The Joy of Burnout

---

Each of these episodes was accompanied by significant and in many cases irreversable reductions in physical capacities. In that sense the earlier people burnout, the safer it is. When the burnout hits, there is no other way than to surrender to it. Here Glouberman presents her Radical Healing approach. Essentially this is a way to "train our flabby 'living truthfully' muscle".

It's a strength-based approach that helps to concentrate energy sources in the now to navigate a series of 'paradoxes' 'from hopelessness to giving up hope", "from humiliation to humility", "from disillusionment to de-illusionment", "from the burnout of what we know to the light of what we don't yet know".

THE JOY OF BURNOUT: How the End of the World Can Be a New Beginning

From what I read it has a lot of mindfulness in it; it's about slowing down, relearning to listen to ourselves and rekindling our capacity for visualisation. There is no quick fix and no fixed destination. Failure is part of the new game. The pitfall is to swap one obsessive mode of achievement for another one: And time doesn't matter".

One may have several gripes with this book: Also, philosophically, one might object against the litany of "finding your true self". Still, I recommended this book to several of my friends struggling with the unwelcome new reality of burnout. Most seemed to welcome the positive message that is at the core of this book. I think this reframing - presenting the condition not as a failure but as an opportunity - is the book greatest contribution. I started reading this, and then stopped because the author spends way too much time defining what burnout is.

However, I went back and picked up the book again, and I'm glad I did. Starting with chapter 9 and forward, there are some great nuggets and exercises for those in the midst of burnout. I wouldn't say I've quite found the "joy" in burnout just yet, but I am definitely in a better place mentally and em I started reading this, and then stopped because the author spends way too much time defining what burnout is.

I wouldn't say I've quite found the "joy" in burnout just yet, but I am definitely in a better place mentally and emotionally than I was. As a technical aside, this book could have really used an editor. There are many typos and punctuation errors, and the writing could have been tightened up and polished considerably. However, if you can overlook some of these shortcomings, there are some good techniques and strategies for overcoming burnout in this book. Tried and True I read this book again, 6 years after the first reading.

It definitely helped after the first time, but life goes on and circumstances change, so I realized after some months into the new state of affairs that I needed a refresher.

The book was as meaningful second time through. A most important feature for me is that Glouberman knows the burn out experience from the inside. She also respects the danger of the condition and the profundity of the experience. There's no pushing the r Tried and True I read this book again, 6 years after the first reading. There's no pushing the reader to "recover" and return to being "productive. I never had the feeling I was being talked down to; rather I found just good old support for my own experience here.

Clare Josa's Most Popular Courses:

It's certainly a keeper in my library. Sep 29, Sarah rated it it was amazing Shelves: If you are experiencing burnout, I cannot more highly recommend this book. It resonated deeply with me and was exactly what I needed at this time. I am still returning to sections and exercises and expect I will continue to do so for awhile since recovery is not necessarily a linear process. This book will take you all the way down If you are experiencing burnout, I cannot more highly recommend this book.

This book will take you all the way down the path that you followed to burnout, and then lead you back out. You have to be ready and willing to go deep and truly hit rock bottom but if you are burned out, you probably already have, and this book is there with a guiding light to show that you are not alone. You will be facing things deep inside that you've hidden away because you've been too scared to face them.

Another reviewer criticized the book for spending so much time exploring what led you to burnout in the first place, but I think this is a strength of the book, not a weakness. These chapters and the exercises in them were enlightening and resonated strongly for me. I am returning to them even after having finished reading the entire book.

The important point to me is that recovering from burnout is largely about letting go of the past as well as hopes of the future , and to do that fully you have to understand what about your past behavior and identity led you to this place.

Top Authors

While I think that the parts about how the burnout happened are important, I did feel that the parts about how to recover were a little bit shorter than I would have liked. I was left with a small feeling of "that's it? Overall, a great book that I highly recommend if you are in a place where it seems relevant.

Jan 22, Tom Steck rated it did not like it. The author, with Ph. The soul, as it is generally understood, operates according to different set of meanings than that of our everyday personality. The soul's meanings are more to do with being and loving and what it's all about and why things are the way they are, while our everyday personality is concerned with control, success, approval, managing the status quo and achieving personal goals. Our heart speaks of both worlds and can be a link between the two. Having your house burn down is rather more literal than the usual burnout [..

The book is full of such pseudo-scientific ideas that don't have any support in true science and therefore, they are painful to read.

The author also regularly mentions in a creative way - I have to admit her business Skyros Centre and testimonials that basically turn this book into one big promotional brochure. Oct 14, C. G rated it it was amazing Shelves: I cannot remember how I found this book, but what a blessing that I did.

I won't say I'm burnt out per se, but definitely on the way there this year. Took 11 days away from the office, worked through a bunch of the exercises in this book, and returned to work feeling much more optimistic about being able to stay in my job though I'm still struggling. The main reason that I liked it so much was the emphasis on the joy of burnout - the way she writes about it, it feels like this burnout is the s I cannot remember how I found this book, but what a blessing that I did.

