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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Burned Out to Lit Up summary
Cara E. Houser
Ditch the Grind and Reclaim Your Life
17 mins
Brief summary
Burned Out to Lit Up addresses the pervasive issue of burnout, offering practical tools and strategies for rediscovering passion and resilience. Cara E. Houser guides us toward achieving a healthier work-life balance.
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Burned Out to Lit Up
Summary of 5 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 5
If you’re feeling burned out, you’re not alone
Many of us are feeling stressed and exhausted – increasingly burned out.
Burnout is so common, in fact, that it could even be considered a kind of pandemic.
According to a 2018 study, 77 percent of Americans had experienced burnout within the previous year. By 2023, that number had risen to 89 percent.
The World Health Organization also recognizes burnout as a global problem. And the way things are going, it seems like it’s only getting worse.
So many of us are struggling to balance our careers with family commitments, and we forget about our own needs in the process.
Cara Houser was no exception. Several years ago, she was a working mom with a never-ending to-do list.
There was always something that needed her attention, like an “emergency deadline” at work. If that meant missing her kickboxing class yet again, or missing out on sleep, so be it.
Over and over, Houser prioritized other things – and other people’s needs – over herself.
The result? Total burnout. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she ended up taking a sabbatical from work for almost two years.
During this much-needed break, Houser came to some important realizations.
After 15 years of working so hard, trying to do everything that she felt she was “supposed” to do as a parent with a full-time job, she was a wreck.
It just wasn’t possible to live up to this punishing set of expectations. Something had to give. She needed to shift her perspective, and change her lifestyle.
Houser eventually recovered. Now, she has a message for other working parents, or people struggling with burnout: reject hustle culture!
Also, even if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed, there are steps you can take to rediscover your joy in life.
Reframing things can be helpful. For instance, you could think of it as “life-work balance” rather than “work-life balance.”
In the US, unfortunately, so many people put work over everything, and are made to feel guilty if they don’t. But the truth is, the very notion of “work-life balance” is a trap. How can you possibly find a sense of balance if you’re sacrificing your basic needs for the sake of efficiency?
To truly find balance, life needs to come first. That means your life. Your needs.
As you begin your recovery from burnout, you might need to overcome some conditioning – a tendency to put everything else before your own needs. So, no more self-neglect. Instead, it’s time to go on a journey of self-care, arriving at the ultimate goal of self-possession.
Self-possession means living a life where you’re motivated by your internal values – where you’re true to yourself. That might not seem easy, but there are practical ways to make these changes, which we’ll look at next.
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What is Burned Out to Lit Up about?
Burned Out to Lit Up (2023) is a practical guide to recovering from burnout. It shows that by prioritizing our own needs, setting boundaries, and adopting positive habits, we can live happier, healthier lives.
Who should read Burned Out to Lit Up?
- People who feel burned out
- Parents struggling to juggle work and family commitments
- Anyone who wants to live a more balanced life
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