There is a prevailing mindset in culture today that tells us that if we want our dream life, we have to be willing to work tirelessly to make it happen. There is truth to this sentiment, hard work does yield results, but the problem becomes when we romanticize the idea of working so hard that we neglect other areas of our lives.

There is nothing wrong with working hard to get the things you want out of life. There is, however, an aspect to this mindset that is not maintainable in the long run.

This is because when we abandon balance in the pursuit of greatness we are setting ourselves up for burnout in the future. No one is immune to it, and few will go their whole lives unscathed by its presence.

That’s why it’s crucial as a dreamer and leader to prioritize time spent recharging in the midst of pursuing your dreams.

The World Health Organization classifies burnout as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Symptoms of burnout can affect your physical, emotional, and behavioral health.

Physically, it can lead to a lack of energy, lowered immunity, frequent headaches or muscle aches, and changes in appetite and sleep. Emotionally it looks like increased feelings of self doubt, helplessness, detachment, negative outlooks, and decreased satisfaction. Behaviorally it causes you to isolate, withdraw from your responsibilities, increased use of drugs or alcohol, and taking out your frustration on others.

We tend to think that hard work requires all of our attention, but hard work will only take you as far as your body, mind, and spirit will allow. If you aren’t taking the time to recharge and care for yourself you are going to experience burnout sooner or later.

So I ask you, are you taking the time to recharge? 

Are you prioritizing your mental and physical health in the same way you prioritize your career?

If you aren’t, I would challenge you to consider what long term success should look and feel like. When you invest in your mental and physical health you are building the foundation for a sustainable future of success.

The way you recharge is different for everyone, the important thing is to figure out what you need to do in order to feel balanced in your day to day.

You can work to prevent burnout by keeping tabs on your emotional and physical well being. Sometimes we wait to help ourselves until it feels like we’ve gotten “bad enough”, but wouldn’t it be better to notice your digging yourself into a hole when it’s still shallow?

Preventing burnout can look like attending to your physical and emotional needs by listening to your body and understanding it’s queues. Taking care of your physical self by eating well, making movement a part of your life, and sleeping regularly makes a difference. Your emotional self can be taken care of with therapy, meditation, time spent with loved ones, and understanding your passions and dreams.

You don’t have to wait until you feel burnt out to start working to prevent it. Live in a way now that sets you up for not just success, but joy. You don’t have to work yourself to death to get to your dreams, you can live a life you love while pursuing the dreams you have.

Take care of yourself and lead well,