3 & 1/2 Days.

I threw work-life balance out the window... I'm sorry (to myself).

There were many professional situations I've been in where work-life balance was not looked at as a priority, not only by my employer, but even myself. It's not an overnight epiphany, but something that you learn to work on, a skill almost. Remember, busy is not a badge of honor.

“Balance means doing enough, not doing it all.”

There was a time in my life where work-life balance wasn't even a term I knew. I thought it was all just life. Can you live that way? Sure. I did, but I'll tell you from personal experience, it is by no means sustainable. The burnout is real, and the consequences associated with burnout are even worse.

This position *literally* changed my life:

Not too long ago, I branched out on to my next professional venture, and accepted this "amazing" position with a reputable firm that was going to change my life... and it did. In the entirety of 3 & 1/2 days, my life changed in the best way possible. Let me explain; I no longer work there.

Have you ever been rewarded for showing up at your place of employment at 7:30am? I mean, maybe. What about showing up at 7:30am and staying past 8pm? Oh yeah, and did I mention this is 6-7 days per week? So let's do some math. Arriving at 7:30am(unless you get there earlier) and staying until 8pm(unless you stay there later) 6-7 days per week = 75 hours minimum of work in 6 days. BUT, you're rewarded with raffle tickets, so it's cool right?

It unfortunately took me 3 & 1/2 days to realize that this was not something that could physically or mentally be sustainable. Was the potential of making 7 figures lying on a silver platter right in front of me? Yes, but could I really settle with selling my soul for the paper? Would you? Maybe most would.

"In a world of paper chasers, be a purpose chaser." - Ambee Stephens

So, this was the pivotal point for me; did I want to start chasing paper instead of my purpose? I could feel both the physical and mental burnout by day 3, so was that the purpose? Actually, this served a purpose of fueling my fire to walk away, and guess what followed... the paper. What didn't follow me? The burnout I felt within.

What is burnout?

Burnout is described as a state of emotional, physical, or mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.

Physical signs of burnout:

• Tired/fatigued most of the time.

• Frequent headaches or tension in your body.

• Change in appetite or no appetite at all.

• Not sleeping normally.

• Easily becoming ill or feeling ill.

Emotional/Mental signs of burnout:

• Feelings of self-doubt

• Feeling detached

• Anxiety or depressive thoughts

• Loss of motivation

• Irritability

Can you still feel burnout on something you're over-the-moon passionate about? Absolutely.

For me, even when I'm extremely passionate about something, I've caught myself overdoing it, and living outside of my own capacities. We all need rest, and we all need time to recharge in order to operate at our full selves again. How are you keeping your cup consistently filled?