Burnout: The Mojo Killer
Estimated read time: 4 minutes
Welcome to My Musings - a space where I unpack myths, share personal reflections, and offer pragmatic strategies for navigating life and work's twists and turns.
Courtesy of DALL-E
Burnout: The Mojo Killer
I am no stranger to burnout. Some might say I left the legal profession because of it.
For me, burnout felt like losing my “mojo.”
Paying attention became harder.
Cynicism about work crept in.
Sleep became elusive.
Resentment grew towards colleagues, clients, and even friends.
Yet, I was still functioning - showing up, exercising, checking off tasks. But everything felt heavier, slower, and infinitely harder.
Burnout doesn’t announce itself with a parade. It sneaks in, steals your energy, and leaves you grappling with the question: What gives?
What Is Burnout?
Burnout is often described as the endpoint of chronic stress - a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. But it’s more than exhaustion.
Burnout is about:
Our relationship with time - are we enduring or embracing it?
Our expectations - are they realistic, or are we chasing false goals?
Our capacity for self-compassion - do we treat ourselves with the kindness we deserve?
It’s also about transformation. Burnout can be a forced pause, creating space to question and change unconscious narratives. As David Whyte says, “The very path I took to arrive at this hollowed-out, burned-out state, is the path I will take out of my imprisonment.”
Patterns That Never Change
In his book, “Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes”, Morgan Housel highlights how human behavior is consistently shaped by optimism and pessimism. Burnout often emerges when these forces fall out of balance:
Too optimistic? You overcommit to goals, convinced they’re achievable no matter the cost.
Too pessimistic? You spiral into overthinking and overcorrecting to “fix” what’s wrong.
Whyte frames burnout as a “loss of friendship with time itself.” When life becomes something to endure rather than savor, we disconnect from natural rhythms and creativity.
Self-Compassion: The Antidote
Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer offer a framework for combating burnout with self-compassion:
Mindfulness: Acknowledge stress without exaggeration or avoidance.
Common Humanity: Recognize that suffering is universal - it’s not just you.
Self-Kindness: Treat yourself as you would a dear friend.
Whyte adds another dimension: “Healing ourselves from burnout always involves a reacquaintance with the eternal…my ability to experience the timeless is a parallel to my ability to rest.”
Practical Strategies to Recharge and Build Resilience
1. The Self-Compassion Break
Pause and reflect:
Mindfulness: “This is a moment of suffering.”
Common Humanity: “I’m not alone in this.”
Self-Kindness: “May I be gentle with myself.”
2. Adjust Your Expectations
Burnout often stems from impossible standards. Shift your mindset from scarcity to sufficiency - what is enough for you? As Whyte advises, abandon “false goals” and reconnect with what truly matters.
3. Soles of the Feet Meditation
Feel grounded during overwhelm. Focus on your feet - notice the sensations, texture, and rhythm. This somatic practice anchors you in the present.
4. Slow Down to Speed Up
Neff and Germer emphasize that compounding habits - like mindfulness or restorative yoga - yield long-term results. Start small, and let recovery build over time.
5. Reframe Setbacks
As Whyte writes, “Not being able to go on is the beginning of a proper relationship with the timeless.” Embrace difficulty as part of the growth process.
The Turning Point
Burnout isn’t failure - it’s a recalibration. It’s a chance to examine your systems - personal, professional, and societal - and realign with what truly matters.
Which of these strategies resonates most with you? How might they fit into your daily life?
Curious About What’s Next?
If you’re ready to explore what’s possible in your career or life, let’s start a conversation. Burnout doesn’t have to be the end - it can be the beginning of something transformative.