Hope after burnout looks like this

"For me burnout felt like the lid flying off a pressure cooker and the contents flying everywhere. It crept up on me and woke me up to my deteriorating mental health. 

I had been running on empty for months and putting everyone else’s needs before my own. The morning I hit breaking point I left the house for work but instead of taking my usual 5-minute walk I got in the car, turned my phone off and drove 160km in 3 hours. I wanted to run. Everything had become too much for me and I had no capacity left for anything or anyone" says Frances, RN.  

"I pulled up in an airport car park. If I had my passport I may have boarded a plane.

When I realised where I was I turned my phone back on. Waiting for me were messages and texts from family, colleagues and my fiancé, all afraid that something terrible had happened to me. My fiancée’s initial anger jolted me back to my reality. 

My recovery process started as I began the long drive home. 

I took a couple of weeks leave, found a therapist and started to rebuild my life. Investing this time in me was a very new concept. Since then I have teetered on the edge of burnout, but with my new awareness I see the signs and stop it before I fall again" says Frances. 

Finding a way back to hope after burnout 

Practice self-compassion 

It can be tough being human. It is important to allow ourselves to feel our emotions and express them safely. I didn’t want to burden anyone with my grief so I repressed it; I have since navigated this with my counsellor.

Reconnect to yourself and your passion 

I forgot about addressing my needs in my concern with everyone else’s feelings. Self-care was a big part of my recovery. I reconnected to interests and parts of myself that I had abandoned along the way, believing that they were not important. 

Embrace the present and what you do have control over 

Studying mindfulness opened my eyes to how much time I spent ‘in my head’ catastrophising. Part of my recovery was learning to embrace the present and focus on what I could control instead of what I couldn’t.

I use an App called Insight Timer. 

Make intentional changes to your life

Recognise where you are expending unvalued energy. I was always prioritising the needs of others. As nurses and midwives we are always there for our patients. If we start doing this in our personal lives we can end up tired and resentful. 

Identify your recovery capital

You have survived 100% of your worst days so far. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It can feel inconceivable when you are stuck in the tunnel, but with the right support and time, the light will become brighter. 

Create sustainable, purposeful habits and routines

Introduce self-care routines and habits into your life. You could prep meals on days off to avoid the overwhelm of cooking after a shift. Or practice reflecting on your day in a journal. Start slowly. Rome wasn’t built in a day; we need to set ourselves up for success.