Burnout lives outside

Monday, I go back to work running a school. I meet many people in my profession who tell me they are stressed, tired, and burnt out, often making decisions to move in other directions. It is undeniably hard, stressful work, but I am determined to let those challenges and circumstances remain outside of me.

I know that when all I can think about is wanting to stay home under the covers, dreading phone calls about staff calling out, emails asking me to handle something, or critical comments blaming me for something, it blocks out what is true.

What is true is that I have the privilege to make things better for people. What is true is that my career allows me to support my family, enjoy time off during the year, and savor moments like coffee shop visits, movies, trips to the library, time with friends, and opportunities to be generous.

Today and tomorrow, I want to focus on enjoying the moment and let Monday be Monday when it arrives. I can’t control the situations that bring stress into my life, but I can choose whether or not to allow stress and burnout to occupy my mind. And so can you.

What strategies do you use to keep burnout at bay and focus on the positives in your work or life?