Burnout is prevalent in times of high stress and cannot easily be helped by finding balance when our energy flatlines. Instead, recovery needs us to make different choices.
The fact is burnout is not an experience limited to a brave country leader such as Ardern. It can happen to any of us when we burden ourselves to remain resilient, regardless of what our bodies are quietly whispering to us. On the first night of our holiday we were faced with an intruder who was about to approach my daughter’s room. At the time, I was holding my son on my hip, and I froze. It was the most frightening point of my experience of burnout because protecting my children is part of my purpose and I couldn’t respond. I realised I needed help to reboot my life.
Managing burnout is not about regaining balance but rather about making choices for ourselves. Choices that don’t conflict but build daily habits that support our energy and being. You can only give what you have. Dealing with burnout is about taking care of yourself.