The main reason that I liked it so much was the emphasis on the joy of burnout - the way she writes about it, it feels like this burnout is the start of an adventure, rather than a depressing, aggravating weight that will only lead to quitting my job or health problems. I actually feel really motivated to explore my healing after finishing the book. Some quotes that resonated: Others will learn theirs if and when they are ready.

See a Problem?

It is your energy and you need every last bit of it to re-establish that energy flow that has got so out of balance. They don't have to be how we want them to be, or feel towards us as we'd like them to. Jul 25, Chinarut Ruangchotvit rated it really liked it Shelves: First, I need to apologize for a very hash 1-star review back in July - it took 3 years of exploring every method under the sun before coming back in Oct to see the beauty of this book and its messaging - it is now my life mantra! At the time, I was quite judgmental of the visualization exercises and missed her advice to skip the exercises if I need to - this is what helped me finish the book!

This required two reads. I first p First, I need to apologize for a very hash 1-star review back in July - it took 3 years of exploring every method under the sun before coming back in Oct to see the beauty of this book and its messaging - it is now my life mantra! I first picked this book up in not hearing the message. In , I hit a wall and renewed my own commitment to my health. When I hit a wall again in , I realized I wasn't giving something up. It is only now in mid when accepted to take in a new consulting role that I started to see the light of how unsustainable my initiatives are.

I hit the end of my own journey, one I put myself on! Oct 12, Sarah rated it it was ok. The biggest takeaways were think about what you want out of life and form a community with other people who are experiencing burnout. Sep 09, Seamus Geraghty rated it it was ok. Not my cup of tea. Mar 31, Jean-marie Prevost rated it did not like it Shelves: I couldn't push myself to read it entirely. I forced myself through the first 62 pages, then started reading diagonally. Damn glad I did too. This book is really not for me. I've recently struggled with exhaustion after months of being overworked while caring for my toddler, and this book did absolutely nothing for me.

In my case, burnout was a clear consequence of being overworked, over-stress, suffering from insomnia and ultimately pushing through sickness for too long. The author r Disclaimer: The author rather defines burnout as: It's full of new-age stuff and NLP-like exercises where you're asked to "visualize your situation as a picture, and see yourself outside the picture, now back inside, now move away" and such. But what better way to warn you about the tone of this book that to cite the author herself: It is that we abandon our true selves.

I was looking for help on how to cope and get back up from a burnout and possibly how to re-frame the whole experience, but this book was an absolute miss for me. If the quotes sound inspiring to you, then I guess it was written for you, but I couldn't get over the tone and pseudo-mysticism to dig out potential nuggets of good advice if any can be found.

Dec 04, Roxanna rated it liked it. Drop this book and pick up another, if this is going to be your first book on the topic. The author spends almost half the book on what burnout is and how you would feel if you had burnout or on the path to being burnout , and the remainder on why burnout might have happened to you.

While understanding the symptoms of burnout so you can more readily recognise it in the future to prevent it from happening again and how you've come to be in the situation, these topics are unlikely what you crav Drop this book and pick up another, if this is going to be your first book on the topic.

While understanding the symptoms of burnout so you can more readily recognise it in the future to prevent it from happening again and how you've come to be in the situation, these topics are unlikely what you crave to know more if you were in a burnout state yourself and trying to help yourself through it. There are gems in the form of checklist and questions throughout the book but I found some of them to be completely random and more like a stab at everything related to one's mental health. Many symptoms on that list could be signs of burnout as well as deeper mental health issues that warrant more serious attention - burnout symptoms in my view are almost always indicative that one's mental health is operating at sub-par level but the reverse is not necessarily true.

This book is more suitable to those who have read a few books on this topic and is keen to read a book that give you some examples of how others have treated the symptoms of burnout and successfully used it as their "rebirth" and change paths. If you're after a self-help book if you're in the midst of burnout or close to it , I would recommend that you seek out books on self-care.

An interesting book about finding a new start and a better way after a burnout. If you have not burnt out yet but feel yourself on the way, this book gives ideas too to help you get over your problems and see the world from a different point and be ready to change what needs to be changed to heal your body-mind-soul.

It is not a one-time read, it should be used as a manual for regular exercises. This book found me when I needed it and it definitely helped me redefine what my burnout looks like. It isn't hard to see how Julie McNamara broke down. She had suffered an incredible 11 recent bereavements - including the death of her father. Her job for Hackney Council was emotionally draining, stressful and poorly managed. But I had become cynical because the budget was so small for our dreams and visions.

It took two years for McNamara, now 42, to recover fully. She believes burnout is what happens when we ignore 'the soul whispering' against an unhealthy job or relationship. The book is endorsed by author Sue Townsend who writes of four burnouts in her own life, marked by illnesses including TB, a heart attack and sciatica, which generally occurred during angst-ridden periods of overwork, when she felt she was allowing herself or her work to be compromised.

Glouberman's argument is that burnout, usually seen as a disaster, is not the end but a new beginning, though, she stresses, it is preferable that people transform an unhealthy situation before they are damaged. It is a provocative notion - that through the pain of burnout, human beings can undergo some kind of rebirth.

