Course 2: Becoming a 7 Cups Leader - (Discussion #11) Avoiding Burnout
7 Cups is founded on a community of passionate volunteers who lovingly dedicate their time to providing support.
You may face what is called burnout during your journey. You may have already faced this in your real life. Burnout is very real and must be recognized. You can't help fuel someone else when your tank is empty, after all!
To address and learn about burnout, we have created a slidedeck on how to avoid burnout.
Activity: Please read it through and in the replies, tell us what you learned, and what you will do to stay healthy and avoid burnout!
Then, please reply to 3 of your peers in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
After completing the course quiz, please proceed to this post!
This post is brought to you by the Leadership Development Program Team, find out more information about the program here.
@Heather225 I can't access the slides! It says that the access is denied, however from the image I learned that burnout is chronic stress, it's crazy how it isn't talked about more often especially because I feel like many people no matter what age experience some sort of burnout!
@softMusic9759
Same here! However, nice response
@softMusic9759
I agree. There's no age limit on burnout!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Burnout can be pretty pervasive, at least we all have something to bond over, regardless of age!
@softMusic9759
Very true
@softMusic9759
Agree, burnout is extremely common across all age groups.
@softMusic9759 There's nothing wrong with doing things at your own pace
@softMusic9759
The slides are now available. Well done
@Beaconx Thank you so much!
@softMusic9759
Totally agree, burn out is an overlooked matter, more people should know about it.
@softMusic9759
Ikr, burnout absolutely sucks!
@softMusic9759 I totally agree with you on the point that it needs to be more discussed about!
@softMusic9759 yes! great response 💓
@softMusic9759
I agree with you. It's often not given the due importance,
@softMusic9759
Nice response Music!
Yes! Burnout can affect anyone
@softMusic9759
It is very true. Hope the problem has been solved and you have been able to access the slides.
@softMusic9759
I agree with you on this
@Heather225
Hi! How are you?
I can t access, but I learned that the stress has a strong relation with burnout. To stay healthy, I can know when to stop and take breaks.
@Daf8
I agree. We often push our needs to the bottom of our to do list. Making ourselves a priority can ease stress.
@Daf8 Great Reply and the slide is good and there is a quiz inside the link .. Very cool as always well done !!
@Daf8 It IS so important to take breaks! I've started putting reminders on my phone. :)
@CompassionateDreamer8522
Thank you! I'm glad about your selfawareness! Keep it up!
@CompassionateDreamer8522
Same here :")
@Heather225
I also can not access the slide show. But, I agree with the definition provided. I think burnout can also lead to resentment because you feel obligagted. When the work becomes a chore, it's time to step back and self evaluate. Cups is designed to be a self paced journey and I feel that we can forget that sometimes, especially when your peers begin to take leadership positions or advance levels based on cheers. I think we all work very hard in our roles and we should be mindful that every listerner journey is unique. No matter what self care routinue suits you best, it's important to remember to proritize yourself and your needs first. You can't pour into others from an empty cup.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
That's inspiring!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Lovely answer Paws
@PeaceLoveandPaws
cant agree more, self care is the utmost priority
@PeaceLoveandPaws Great response !! so all very true !!
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
I absolutely Love your pfp
@BellatheHappyHelper
Thank you for your kind words !
@PeaceLoveandPaws I'm always impressed with your insightful answers! The whole work resentment thing is SO true!
@PeaceLoveandPaws I completely agree! I wanted to get involved in everything, but I soon realized that I would be very overwhelmed! Plus, I really love just taking member chats too!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Really great answers, Peace! I really loved your perspective!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Such a great point, we all have our own unique journeys at 7 cups and taking on roles by comparing can leave us burnt out.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Such a great point, we all have our own unique journeys at 7 cups and taking on roles by comparing can leave us burnt out.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Great answer!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I like how you talk about prioritizing ourself. Thanks! And I'll remember "don't be on empty cup while leading here on 7cups".
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I love your comment "you can't pour into others from an empty cup" that is such a great description! Well done!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I totally agree with you.
@PeaceLoveandPaws I loved your answer! Very inspiring!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
beautiful answer, especially "you can't pour to others from an empty cup" :)
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Well noted ♡ Wonderful reminder there ❤️
I completely agree with you. We can't pour into others from an empty cup. That's a really nice message for everyone out here!
@PeaceLoveandPaws, I am so glad you pointed out the unqiue paths we take! Some of us will climb up through leadership positions fast while others of us will be content with just being a listener. Each person has the right to go through which path is best for them. It really should never be a chore and when it does then yes, we should take that break!
@Heather225
Can't access the slides :(
@Heather225
I am unable to access the slide deck, but from what I gathered from the image, burnout is basically chronic stress due to overdoing of tasks without a break
With that being said, to avoid burnout, do not take on so many tasks and do take breaks
@azuladragon34
Nice response!
@azuladragon34
agree azul frequent breaks help us feel refreshed
@azuladragon34 Great responses !!! so very true !! Tye
@azuladragon34
Great response Azula! Now that the slider is open would you like to add to your post?
@azuladragon34
great response!
