The Beauty of Burnout

By: Mark AlbionWed Dec 19, 2007 at 8:38 AM

Start Liking Yourself

"Friendship with oneself is all-important because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

You will find on the outside only what you possess on the inside. And deep down, most of us don't have a lot of self-respect. So use your downtime to fix whatever problems keep you from following the best track.

Self-discovery and self-improvement are a good start. But I'm talking about self-transcendence that leads to selfless service. Only through self-transcendence do most people begin to feel really good about themselves. As a result, improved self-respect often spurs better jobs, better outlooks, and better lives.

A friend of mine works with impoverished, inner-city youths. At first, she doesn't teach hard skills. Instead, she encourages her kids to volunteer in the children's cancer ward in a local hospital. Not only do her students feel useful, but also they realize how much good they can bring about. She teaches self-esteem through selfless service.

Spend Time With Friends and Family

"I think the world today is upside-down. It is suffering so much because there is so little love in the home and in family life. We have no time for our children. We have no time for each other. There is no time to enjoy each other, and the lack of love causes so much suffering and unhappiness in the world." -- Mother Teresa

I've seen friends burn out at work and then hide -- physically and emotionally -- from loved ones and colleagues. They feel embarrassed. Rather than using downtime to reconnect, they wallow in guilt.

It is too easy to get caught up in our work. It is too easy to treasure our trash and trash our treasures. We may feel important at work, but we are only truly irreplaceable when we are with family and friends.

Burnout seems reserved for people who have more choices than they appreciate. I see it as a modern-day warning system that can help us get back on track. Burnout may just bring with it a more satisfying life for you, your family, and your future employer.

"Most people burn out because they have never been on fire." -- David Head, management consultant

To read more about the importance of passion and purpose in directing your career, read chapter one of Mark Albion's New York Times best-selling book, Making a Life, Making a Living, now also available in paperback, e-book, audiocassette, and audio download.

This is my last column for fastcompany.com. I have enjoyed writing all 16 of them and hope you will continue to read my career-service articles at Making a Life, Making a Living. Best wishes and may you make footprints in the sands of time.