Burnout: The Uninvited Guest in Your Leadership Lounge

Late last year I decided to ignore the signs of Burnout until BOOM – it hit me like a tonne of bricks around March-April this year.

`Thankfully I have an amazing Holistic Coach Loren Miller who has been helping me since with a gradual recovery.

Burnout doesn’t knock. It barges in, steals your energy, eats your confidence, and leaves you wondering why you ever said yes to that “quick catch-up” at 7:30am.

It’s not just being tired. It’s being done—mentally, emotionally, and physically. And if you’re a leader, it’s sneaky because you’re supposed to “have it all together,” right?

Wrong.

Three Signs You’re Burnt Toast (aka Burnout’s Here):

1. You’ve lost your BS filter. Everything annoys you. Even the way your team, partner or dachshunds breathe.
2. You’re faking the passion. You used to care, or you still care sometimes, but you want the work to be done.
3. You’re running on caffeine, excuses and resentment. Sleep is optional. Sarcasm is your new love language, and excuses become reality.

Three Ways to Recover (Without Quitting and Moving to Byron Bay):

1. Say “no” like a boss. Not everything is urgent. Not everyone needs you right now. Boundaries are gold. More work from my office has been part of the recovery.
2. Do something useless. Paint. Walk. Watch Seinfeld reruns ‘these pretzels are making me thirsty” anyone. Reconnect with joy that doesn’t have a measure. For me it was reading.
3. Talk to someone who gets it. Not a guru. A real human who’ll say, “Yep, I’ve been there too.” I shared some of my challenges on a recent Podcast with Tiff Cook titled, "Less Grind, More Truth: Burnout and Being Human

Burnout is real. Recovery is possible. And it doesn’t mean martyrdom—it means modelling what being human looks like.

Sometimes you’ve gotta eat you own dog food.

Ready to take the next step?

Remember, leadership isn't just a title; it's an action. It's about stepping up, taking responsibility, and making a positive impact on the world around you. Investing in yourself is the best way to invest in your team and your organisation.