From the desk of Kelsey Buell,
It was 8pm on a Wednesday night and I was still at the office…
I had only been out of college for about a year, and I was hustling hard.
I wanted to be “the best” and at that time, being the best meant putting in the most hours possible.
I was young, single, the world was my oyster, and I had the extra time in my life to dedicate to kick of my career “with a bang.”
I remember walking down the hallway and bumping into a senior employee who I had a great deal of respect for, and still do.
He said, “Kelsey….you are by far the hardest working person in this office.”
I was overjoyed.
Someone had finally noticed how hard I was working and since “words of affirmation” are my love language, you can bet that I was on top of the world!
Although I deeply appreciate his compliment, it became an ongoing mantra I would tell myself.
“Kelsey, you are always the hardest working person in the room.”
I have to always be the hardest working person in the room.
So I continued to hustle…and hustle….and hustle….
Until one day, I woke up feeling like a failure…
I couldn’t move.
I DIDN’T WANT TO ADMIT IT…
It was time to find a new career.
I was embarrassed. And defeated.
Every day I felt exhausted — I would arrive at work, slowly take off my coat, collapse in my chair, log into my computer and…
Nothing. There is nothing left in me. I stare at a blank screen for hours and hours.
Watch the clock…
“I can’t do this anymore…”
All of my hustling and the fuel of “I always have to be the hardest worker in the room” had gotten the best of me…
THE EPIPHANY…
I realized the mantra I had been saying in my head was wrong all along.
Although it’s good to be proud of your hard work, there’s a fine line between working hard and driving yourself into the ground.
An old boss once told me, “Kelsey – Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint.” And yet, I didn’t listen to him. I had been sprinting and sprinting hard.
You see, we glorify overworking and yet we shame those who are tired and exhausted in their careers.
STOP THE COMPARISON
Admitting you are burned out can even make you feel “less than.”
When someone else tells me they worked some ungodly hours that day or in the week, I feel this sense of inadequacy.
…..Like I’m not working hard enough….
…And I need to work more.
Does it make me a bad person if I didn’t work as many hours as you?
Does that mean I don’t work hard enough?
What will it take for us to start being proud of saying “I left the office early today” or “I got everything done in only 40 hours this week.”
Life rewards those who work long hours, so therefore it rewards “burnout”.
Let’s change the dialogue around how we are talking about overworking.
Yes, it should be rewarded, but we should also reward REST TOO.
So next time you are starting to feel exhausted, take a break – step away from the computer. The work will always be there for you.
It’s kind of like taking the mantra “Why wait until tomorrow, if you can accomplish it today?” and turning it around and say, “It can wait….”
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember:
You are NOT alone!
Looking for a safe space where you can share your challenges and turn them into positive ideas?
What if we were to tell you there’s a way you can find more peace in your current career and family life?
An opportunity to alleviate the emotional, mental, and physical fatigue that constantly plaguesmost high-achieving women…
An outlet where you can verbalize the challenges you’re going through, so you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel…
A place where you will have the backing of other like-minded women, who want to help youbring your ideas into action…
Without feeling like you’re being judged or a failure….Sound exciting?
Apply for our Resilience Multiplier Course today!
…A 6 week interactive program that allows you to break down barriers, battle burnout, and leave feeling empowered to tackle life’s challenges.
Click here to submit an interest application.
This program is NOT for everyone. We want positive, motivated, doers who are coachable and ready to make some life changes.
Upon receiving your application, we will review it and get back to you within 7 days to determine if we should schedule an interview.