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
Its really important to know what is the burnout. the thing is we all may experienced it in our own lives . so my strategy for this, is making my mind relax and free from all thoughts and just going for a walk or have my fav drinks. ;)
@niceworldmnd love this, a walk and a favorite drink! ♥️
@niceworldmnd
Your self care definitely sounds nourishing and rewarding! :D
@Heather225
I learned about some burnout symptoms and how to overcome it.
In order to be good leaders and fulfill our roles, our tank must be full. Taking our time to settle down and taking self-care seriously is essential. Sometimes logging off completely and setting solid boundaries that help others understand and respect us as humans with emotions and needs is helpful especially on the internet.
@Here4good74
"Our tank must be full" this is something I always keep in mind, I love your insight on the activity and I can't wait to see you in Leader mode 😀
@SirenOfSerenity
Thank youuu! You sound like you are/will be an amazing leader and a role model for so many ♥️♥️ your answers are always thoughtful
@Here4good74
thsts a great way to connect the different lessons where to be a good leader and take care of others we need to know to take care of ourselves so we can be replenished and ready to give to others but we can’t give what we don’t have hence the burnout.
@Here4good74
Such a creative answer. ❤️
@Here4good74 I agree with you Jane! Thank you for sharing it with us!
@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!
- I learned that a sign of burnout also includes experiencing nausea. I never knew they were connected, however it's one of my most common symptoms of burn out specifically when I've been reading, driving or studying too long without a break. I will be more self disciplined when it comes to taking breaks within studying as well as breaks in general from strenuous activities.
@SirenOfSerenity
its good you noticed how burnout looked like to you and making sure to take the time you need to recuperate.
@SirenOfSerenity
You noted the important points well. Good job!
@SirenOfSerenity The slide has been really helpful in giving us details about the symptoms. we need to take breaks in our studies too. I always do that. It can be really helpful. Thank you for sharing your answer with us!
@SirenOfSerenity
@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!
What I’ve learned about burnout is that it builds physical and emotional exhaustion, cubism and detachment and feelings in effectiveness and sense of accomplishment. Some signs of burnout include fatigue, insomnia forgetfulness, lack of focus anxiety depression, headaches and riding heartbeat. We need to remember and look back to why we do things such as volunteering for 7cups of working at a certain job and build awareness of how you’re acting and feeling.
What I will do to stay healthy and avoid burnout I’d to take enough time each week to check in on myself how my energy level is how I’ve treated myself and others and how much work I’ve been putting in. I’d then do something I enjoy like listen to music or read and watch something inspirational and have Rea in a quiet place. Taking my mind off from the work for s little bit and getting back in when I’m ready.
@Mari228
Such a detailed answer. Great work!
@Mari228 The things you can do to avoid burn out is something I agree too. Music is one of the best ways to avoid burnout. Thank you for sharing with us
@Mari228 thank you for sharing your thoughts <3 I love that you have a healthy sense of boundaries, something I should learn from <3
@Heather225
I learned to remember why I even started volunteering and will also remember to keep a schedule of my online time. The slides were beautifully crafted and the message was clear to avoid our burnout by giving ourselves the love and care we deserve. Taking on only the roles that one enjoys is an important thing.
@KimByeongIn
you brought up good point of taking only roles that you like.
@Heather225 Burnout is something we all face in our career, or even relationships we have. It is important we give ourselves the first priority. It is alright to take a break rather than burning ourselves. It can have major impacts on us which we can avoid by taking small self-care breaks. I would identify the signs of me burning out and take a break. Apply to only certain roles which are interesting and which I can donate my time too. I wouldn't take up roles I can't commit to, to avoid burn out. Also taking self-care breaks also helps me in my leadership journey to be able to be there for my team members and be efficient in what I do. At cups I understood how important self-care can be and working towards self-care is important for every individual
@yourbuddy30
self care and not taking up too many roles is both important to one’s well being.
@yourbuddy30
absolutely right, YOU are the #1 priority!! taking a break is key for self-care
@yourbuddy30 we've had conversations about taking on too many roles and I'm so happy that I was able to have that with you <3 being aware of what we can and cannot do, and more importantly what we enjoy and not so much enjoy doing is key <3
@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 love this question, it's probably the one thing I understand the most, I have been there, and had lots of experience with burnout.
Imagine a car with 50% fuel, it could travel 200 miles but I'm heading out on a 500 mile journey, am I going to get there? of course not.
Obviously, the reasonable thing to do here would be to refuel along the way, but how does this resemble a human burnout?
We are like the car, food, drink is our fuel as well as things like self-care, love, compassion, socialisation, enjoyment etc.
I walk everywhere, I can walk around 25,000 to 30,000 steps a day, and if I don't eat and drink (which I don't have a great appetite), my body will burn out, it's a bit like the car trying to make that 500-mile journey with not enough fuel.
Likewise, If we don't give ourselves self-care, we can emotionally burn out, so this is like our brains and bodies being the car trying to make that 500-mile journey
We need to know our limits, we need to know those red lines, and when to step back and take a break, this is how we deal with burnout.
@iCareUK
your comparison to the car and walking are a great way to think about this :)
1 all the signs of burn out I. Already knew.
2 I would take self cares times when things get tough.. I will also used ps cs and mentors. At the end of day I will watch a fil or tv. Also I will not do over1 hour chats.
@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 learned about the different symptoms of burnout and how we can avoid it. Remembering why I volunteer for 7 Cups is important, and to stay healthy, self-care is essential. Adjusting my schedule and availability, not taking on too many chats or roles to handle, and spending time to myself away from 7 Cups are all great things to do.
@zareya yey! here's to self-care and boundaries <3
@zareya
yess I agree not to take too many chats. Cheers to self care 🥂
I actually experienced feeling burned out a few months ago when I first started enrolling in the academy. I took CDM and 7Cups Internship side by side, and I was also lucky enough to land some roles in the community. At that time, I was so excited about everything, but life happened and it sort of made me cling to 7Cups as a lifeline.
Usually, burnout is about spending too much time on something so stepping away is the most ideal course of action. For me, back then it was more, "why am I listening to people? is it for the cheers so I can finish a course? is it for me to get more roles and to become verified? why am I here?" for me, it was a re-evaluation of my goals and my purpose in volunteering.
Now after some talks with my mentor, I realized I am not here just for those cheers or for those roles. I am here because I finally found a "calling". I love the roles because I'm more of a background person, a behind-the-scenes kind of woman so while I love listening, I feel I can help more when I work in the background.
So, I guess I was able to address the burnout I felt by re-evaluation, and like many others, allotting time for 7Cups without compromising my physical connections and life. <3
@CosmicMiracle
Really good insight!
