Like you, COVID really tweaked my undiagnosed burnout. Once my husband and I realized that we could retire early if we adjusted our original expectations of how much money we would need, we jumped at in the summer of 2021 and made it a reality by December 2021. We sold everything, packed up the dog, and headed to Mexico. I had a physical soon after retiring and I was clearly in need of taking care of myself or risk not being around much longer. Happily, I just had my annual physical and 3 years after retiring, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been.
Like they say - the first wealth is health. Glad to hear you've recovered from burnout and are doing well now! Even with my background as a psychologist, I was surprised how long it took me to recover...I'm not sure if you had a similar experience.
I think travel can mask it a bit. Travel is exciting and so much fun, but it has its own stresses. But I also think travel - both living part time in Mexico and being a nomad part time - was what helped me heal.
Several years ago when I was working towards my benefits designation and working at a company in HR that did not support psychological safety in the work place the way they should, I experienced my first ever anxiety attack before an exam, and also in the same week, experienced a cry episode in the work place after an encounter with an employee. I wa so burnt out I couldnt control my emotions, and it was showing up as either rage or dispare. I hadnt been seeing a therapit regularly so I started that again, and was also prescribed a low dose of prozak that honestly changed my life along with the therapy I was receiving. At the times I was also living in Ontario, away from my support network which was exasperating thr situation. After these episodes is when i started my planning to move back to Calgary. Beibg back in Calgary, with my supprt network was a tremendous help as well.
We spend so much of our day at work that our workplaces make such a big difference to our experience of burnout. Even harder when you're away from a support system!
I’m glad you found the time and the means to make the change for yourself Maria. Your story is inspiring.
I had health problems, three major operations in the space of eight months, and they put a stop to normal life. Recovery coincided with Covid lockdown so I was forced to change my lifestyle. I rested.
I take things easier now. Removed as much stress from my life as possible. Reasonably good prognosis health wise. And loving the work I do, the writing and sharing, the reading and learning. I’m travelling more too!
Tell me about your experiences with burnout. Did things improve on their own or did you make a change? What was the catalyst for change in your life?
Like you, COVID really tweaked my undiagnosed burnout. Once my husband and I realized that we could retire early if we adjusted our original expectations of how much money we would need, we jumped at in the summer of 2021 and made it a reality by December 2021. We sold everything, packed up the dog, and headed to Mexico. I had a physical soon after retiring and I was clearly in need of taking care of myself or risk not being around much longer. Happily, I just had my annual physical and 3 years after retiring, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been.
Like they say - the first wealth is health. Glad to hear you've recovered from burnout and are doing well now! Even with my background as a psychologist, I was surprised how long it took me to recover...I'm not sure if you had a similar experience.
I think travel can mask it a bit. Travel is exciting and so much fun, but it has its own stresses. But I also think travel - both living part time in Mexico and being a nomad part time - was what helped me heal.
Several years ago when I was working towards my benefits designation and working at a company in HR that did not support psychological safety in the work place the way they should, I experienced my first ever anxiety attack before an exam, and also in the same week, experienced a cry episode in the work place after an encounter with an employee. I wa so burnt out I couldnt control my emotions, and it was showing up as either rage or dispare. I hadnt been seeing a therapit regularly so I started that again, and was also prescribed a low dose of prozak that honestly changed my life along with the therapy I was receiving. At the times I was also living in Ontario, away from my support network which was exasperating thr situation. After these episodes is when i started my planning to move back to Calgary. Beibg back in Calgary, with my supprt network was a tremendous help as well.
We spend so much of our day at work that our workplaces make such a big difference to our experience of burnout. Even harder when you're away from a support system!
I’m glad you found the time and the means to make the change for yourself Maria. Your story is inspiring.
I had health problems, three major operations in the space of eight months, and they put a stop to normal life. Recovery coincided with Covid lockdown so I was forced to change my lifestyle. I rested.
I take things easier now. Removed as much stress from my life as possible. Reasonably good prognosis health wise. And loving the work I do, the writing and sharing, the reading and learning. I’m travelling more too!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, Yasmin.
That's the thing, isn't it? We often only slow down when we're stopped dead in our tracks by something.
I'm glad to hear you've got a decent health prognosis moving forward and that life is looking much more easeful for you these days!