being overwhelmed | The Burnout Queens

Am I Burnt Out?

February 15, 2019

AM I BURNT OUT?

I am struck by how many women these days easily say, “oh I’m just so burnt out”. Sadly, I believe it’s a statement most of us seem to relate to in this fast-paced world today. Many of our clients come to us feeling down, depleted, and utterly overwhelmed…and you guessed it, they all say, I think I might be burning out.

What is this thing called Burnout?

We often ask people, ‘do you really know what burnout is’. We hear a variety of common responses some accurate, some not. Bottom line, if the information is not correct women don’t seek help and things get worse. It’s the way Burnout takes hold.

When people hear you say you’re burned out, they usually reply that everyone is stressed. If you think you are suffering from burnout and hear this, you walk away feeling foolish and inept for making a fuss, even though you feel about to drop from exhaustion.

Others talk about ‘being burned out’ in a manner that sounds like a fad or trend or something ultra-light. They are the ones who seemingly act like the ‘every-ready bunny’ and keep going, hardly skipping a beat. It makes it hard to believe they feel like you do, because you are struggling to keep up with everything. So you lie awake wondering what’s wrong with me that I can’t cope.

This would be a good moment to give Burnout some serious thought. What is it really and what does it look and feel like. The best medicine is to arm yourself with proper knowledge so that you can make decisions in aid of your well-being.

The Burnout Queens have put together this Simple Symptom Checklist for Burnout to help you identify whether or not you are burning out. See if you recognise any of the emotional, physical and mental changes for yourself.

Get immediate access to this Checklist

CLICK HERE:

Don’t dismiss your feelings and emotions. If it’s just stress it can’t be that bad, right? And if it’s really bothering you that much you must be depressed, right? Perhaps not.

Burnout is not stress and it’s not depression, although you just might ‘feel’ depressed and stressed when you keep trying to juggle all your responsibilities and never feel you get enough reprieve to feel well. If you are burnt out you keep trying to ‘keep going’, but with depression you just want to hide under the duvet forever!

Let’s nip burnout in the bud. Start by downloading our Simple Symptom Checklist for Burnout. This is the best and simplest way to check if you are actually burning out.

If you love downloading, you will love our Learn From Us page. Feel free to save and read as many of our resources that you think will help on your road to living a burnout-free lifestyle.

To your health!

Love, The Burnout Queens xx

What if your workplace is toxic?

July 24, 2018

What is a toxic workplace and how will I know if mine is toxic?

The Burnout Queens love to share good articles and this is a good article in Inc.com (Marcel Schwantes) based on solid research out of Harvard.

The article titled 5 signs of a toxic workplace that should be stopped immediately (Inc.com magazine), summarises who toxic workers are and what they do that is so counter-productive to the company and their workers.

“much has been written about hiring and developing top performers in the workplace, but less attention has been paid to the effects of toxic workers on their organizations. [toxic] workers are not low-functioning or low-status employees…[they]are talented and productive….”

Here are this article’s 5 signs of a toxic office.

Gossip is spreading
Morale is at an all-time low
Managers are dictators not leaders
The human touch is lost
Health issues and absenteeism are on the rise

These are just some of the situations our Executive Clients find themselves in, many of them disheartened by their company culture, disillusioned by an absent listening leadership. Others grapple with questioning whether they should stay or take the opportunity to leave and place themselves in their dream career move. This all leads to low morale and possibly burnout, which has a knock-on effect on many leaders, teams, executives and ultimately erodes the company’s bottom-line.

Read the full article and get really honest with yourselves. Next step? Implement healthy, rather than punitive change. To ignore and keep following the same path is to risk losing your most talented to the competition.

The step after that? Get in touch (www.livethesolution.com) . We coach Highly Sensitive Executives in these situations all the time and they learn to thrive.

Travelling tips for our executive clients

December 5, 2017

We have a few of our Highly Sensitive Executives either in-flight or just returning from Conference Season in all parts of the globe. It’s not uncommon these days to hop the globe, a continent, or many continents all in one go. The time changes can be challenging to say the least.

