding what truly matters to you, honouring your needs, and living in accordance with your values. It means recognising when you're in a season of low energy and giving yourself permission to rest without guilt. And, it’s about holding compassion for where your valid needs are being bumped up against by external pressures and expectations.

World-Work: This is about creating and participating in communities and cultures that value rest, play, and connection over constant productivity. It's about advocating for systems that support wellbeing, authentic self-expression, critical thinking, and creative expression; and recognising that our individual health is closely tied to collective health. It’s about diverging from the status-quo in favour of ways of living, loving, working, and creating that truly support your body, heart, and mind to flourish!

From burnout to flourishing

Imagine if we treated burnout the way we treat a struggling plant in our garden. We wouldn't blame the plant; instead, we'd look to the conditions. The soil. The rain. The sunlight. The quality of the nutrients the plant is receiving. Similarly, we need to examine the conditions of our lives and the systems we operate within. 

Recognising the cultural conditions of burnout doesn't mean there’s nothing you can do, or that you’re destined to be burnt out forever.

By understanding these conditions, we can gently ease into and create more embodied environments, where thriving is the natural outcome.

Finding sustainable steps to healing

Pause, slow where you can, and engage in rest: First things first - your health and wellbeing are THE most important piece of healing from experiences of burnout. Before we can reconnect with purpose, energy, and action - we need time to rest, recover and recharge.

Reflect on your values: Take some time to journal about what truly matters to you. What are your core values? How can you align your daily actions with these values? Where are external voices and expectations keeping you living in ways that are not aligned with your needs and your values?

Create boundaries: Practise saying no to tasks and commitments that drain your energy. Prioritise activities that replenish you. And remember that setting boundaries is a practise - it might feel uncomfortable or impossible at first - over time though you will learn what feels comfortable and find more ease with setting these important protectors of your energy and vitality.

Find supportive communities: Engage with groups and people that value rest and wellbeing. That value creativity. Self-expression. And, living in a way that makes you happy!

Advocate for change: As you recharge and regain energy and spaciousness, you may feel called to use your voice to advocate for policies and practices that support mental health and wellbeing in your workplace and community. This is by no means a requirement to moving out of burnout and exhaustion. However, for some, this is a source of energy and aliveness.

Burnout is a sign that something needs to change, not just within you but within the systems around you. By recognising this, we naturally start to advocate for, and create, the conditions for personal and collective flourishing.

Be supported

If you're ready to explore these ideas more deeply and take steps towards a more balanced and fulfilling life, I invite you to sign up to This Human Experience Newsletter, explore my online resources, or reach out to work with me 1:1. Together, we can uncover the roots of exhaustion and burnout and plant the seeds for flourishing.

Remember, you don't have to navigate this alone. We're in this together, working towards a world where wellbeing and creativity can flourish.