I remember when burnout first hit me. It was a subtle process. It happened over years. (Years ago when I worked for a company.)

It happened gradually. Longer days turned into longer weeks turned into longer months. I would get rewarded with promotions for what I thought was dedication. My hard worked paid off. Then, I thought I would have to work harder to earn the promotion I had already earned.

I would sleep, but didn’t feel rested. I would attend meetings, but was never fully present. I would work out for the energy, but never felt energized.

I may not have planned to be burned out, but I was the one that fed into it. At the time, I got a payoff from it. See how hard I’m working? I got acknowledged but in the most disempowering ways.

Every time I took time off, I felt guilty, like I should be working. Little did I know that just around the corner, burnout was waiting.

As a leader, I took on more and more and more. It never occurred to me that, as a leader, I was contributing to the company culture of burnout.

I’d forgotten how to breathe, to be mindful, to ask for help, or to say enough.

Can you relate?

SELF-CARE AND LEADERSHIP

After we dismantled the division and I sat for the first time contemplating my next steps, I realized an important lesson. I realized self care is a big part of modeling leadership. Self care is the foundation with which we serve.

For the first time I really got it: You must first serve yourself to sustainably serve others.

Create a great life,

Lisa Mininni