We found this great ‘tips’ article in The Daily Telegraph’s Lifestyle section that may be just what these ‘doctors’ ordered as a good way to curb jetlag and still be sane at the end of your business obligations.

Enjoy and fly safe!

The Burnout Queens xx

READ THE ARTICLE HERE: 7 ways to outsmart jet lag.

Email skills up to snuff? Part 2

October 4, 2017

Last week I shared my HSP reaction to the first of five mistakes that make you look unprofessional when sending emails. It’s a great Inc.com article we love to share, and you can catch the first blog here: https://theburnoutqueens.com/email-skills-up-to-snuff/

This week I want to share my HSP thoughts on the second of the five mistakes that make you look unprofessional when sending emails.

2. Choosing email instead of private messaging.

If you are an HSP like me, there is nothing worse than getting mounds of emails in your inbox each morning (and throughout the day). It sets my ‘overwhelm button’ into virtual overdrive.

I have to admit I used to be guilty of doing this, but no more. When I get it from others though, I thank my lucky stars I listened to Dr Toby saying “quit while you’re ahead!”

What am I talking about?

This article suggests using a private messaging system or sending a text is the perfect way to send off a one-liner to friends, family and colleagues. Don’t keep sending back replies to emails.

How many times have you sent your final thoughts or suggestions for business in an email and the receiver keeps replying with small little phrases to keep the email conversation alive (did I just hear Dr T’s voice again). There is always someone who keeps the string attached by replying ‘ok’, or ‘you’re welcome…no problem’, or ‘me too’, or just ‘yep’. This creates at least five extra emails returning to my inbox.

I DON’T LIKE CROWDS. This is crazy and annoying. I just want to say ‘enough already’, but that would net me another reply I’m sure…

…’sorry’!

Next time you are about to hit the reply button with a little extra something, you might want to try to eliminate the urge to be the ‘nice-friendly-person.’ I think the receiver will understand (I know I will be relieved).

Number three next week. If you have a comment or agree (and disagree) with me, leave your thoughts below. We love hearing from other HSPs!

Love, The Burnout Queens xx

PS: If you want to read the original article click here https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/5-email-mistakes-that-make-you-look-extremely-unprofessional.html?cid=email

Too Exhausted for a Life Vision…think again!

March 24, 2017

The Burnout Queens know that most of our Highly Sensitive Women are tired, frazzled and pulled in every direction in their everyday lives. So to suggest one more thing for them to pack into their lives seems cruel. But…

A Life Vision is just what these doctors order for frazzled, fried and burned out women. We know that on any given day, plans can get interrupted, postponed and forgotten in all the details of ‘being and doing’ for everyone. THAT is precisely why having a Life Vision is so very important to cultivate at different stages of your life. When it all goes sideways, isn’t it better to be able to go back to the drawing board and know you have already drawn something to follow? When the chaos and busyness drop off, you can reconnect with yourself quickly and without much struggle.

Quickly and without struggle. Foreign words to busy women, but they can exist.

On our previous blog (Do You Have a Life Vision) we outlined two of our Ideas about Life Visioning to help you get started and not become overwhelmed. Today we’re offering another two for your consideration.

The Burnout Queens want you to stop struggling and actually think about what it is you want in your life. It’s easier to plan and achieve once the vision (the big picture) is clear. So try these:

Idea: Vision is different than purpose. However, the dreams you have for your life can reveal your purpose to you. Your life purpose is embedded in your life vision at the age of 12 or 20 or 50 or 80 or…

Idea: Dreams come from the realm of “what if” and having a vision or a dream requires truthfulness about who you are and what you want. Truthfulness in your vision does not have to lead to limitation. Vision is expansive, illusion is limiting. Vision lends itself to plans and goals, illusion is a dead end.

Come on Darling. Start dreaming and achieving a life you want to live for yourself. I bet you do it all the time for your family, your friends, your colleagues. It’s time for you to get the big picture for your life and step in!

(It may help to read our March 11th Feature Article: Seeking the Big Picture | Life Vision Means Living Burnout Free here:

Leave us a comment and share what your vision is. We’d love to hear.

With love, The Burnout Queens xx