The Ancient Wisdom That Saved Me From Burnout: Balancing Ambition with Self-Care

Image generated with OpenAI by the author

  Overachievers consistently bring more productivity than anyone else in an organization, until they eventually burn out.

  That's what happens to those of us who are overachievers. We work, and work, and work, until we realize we need a break. Usually working more hours than anyone else to get that little extra done.

  It's a curse.

  I found myself trying to be creative while being sick and exhausted. The night before, I had gotten little sleep due to assisting with some work items on top of that.

  Mixing little sleep with illness doesn't help with creative endeavors, or as one of my buddies would say, "They aren't good bed fellas."

  If you already couldn't tell, I'm an overachiever. I put in extra hours more often than I should, or work not just normal hours while sick, extended hours, like I did that night.

  What should I have done?

  Logic would suggest letting my manager know that I was going to sleep in and start the next day late, or taking the day off and allowing my body to fight off the illness. I didn't do that, I was up early and working before everyone else.

  A healthy lifestyle consists of a regular workout routine, eating healthy, enough sleep, work, and leisure.

  I need to hear this as much as anyone else.

  There is a balance, just like everything else in life. Marcus Aurelius touches on this in his book "Meditations".

  “At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?” So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands? You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.”

~ Marcus Aurelius

  Marcus refers to his struggle with getting out of bed in the morning, but also knowing he must do what is needed. The most powerful man in the world struggled to find balance, and he needed to keep reminding himself, just like us.

  What did Marcus Aurelius do?

  He did what was needed of him as a leader. Marcus would remind himself that after sleeping enough, he did need to get back to work like the birds, ants, and bees. He reminded himself that there is a balance to life.

  How do we keep this balance?

  Setting a routine is a good start. Routines aren't just for doing work, they can be used for rest. I set a reminder to start getting ready for bed before the time I should be in bed. This routine has helped me get additional sleep.

  Keep reminders to keep balance in your life.

  As an overachiever, I often have to remind myself not to overextend myself. I do this with journaling like Marcus Aurelius did with "Meditations". Another reminder I found to be quite helpful is knowing the signs when I'm getting close to burnout. Learning these has kept me from burning out as easily, and it tells me that I need to take a step back and rest.

  What are the signs of burnout?

  The signs of burnout may differ between different people. The signs I look for are fatigue, irritability, and concentration issues. When I realize these are starting to pop up, I know I need to consider what the cause is and if I'm overworking myself.

  Balance goes both ways.

  Too much rest or leisure creates instability in the other direction. You become restless, anxious, bored, and unsatisfied with life. This is what Marcus Aurelius is referring to in the quote.

  Knowing someone like him struggled with the same issues tells me I'm in good company. The need to take those extra steps to maintain balance in life will always be there.

 We're only human, perfection will never be in our grasp.

  The adventure is to strive to be better than we were yesterday.

  Let me know how you maintain balance in your life, I'd love to hear.