I feel so bloody burnt out - how did you recover?

[TomWambsgansSwans]

I'm coming to the end of a horrendously busy six months in my career in PR & marketing and I am exhausted. Absolutely knackered.

I don't feel I can do another year in my job. I would love to take a sabbatical but it's not the kind of place that offers it.

Anyone have any advice for managing burnout?

We have a shit employee assistance programme, I could freelance but I have no savings so would need something that brings money in fairly quickly. Work offers a few soft benefits like yoga, but the workload is horrendous. All tips welcome!

Quite honestly, there are only two options really and unfortunately, option 2 is entirely dependent on the firm and the culture:

Option 1: Quit. Find a new job and move somewhere where hopefully the workload is better.

Option 2: work within the system to improve things. Eg, if the workload is completely overwhelming, can you pitch changes to your leadership team? A junior PR person to take on some of the load? An admin assistant? Someone else joins the team (or takes on additional responsibilities)) - all so that you can drop some of the workload and/or work fewer hours.
Or can you and your management agree you take on fewer internal clients with some either moving to other parts of the team or simply being deprioritised?

One thing I learnt working in PR and comms for many years is that it can be very easy to feel like you have to do it all, and do it brilliantly, all the time as otherwise things fall apart. When actually, if you've been doing a good job and are well established, it's actually okay to push back and say that certain things can't/won't be done etc.

it's also important to leverage your skills and relationships (I wish Id' learnt this lesson earlier). So do you really need to prioritise everything equally or are there certain jobs that are more "useful". Who can you get on side to help you pitch any suggested changes to work processes or team allocation? Does everything you do really require that level of focus and attention or can you "drop" some balls a little?

Ultimately you have to work out if this is sustainable and if the benefits you gain from working at this level and pace outweigh being stressed and burnout out. Will the workload realistically ever reduce or be more manageable?

I worked for almost 5 years in a role that was literally impossible. Seriously the emails alone could have filled every day 24/7. It was not worth the cost to my health to continue.

It has taken me a full year to recover (during that time I have worked ‘just’ full time in a job at the grade below). I have zero regrets at moving on, it was only after I left I started to realise the negative impact it had had on me.

I always find going on a holiday helps, not only for the break but also for the chance to think about what I want for my future.

I work in the arts at a really senior, national level and have amassed very specialist expertise over 25 years of working in this sector.

I have what would appear on paper a 'dream' job for many. In reality it's 90% sheer hard slog and drudge due to the myriad problems and bad work practices (and staff) I inherited and 10% doing what I expected to do when I took this job on. I am burnt out beyond belief.

I have given 6 years of my life working my arse off and fixing everything around me to ensure a better working environment for all here and in the past few weeks I have had someone throw such a curved ball of entitlement at me that i am now finished. I know myself well enough to know that I am detaching and mentally checking out as I know I can do no more to drive this forwards

I am currently on holidays and I have seen a role that I am giving serious consideration to applying for. In my sector it would be seen as a step down but I am leaning towards not caring about that as this job would pay the same for FAR less stress and responsibility.

I feel I could have a month off right now and it simply wouldn't be enough and that's not ok. It's only a job at the end of the day!

Good luck to you - I empathise. I am doing the job of 3 people now and there's no scope of employing any more staff. So it won't change anytime soon here.

I also agree with this. You need the opportunity to shut off and recharge. I have a friend who has a very high powered job, lots of money but also crazy hours, lots of stress etc, and she always says the way she gets through is that she never ever comes back from a holiday without her next holiday planned and booked. Having those breaks, in the diary, keeps her sane and, of course, the actual trips are relaxing too. she gets the full corporate entitlement of 30 days or something and takes every single one.

The same friend also convinced her last company to let her work 4.5 days. The truth is that she didn't really do a lot less work, but she was able to push back a little on some things and here 5th day was working from home and flexible and it made a huge difference to her mental health. eg she'd do a bit in the morning, then go off for a massage or to meet a friend for brunch, then come back home to respond to emails or do a call or finish off things. Her assistant knew to keep that day as free from calls as possible so she was also able to really focus on the actual work.

Thanks all.

Yes I think a holiday would be good.

The workload has been insane for the last six months, I haven't been able to take enough of a break.

I 100% know I need to be gone by January next year as there is a big project so I think I might have to just limp on until the autumn and plan my escape!!

Holiday.

Massages, spas etc - if you can afford them - in the meantime. Baths and other nice things if you can’t.

Most importantly - Work to Rule. Smile smile smile. Do your contracted hours but NO more. Be a bit “slidy” instead of jumping on o do everything and exhausting yourself with over-consciousness. Throw a few sickies if they’re treating you like s*. LET THE HEAD HONCHO deal with the the lack of staff and resources.

Spend the rest of the time chilling 🏝️ and applying for new jobs.

well, Im a clinician working in NHS mental health services, and to be honest the last 3 years have jus about finished me off! I've done this job for 25 years, am very senior, but right now it is beyond horrendous and I am beyond exhausted! I am trying (though not very successfully) to be more boundried, to try to care less (not in a bad , just not getting so involved in everything, cause most things ar eout of my control) focusing on trying to make sure I have some emotional energy left for my home life etc and finding things I love outside of work and prioritiisng them. Im a far way off being able to retire, no alternative job I could do that would pay enough for our current family needs so Im stuck with this for another 15 years - oh joy!!

Don’t underestimate how long it can take to recover either. Give yourself some space. Life’s not meant to be like this. Same to @BurntOutCrapPay, hope you find something more amenable too.