Before diving into today's post, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who reached out after last week's post. Your stories, your strength, and your care genuinely moved me. Burnout is a beast, isn’t it?

Alrighty, let’s crack on with the post I promised last week. If you missed it, you might want to check out my burnout story here - it'll give some much-needed context to what I’m about to share.

Here are six strategies that have been instrumental in my recovery (and trust me, there are more, but these six have been absolute game-changers):

1. I re-crafted my job

It wasn’t just the overwhelming workload that was unsustainable—there were elements of my role that were utterly draining and, frankly, thankless. Over time, these aspects began to overshadow the parts of my job that I genuinely loved.

One golden nugget from therapy was the realisation that I’m not cut out to manage people (I should add - I received this realisation after I had stepped down from managing people).

My therapist pointed out that those of us with a strong need to be liked (yep, that’s me) often struggle in managerial roles. Add in my fixer mentality (where I tend to advise rather than coach - the opposite of what good managers should do), and it became clear that managing people wasn’t just difficult - it was truly taxing. (And this is despite having a truly awesome team whom I genuinely like and respect. To quote Tay Tay, "I'm the problem, it's me").

So, I changed my job. I stepped down from the CEO role, shed all direct reports, and redefined my tasks and projects. The result? A much happier me.

But remember: No job is perfect. Research suggests loving just 20% of what you do is enough for high job satisfaction. If your work isn’t sparking joy, consider “Job Crafting” as a way to tweak your role into something that feels more fulfilling.

2. I block out time for mindLESSness

A significant part of my burnout stemmed from the relentless cognitive load I was putting on myself every single day. My brain had zero downtime - it was constantly engaged, whether with work problems, with people, or consuming content (podcasts, books, etc).

So, I built in time for nothingness.

I started driving in silence, no podcast in the background. I took walks around my neighbourhood without my phone. Initially, it felt weird, like that nagging sensation you get when you’re sure you’ve forgotten your passport on the way to the airport. But soon, it started to feel normal, even necessary.

Now, I aim for 1-3 bouts of mindlessness daily, where nothing goes into my brain, and I expect nothing to come out. The craving for stimulation still creeps in, but resisting it consistently has brought me a calmer, more peaceful mind.

3. I deleted all work-related digital communication from my phone.

During my stint as CEO, I made the rookie mistake of installing Outlook and Teams on my phone, thinking it was crucial to stay on top of everything. Naturally, it became the first thing I checked every morning, even on weekends - despite advising others not to do this very thing. (#plumberwithblockedpipes).

The mental load of being perpetually switched on was immense, but I didn’t change my behaviour. Of course I didn't! The addictive nature of digital communication kept pulling me back. The damn siren song of Outlook.

On my two-week break, I finally deleted those apps. And when I returned to work, I kept them off my phone. That one small change has made my brain feel far less fried - no more starting the day with the latest barrage of work emails and reactivity.

4. I created two simple shut-down rules

I’m experimenting with clearer boundaries between work and life. I’ve always been an integrator (as opposed to a segmentor) - someone who’s okay with the blur between work and home life. But this blurriness was exhausting me.

So, here’s my current experiment:

• I finish work at 5pm (or 5.30/6pm if I’m in flow)
• My laptop stays in my home office (and doesn’t follow me downstairs after my work day “ends”).

This strategy has been surprisingly effective. Even if I’m tempted to do more work after dinner, the thought of heading upstairs to my office is just enough of a barrier to keep me away (which also makes me seem incredibly lazy). Nonetheless, it's a win for my non-work activities.

5. I am committing to less

One of my top reads from this year has been Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. His advice about taking on fewer big projects at a time finally sunk in. I’ve always been one to juggle multiple major projects, but now, I’m focusing on just one big thing at a time.

Currently, I’m involved in two major new product development projects at Inventium. Instead of tackling both simultaneously (as the old me would have done), I’ve postponed one until next quarter. This shift has given me more breathing room and the creative space I’ve been craving.

6. I took myself back to therapy

Work stress had me skipping my semi-regular therapy sessions during the first half of this year - precisely when I needed them the most. Now, I’m back to weekly sessions, diving deep into why I ended up burnt out in the first place and how to rebuild from here.

I’m acutely aware of the privilege I have in being able to afford therapy and not having to wait months to see a therapist. This has been a crucial part of my recovery, and it’s helping me understand and correct the patterns that led to my burnout.

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Burnout is brutal, but these strategies are helping me find my way back. If you're facing something similar, I hope these insights resonate and spark inspiration for your own path to recovery.

(If burnout is taking a toll on your team, Inventium can provide the strategies and support you need to foster a healthier, more resilient workplace. Drop me a note by replying to this email - I'd love to chat).

And if you have requests for topics you'd like me to cover in future emails, do let me know. I love receiving reader suggestions.

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