Bestselling Series

It was with the caring professions that burnout - a term coined in the late Seventies by psychologist Herbert Freudenberg - was originally most associated. But the term is now almost synonymous with the corporate world. It surveyed five countries - Britain, the US, Germany, Finland and Poland - and discovered that workplace stress, burnout and depression is spiralling out of control. The report warned that anxiety levels will rise with the increased competition and uncertainty generated by globalisation.

Downsizing, layoffs, mergers, short-term contracts and the push for higher productivity are taking their toll. Overall, the survey found one in 10 workers suffering from depression, stress and burnout. The UK comes out particularly badly, with three in 10 employees suffering mental-health problems.

Professor Andrew Kakabadse, of Cranfield School of Management, believes some people still refuse to acknowledge burnout because of its association with mental breakdown. Most don't leave their jobs but their relationships and health suffer. He says stress is worse in countries with Anglo-American business models where rationalisation and redundancy mean far too few people doing far too much work. Around per cent of executives experience some kind of burnout in their career, and most have two.

Despite figures that suggest a near epidemic, some still see burnout as nature way's of weeding out the weak. Glouberman insists, however, that burnout is likely to hit the most creative, hard-working and committed people. And psychology professor Christina Maslach, from the University of California, Berkeley, one of the world's leading burnout experts, argues that companies ought not to scapegoat employees but look to the environment they expect people to work in. Management consultant Elizabeth, 37, agrees she prefers anonymity because she fears any perception that she 'couldn't hack it' will torpedo future job opportunities.

Until last year, Elizabeth worked for one of London's top management consultancies. She was earning six figures for the first time in her life, and promotion and partnership beckoned. But she was first to the door when a redundancy programme was announced. I was just rolling from one project to the next. But the pace began to take its toll.

The highest standards were always expected. It was relentless and utterly driven. It relied on you wanting to prove yourself over and over again, against other people. I ended up drinking far too much, and partying too hard. And then I would be so depressed at weekends that I couldn't even get out of bed. On smart-suited weekdays, manage ment consultancy looked quite glamorous. But weekends could be sad affairs. One moment you didn't even want to pick up the phone and then you were getting drunk and out of order.

It just wasn't the person I am. It was Elizabeth's moth-balled private life that bothered her most. She had not had a boyfriend since she joined the firm. It was the sort of environment where insecurities were drawn out and played upon. There were a couple of partners who were very psychologically aware. It wasn't exactly manipulation or mind games but in that area. The redundancy programme - offering a year's salary - came just in time. Elizabeth doesn't blame everything on the company.

And I did feel like a failure when I left. A lot of people thought I was mad to give up my salary. She had worked there for over a decade and her gradual disenchantment with work chimes with Elizabeth's. Overnight and weekend work, during multimillion-pound property acquisitions, had seemed exciting in her twenties. Now she dreaded the unexpected file dropping on her desk. I was almost 40 and didn't want to do this for the rest of my life. Quinn moved on before unhappiness caused her any ill health.

When James Bennett ran into trouble as the new marketing director for a division of accountants, he was less fortunate. Bennett was a year-old wunderkind when he was head-hunted for a Price Waterhouse job but he found the culture of the large corporate organisation difficult. I became really ill and ended up in the hospital for tropical diseases with some viral illness they could not identify. When I tried to go back to work, I was utterly exhausted.

The company sent me to all sorts of psychologists and doctors and eventually chronic fatigue syndrome was diagnosed and I took three months off. Bennett has no doubt stress caused his illness. The 'failure' at Price Waterhouse played on deep insecurities. Bennett's dyslexia went undiagnosed at school and he left at 16 with no qualifications, believing he was 'thick'. After starting out selling windows, he set up his own record import company, and did an MBA, after which he was successful in his first company marketing director's role.

But when things stalled at Price Waterhouse, the self-doubt flooded in. Bennett was eventually given a generous severance package. And, like Elizabeth, he takes some responsibility for what happened. Life coach Fiona Harrold helps put the burned out, and the poised-to-burn-out, back on their feet. It is the body saying this is enough, I don't want to do this any more. Harrold says that when the all-consuming jobs disappear, many clients find that even huge payoffs fail to take away the painful sense of failure.

People get so caught up in their work worlds that they lose perspective. She suggests her clients think of Africa, or simply take a taxi down to Peckham, south London when they are feeling sorry for themselves. And she is absolutely uncompromising in her belief that none of us - even those saddled with a mortgage, a nanny, and three sets of school fees - needs to stay in jobs we have come to hate. Glouberman also connects illness and burnout and Sue Townsend says she sees something 'significant' in the way her four periods of illness, including her recent blindness, forced her to take the rest her relentless drive and manic working will not allow.

Of the chronic sciatica that struck her at 49, Townsend says:

• Binding Heart Series - Complete Collection
• Les ennemis de lart décrire (Bibliothèque des introuvables) (French Edition)
• Click To Subscribe
• Comprehensive Chemical Kinetics: Unimolecular Kinetics, Part 1. The Reaction Step: 39
• Kompetenzmanagement in der Praxis: Mitarbeiterkompetenzen systematisch identifizieren, nutzen und entwickeln Mit vielen Fallbeispielen (German Edition)