@azuladragon34
Agreed 100%, my dear azula friend! Big hug from Pedro (WatchingOverYou)
@azuladragon34
Awesome Reply
@Heather225
Don't take on too much, it is better to have less titles and enjoy yourself versus all the roles and be miserable.
I really hope that everyone will read that and understand it and listen to it. So many rush in and are so thrilled by being accepted on a new role that they apply for more and more and then burnout too fast. Take your time!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic
Very true!
@MistyMagic
This is very true! There
@MistyMagic The whole world is now rushing. Great answer!
@MistyMagic
I wholeheartedly agree with this!
@MistyMagic
Very important suggestion! You have beautifully surmised the whole discussion about burnout in just one sentence.
@MistyMagic
yeah misty! that was a sentence to be hilighted thanks ^^
@MistyMagic thank you!
@MistyMagic
Yes that's one line from the slide deck that caught my eye too! Thanks for reminding again. All the best!
@MistyMagic
So true! You definitely should be enjoying your role and not taking on too much.
@MistyMagic
I agree with your post :)
Very true. I completely agree with you. A person should take only as many responsibilities and roles that they can handle and not feel drained. However, a break every once in a while to be with ourselves sounds good.
@Heather225
Please read it through and in the replies, tell us what you learned, and what you will do to stay healthy and avoid burnout!
I learnt that there are times where we need to step back from our roles and assess ourselves. During this assessment, we need to check-in with ourselves and see if this role or path we are taking is something we want to do for the long haul. If it is something we want to continue doing, we need to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that we are giving our best. That includes taking breaks when needed, allowing others to assist you and teaching others what you have learnt along the way. If it is not something our forver path, we need to make sure that we leave things better than we left so. That way the work can continue, even if it's not us doing it. There's nothing wrong and it isn't always a bad thing if your plans change. It simply means that you have served to the best of your ability in one area, but now it's time for you to move on.
I will stay healthy and avoid burnout by getting enough sleep, scheduling time for my commitments to the site, indulging in self care and chocolate.
@CheeryMango I like what you said about leaving things in a state where someone else is able to continue the work that you've been doing. (Something I'm always told to do at my work is to document what I'm doing so that someone else is able to take over when I win the lottery. 
) And that's totally true that things do just shift around sometimes and there isn't an expectation that everyone has to keep doing the same thing for forever.
@CheeryMango You're humor is always so appreciated. Keep up with the self care AND chocolate! <3
@CheeryMango
You made a great point. Do I want to do this role for the long haul, or for right now because it sounds good? That is an important decision to make before we take on a role. Not to say that life doesn't happen and we have to rearrange some things, but it is something to be mindful of. Thank you!
@CheeryMango
Mango, I totally love your answer!
@CheeryMango
mmmm chocolate. Very nice response. I agree it is important to leave things better than we found them, and to not let ourselves get so tired, so burnt out that we can't do that. Taking time for self-care, and scheduling time for our roles is also really important. I created a system for myself back in the first course to balance my time here.
@CheeryMango
such a good response!
@CheeryMango
Excellent answer Cherry.
@CheeryMango
Great insightful answer!!
@Heather225
I have learnt that its really important to take self care breaks and have offline interactions as well. Its okay if you are not doing well at the moment, with a break you can feel more refresh. You can get/accept help from people at times too.
I am plannnig to do more self care and add more healthy food items to my diet and drink more water than I am currently as the weather is getting hotter now.
@positivePumpkin22
Absolutely! Sometimes being offline and interacting socially is what we need to feel better!
@positivePumpkin22 Yeah, that's a good point re: physical stuff like eating, drinking water, sleep, exercise, etc. Sometimes I'll feel pretty unhappy or like something's horribly wrong, and then I'll realize I've just forgotten to eat or I've eaten garbage and that's why I feel miserable, lol.
@QuietMagic
oh nuu. lol. Having good and enough food is really important. Not having a healthy proper diet do affect is physically is mentally. I hope you do take enough time from your daily schedules to have proper meals. :)
@Heather225
Taking time for yourself and self care!!! Making sure you know your limit when it comes to things and being able to identify your triggers makes listening a lot less of a burn out! When you feel burnt out, don't feel bad, either! Just take a break and let yourself relax for a while! Drink some water and watch a movie. Go out with friends. Whatever makes you feel better, it'll help!
@smolecho
Very true!
@smolecho "Whatever makes you feel better, it'll help!" So true. 
I like to have a list of things that I like doing so that when I get sick of one of them I have other things to fall back on.
@smolecho - true :)
@Heather225
Activity: Please read it through and in the replies, tell us what you learned, and what you will do to stay healthy and avoid burnout!
What I learned is that yes we all do need self care breaks because when we are not feeling good we take it out on others and this does affect so many. It is not healthy to be stressed out and burnt out.
To stay healthy I take time everyday away from the site and come back when I am okay and feeling better or just not come back on all day . I do Me time just watch some movies or tv shows, listen to some music, draw , talk to friends on the phone or they come visit. If needed I will cut back on some roles I have.
Tye
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
That's really healthy! Well done
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 yes Tye selfcare is important and the me time you described sounds fun!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 I am proud of you for knowing your limits! Good job!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65, I'm so pleased to see that you engage in self-care!! 💙