Summer Break: Rethinking Burnout

Feminist Founders

Nikki the Death Doula

Rest coach Jordan Maney recently joined Becky Mollenkamp for a discussion about burnout. Maney’s work specifically addresses the connection between burnout and apathy, particularly for empathetic individuals who care about making a difference.

This powerful conversation emphasizes the need to recognize and value invisible labor, critiques the current solutions offered for burnout, and calls for a more comprehensive approach to recovery.

Becky and Jordan also highlight the societal conditioning that discourages individuals, especially women, from seeking support and setting boundaries., and the need for collective approaches to address burnout.

Key Points:

• Burnout is not solely an individual problem but is influenced by systemic factors.
• Apathy can be a result of burnout, leading individuals to feel overwhelmed and believe that someone else will fix the problems.
• The concept of burnout should extend beyond professional labor and include the recognition of invisible labor.
• Current solutions for burnout, such as self-care and quick fixes, are not comprehensive and fail to address the underlying issues.
• Recovering from burnout takes time and requires a shift in mindset, including letting go of overcommitment.
• Building a collective and seeking support are essential in preventing and recovering from burnout. The societal conditioning discourages individuals, especially women, from seeking support and setting boundaries.
• Shifting from an individualistic to a collective approach is crucial in addressing burnout and creating systemic change.
• Self-care involves self-management and self-advocacy, including setting boundaries and prioritizing one's needs.
• Creating lasting change requires engaging with community and recognizing that individual efforts alone cannot transform systems.
• Healing from burnout is a slow and ongoing process that may require seeking support from professionals who understand the complexities of burnout.

Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction and the Individualistic View of Burnout

2:50 - Invisible Labor and the Need to Value It

5:43 - The Ineffectiveness of Traditional Self-Care Approaches

8:51 - The Time and Effort Required for Burnout Recovery

10:56 - The Challenge of Letting Go and Setting Boundaries

16:25 - The Importance of Collective Support and Community

22:03 - Confronting Identity and Shifting Perspectives

26:35 - Redefining Self-Care as Self-Management and Self-Advocacy

28:32 - The Need for Comprehensive Change and Systemic Solutions

32:31 - The Slow Roast of Burnout Recovery

35:21 - The Role of a Lighthouse in Guiding Burnout Recovery

36:39 - Conclusion and Call to Action