There are a lot of cool things about my current job, but one of aspects that offers the most tangible sense of accomplishment comes from the opportunity to teach as an adjunct several times a year in classes for union organizers. For me, it’s almost like smoking crack (I mean…so I’m told), and the therapy I get from spending an afternoon outside of the office and out in the field with the people doing the work in the trenches is beyond my feeble ability to describe. Usually, I am privileged to do a communication’s piece around skills needed when talking to unrepresented workers, or open shop employers, however this last time around, I did a new segment for advanced organizers on avoiding burnout.
Now, like just about everything else, I have zero academic expertise in the area of burnout. As the former head of a large contingent of construction organizers, and having been one for many years myself, I did feel as though I had some practical knowledge on the subject, but no textbook expertise. So…as I always do when I need to find out how to repair the belt on the clothes dryer, or the name of a buttery Chardonnay, or to diagnose shortness of breath and a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, I began surfing the internet.
While perusing the online material on the subject of burnout, it was tantamount to what happens to me just about every morning these days (OK…every morning). It was, for lack of a better analogy, like the horror that accompanies my first morning glance into the bathroom mirror (I have to put a dimmer on that light switch). Despite the fact that it happens every single day, I am still shocked and disappointed each and every morning…and I cannot fathom how things went so wrong so fast (actually…that’s the problem…it took a long time to get this bad). I could have a house on the water in Fort Lauderdale for all the money I’ve spent on those useless anti-wrinkle creams.
As I read through the differences between stress and burnout, and the consequences of letting both go untreated, I recognized immediately that I was reading about me. Sadly, it was apparent that years of mounting stress and my failure to deal with it was resulting in my own burnout, and it was a difficult and sobering recognition that I had let things get way out of hand. I won’t bore you with all the details, but perhaps the best analogy I came across is this. If you feel like you’re an eight-ounce glance and someone is trying to pour a one-gallon pitcher of water into you…you’re under stress. If you feel like your glass is empty…you might be burned out. My glass is too often bone dry. If you feel like every day is a bad day, if you’re often exhausted, or if you feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is the least bit appreciated, you may be beyond stress and into burnout.
The good news is that burnout is reversible, which is why I’ve plunged headlong into increased tobacco consumption, heavy drinking, copious amounts of trash TV, reapeating myself and heavy drinking. OK…truth be told, I’m not sure that is the best medicine but I haven’t surfed yet on fixes and cures…too busy trying to self-diagnose this tightness in my chest.
I have a feeling one of the remedies is taking it easy, and because no one of us is going to turn this thing around by ourselves, there really is no reason to drive ourselves into the ground trying to do it alone. We are all reminded repeatedly of the fragility of life, and in recognition of those signposts, we owe it to ourselves and our families to just chill a bit. Who knows, if we were actually refreshed, clear-headed and well-rested enough, we may actually be sharp enough to figure out how to turn this thing around.
If you’ve ever wandered into a saloon down were Bob Wills is still the king, you’ve probably heard this snappy little tune. There are literally a hundred versions of this song, and I like this particular one because it is one of the longest. The sawing fiddle, steel guitar and piano won't be everybody's thing...but I'm hopful it puts a smile on your face nonetheless.
Have a wonderful fall weekend. The weather is supposed to be splendid, with sunny skies, colorful leaves and temps pushing the upper 60s. Go do something fun…recharge your batteries, step away from the chaos, laugh, crack a smile…and feel appreciated.
Roly Poly? Dude . . . .
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