4 Ways to Beat Burnout and Reignite Your Passion

By: NaTasha Mathis
Edited by: Summer Neal

Spring is just around the corner and with it comes such beauty; warm sunny days, blooming flowers, the sound of birds chirping, the roar of proud parents and excited children at the ballfield.  It’s almost like an awakening from the winter’s cold slumber… a season of new beginnings.

Hand in hand with all the beauty of spring often comes busyness, packed schedules, overflowing and sometimes toppling plates, and possibly, if we aren’t intentional…burnout.

According to the Mayo Clinic, burnout is “a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work.”

Burnout can sneak up on you.  You wake up one morning and feel done.  It is a gradual process of doing too much for too long. 

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “doing all the things.” It’s such a common expression these days that one would think it should be second nature for us to give, and do, and be ALL.THE.THINGS!  If this is your goal, then you are setting yourself up for failure.

We simply cannot do “all the things.”

You will quickly find that something lacks when you try to do everything yourself.  Something will inevitably fall through the cracks, be forgotten, or not meet the standard of expectation you’ve set.  This causes a downward spiral to burnout.

You will become critical of yourself and find fault in all that you do.  You will find yourself weary, lacking the strength to push forward, drained, defeated, and eventually sick of trying.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Matthew 11:28 (NIV) says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

So how do we prevent burnout and not grow weary in doing good?

Here are 4 practical steps that you can put into action today to prevent burnout and weariness. These steps may not come easy, but with intention, commitment, planning, and practice, they are possible.    

1.     Learn the art of saying no.

It isn’t expected or required of you to say yes to everything that is asked of you.

Saying no to things that could be delegated to someone else is a good and healthy practice.  Saying no gives others an opportunity to be used and to serve and gives you the time and space to focus on the things that you are most passionate about. 

Even Jesus didn’t do everything on His own.

He was the one human who could’ve just spoke things to be and done all the things to perfection all on His own, but He chose not to.  He chose to be a team player and pour into the lives of others by giving them opportunity to serve.

Jesus led by example and delegated tasks to His team which, in turn, empowered his team to accomplish assigned tasks. This gave the disciples, who were Jesus’ team, confidence in Him and in themselves to continue to do the work necessary, but also set them up for future success after His departure.

Jesus was a living example not only to them, but to us, that the job of a leader is to make sure that the work gets done, but not to do the work all themselves.

2.     Allow time for yourself to be recharged and refreshed.

Strive to find a healthy balance between doing for others and having time to rest.  Don’t give and do and take care of others to your own neglect or detriment.

Self-care is not selfish.  Taking care of yourself is the first step in taking care of others.

Physical self-care is the most obvious type and the one you most likely think of first when you hear the term “self-care”.  This includes how you fuel your body, how much sleep you are getting, and how much physical activity you are performing.  So, develop good eat habits, a regular sleep routine and keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Get outside, soak in the beauty of nature, and be more active.

Remember baby steps!  Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to make too many drastic changes at one time.

Just as important as physical self-care is spiritual and emotional self-care. This includes a healthy prayer life, Bible reading and devotion, and fasting routinely.  You need to let God fill you daily to better serve others and do the tasks before you with excellence.

Don’t fill your day so jammed packed with activities and duties and work that you don’t make space for God to fill you.

Allow yourself quiet moments.  Sometimes quiet is exactly what you need to be able to see things more clearly; to be able to quiet the chaos and noise and busyness of life and just be. God’s voice is a still small voice and that is hard to hear when everything else is so loud.

3.     Seek out a healthy support system.

While striving to do “all of the things” it’s easy to develop tunnel vision to the point of feeling and thinking you are doing this thing called life alone. But you are not alone.

Don’t avoid community because you are tired, busy, discouraged, down, or struggling.  It is in these times that you need community most.

Being in the presence of God with your church family, laughing with friends and family, worshipping and praising God as a congregation, sharing meals, and making memories…these things will fill you up with all of the good things.

It is important to have trusted friends, family, leaders, and mentors that you can talk to openly and honestly.  Sharing your emotions, thoughts, feelings, and problems with someone who you trust can be profoundly healing.

God made people and God loves people and God made people to need people. You aren’t meant to go through life alone and you have been called as Christians to make sure others don’t feel alone. Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

How do you carry another’s burdens without feeling overwhelmed yourself?  Simple…be a friend.  Don’t take the burden on as your own, but be there to listen with an understanding ear, pray, encourage and uplift. Just be there.   

4.     Remember who is in control.

When you take on too much it’s easy to get caught up in all that is going on around you and forget that you weren’t made to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.

When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or like all that you’ve been trying to juggle is about to come crashing down, turn to God.

The Bible says that He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

God wants you to trust Him with all of you…the big things and the small things.  The Bible instructs us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. There is nothing too big or too small for your God. Instead of trying to carry all the heaviness of life alone, give it to Him, let Him carry it since He knows what is best for you anyway.

If you are finding that you’ve gotten so caught up in the monotony of doing that you’ve lost your passion and drive, don’t give in. Don’t throw in the towel.  Give yourself room and time to rest, refocus, process, and grow.

Give yourself grace while you begin the process of beating burnout and reigniting your passion.

Remember that you didn’t get to this place overnight and it will take time, intention and work to get you to a place where you feel balance between doing and resting.

You are not alone. It’s okay to ask for help.  It’s okay to say no.  It’s okay to take time to care for yourself.  

If you find yourself in a position of needing rest and recharge from your burnout, we would love to have you join us for service at Faith Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church.  There is no better place to find refuge than in the house of the Lord and in the welcoming arms of your Heavenly Father.

There is no one better to turn to for reigniting the passion within you than the one who created you for purpose Himself.  We look forward to worshipping with you!

Here are 10 Bible verses you may find helpful.