This study I’m sharing with you today is inspired by a recent session with a client who is an entrepreneur and an absolute genius at her work….
She is so incredible at what she does, that she has a looooong list of clients and a looooong list of clients in waiting. This is a good thing! But it becomes a bad thing when there are a lack of boundaries and self care.
You see, she tends to put her clients’ needs above her own and always goes the extra mile, causing her to fall behind when the hours in the day just aren’t enough to stay on track, perpetually burying herself under deadlines that keep piling up, creating an “impossible” situation.
As we started to unpack the depths of her circumstance in this session…
It became clear that she was dealing with more than the “laziness” or “unmotivation” she had been beating herself up about. She was burning out.
By becoming aware of what was really going on, she became empowered to take the necessary steps to recover and finally move forward.
What’s at the root of burnout?
A major cause of burnout is a lack of self-care. Those who do not take care of themselves fail to understand how much God values them.
We forget…
That our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19- 20) and thus sacrifice sleep, neglect our nutrition, and over-extend our schedules.
We fail to accept…
God’s rest and His love for us, instead sacrificing ourselves and our boundaries, on the altar of pleasing others.
Ultimately, burnout boils down to a lack of understanding of God’s design for you to do big things, His way.
Biblical + Practical
Jesus is our best example for how to achieve big results without burning out. He was extremely focused on His goals and accomplished exponentially more in his short 30-ish years on earth than anyone else in History.
How did Jesus accomplish so much in so little time?
He maintained self care and boundaries!
- He was never in a rush because He knew He was on God’s time.
- He had a small circle of trusted helpers.
- He prayed over every move he made.
- He withdrew to solitude repeatedly.
- He lived in community with others.
- He took a Sabbath.
Of course the goal is to be more like Jesus, but where do we even start?
We recover from burnout by:
Entering God’s rest. You must rest to recover. This is a non-negotiable.
- Physically, nourish yourself (1 Corinthians 6:19- 20).
- Mentally, rest your thoughts (Matthew 6:25-34).
- Spiritually, bring God into your circumstance and ask Him to lead as you slow down to follow (Proverbs 3:6).
We avoid burnout next time by:
Staying in tune with God’s specific direction for your life and follow Jesus’s example.
What you can do now:
Whether you’re dealing with everyday stress, walking the line from stress to burnout, or are deep in burnout as you read this, I am encouraging you to get serious about self care.
That means:
- Fueling your body with nutritious foods and plenty of water.
- Going to bed and waking up at your most restful times.
- Moving your body and getting fresh air.
- Spending time with loved ones.
- Taking time to laugh.
- Engaging in hobbies.
- Taking a Sabbath.
And most importantly, consult God about your schedule.
Saying yes to one thing, is saying no to another. Pray over every move you make so you can have the most energy to take on the most meaningful activities in your life.
