All burned out and nowhere to go

Midnight multitasking.

Looking through my (very old) high school reports there's a common theme running through all the comments: Karen has so much potential, it's a pity she wastes it.
My coach* has a theory that these comments may have contributed to my workaholism and subsequent burnout. With the underlying message that the child is lazy and couldn't be bothered to work underachievers may feel guilty about their perceived poor work ethic and spend the rest of their lives trying to prove they can work as hard as anyone else.
Underachievers and workaholics are not the only people at risk; Dr Sherrie Bourg Carter has devoted an entire book to helping superachievers avoid burnout.
"In this authoritative, thoroughly researched volume, psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter draws on more than 15 years experience and expertise to explore the unique challenges high-achieving women face and provides helpful insights and practical ways to avoid burnout, enjoy healthy fulfilling lives, and find the perfect work/life balance."
Disclaimer - I haven't read the book, nor do I qualify as a superachiever, so I'm not in a position to comment. I have serious doubts about anyone finding the perfect work/life balance though.
Burnout is not new, but it is a growing problem worldwide, with health professionals leading the way. The casualties are also getting younger as Larissa Faw wrote in her 2011 Forbes piece Why Millennial Women Are Burning Out At Work By 30
I suspect our hyper-connected lifestyle isn't helping - there is no clear distinction between work time and down time anymore. Increasing work loads and expectations you will be available all the time mean there is less and less time for work-unrelated activities. People feel guilty about saying no and have problems switching off from work even when they are away on holiday.

The Mayo Clinic has a piece on how to spot job burn out and the Helpguide's recovery strategy gives good advice on what you should do to recover.
Are you suffering from burnout? Let me know what your recovery strategies are, I'm shamelessly stealing all good suggestions.


*I know, right? But in this instance an unrelated professional has provided me with a lot of help.

Taking a sabbatical

The Pink Drinks girls had widely varying responses to my announcement that I would be 'taking a sabbatical'
Gorgeous Genius blinked at me over her Manhattan and announced it was time for an intervention "Karen buys and sells companies, she doesn't disappear into Buddhist retreats. Clearly she's had a nervous breakdown"
The Border Collie disagreed "Nonsense. They aren't paying private school fees any longer" and my Grandmother (after greeting me with a "You look too dreadful, you need a rest") drained her Tequila sunrise and said "I think it's a fabulous idea. We can walk again"

It had been an exceptionally difficult day at the office, I realised I hadn't seen my best friend in two years and I had a meltdown trying to figure out if I had the energy to have dinner with other friends over the weekend.

I think the team was trying to tell me something...

Sabbatical or a sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a break, often lasting from two months to a year. The concept of sabbatical has a source in shmita, described several places in the Bible (Leviticus 25, for example, where there is a commandment to desist from working the fields in the seventh year). In the strict sense, therefore, a sabbatical lasts a year. (Wikipedia)

I don't have a year, in fact I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to take a month off, and the first lesson will be the hardest; to leave the work alone.
I failed miserably on the first day, fielding calls and answering emails. It's day two and I've answered emails so I've scaled down my objectives to: Do not answer the phone. Let's see  how it goes.