We recently had a chance to sit down with Martha Beck Certified Life Coach, Judy Klipin to talk about her latest book, Recover From Burnout. And, after chatting with Judy, we couldn’t wait to read the book from cover to cover because the truth is, burnout has the potential to affect every single one of us at some stage or another.
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What is burnout?
Judy believes that burnout is a result of doing too many of the wrong things, and in her 12-year career as a life coach, she says she’s seen burnout in many and varied clients. “There’s no doubt that burnout is becoming an epidemic in South Africa, one of the most stressed nations in the world,” says Judy. “It wreaks havoc with our moods, bodies and relationships”, she adds.
Burnout is now a legitimate syndrome, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) who characterises burnout as “Feelings of energy depletion and exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job and reduced professional efficacy.”
And with global stress levels continuing to rise, it’s no wonder that more and more people are suffering from burnout and a range of stress-related mood disorders and health problems such as;
- Depression and anxiety
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Gastrointestinal problems
Who suffers from burnout?
“Burnout has long been associated with overworked and stressed corporate high-flyers, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that it’s a condition that spreads it’s reach far and wide”, explains Judy. In her practise, she’s seen a variety of clients suffering from burnout including;
- High-powered executives (men and women) who are so tired and stressed, they live on stimulants to keep them going
- Fearful and vulnerable women who are so drained by the demands of family, friends and work
- Angry and resentful men who try to drown their stress in vices such as alcohol and cigarettes.
The truth is, men and women from all walks of life are vulnerable to burnout, says Judy. In her book, she explains that burnout is a systemic condition that affects every element of our lives (our body, our mind, our emotions, our spirit and our relationships).
If burnout isn’t addressed or taken seriously, it can lead to all sorts of problems including diabetes, heart disease, depression, divorce and more.
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How to prevent and manage burnout
Judy believes there are a lot of things you can do to address burnout, that won’t make you feel more burned out!
In her book, she offers simple, practical steps and bite-sized nuggets of information to help you become more in-tune with yourself so that you can stop burnout in it’s tracks before you start to feel overworked, overwhelmed or overcommitted.
Some of her strategies include;
- Learning to say no and asking for help
- Being more in-tune with your five senses so that you learn to ground yourself in a stressful situation
- Learning how to reconnect with yourself and your spirit through reading and writing
- Spending time in nature
- Listening to your body and it’s needs
In the book, she also highlights some key factors you might not have considered, as well as how to address them – such as how to set your own agenda for your life and put up boundaries so that you’re not living other people’s lives or owning their emotions, rather than your own.
Another critical factor to manage burnout is learning how to set your pace and track your energy levels so that you can live your life with purpose and thrive, rather than just survive. Judy dedicates an entire chapter to this, which she has called “Take Back Yourself”. In this section she looks at how to take proper breaks, cut out unnecessary interference, reconnect with your relationships and take more rest.
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Our verdict?
We highly recommend this book because it’s simple to read and packed with relatable stories and easy-to-follow tips that you can seamlessly try in your day-to-day life. Judy herself suffered from burnout, and as a result, she provides clear-cut guidance to help you keep burnout at bay for the rest of your life.
Click here to find out more about Judy’s books and services.
By Freelance Writer, Tammy Jacks
