Setting the Stage for Burn-out
This is a true story; the names have been changed.
I looked out the window of the taxi, realizing I was in a daze. It made sense after what we’d just been through. The windows of the taxi were open and the hot, humid air of a May afternoon in Houston actually felt good. Probably because of how fast we were going and because I’d not stepped outside that damn conference room for days.
Next to me looking at this Blackberry was Mark, the senior associate I’d been working with all week. Mark was in the middle of what’s known as a “partner run” … often a multi-year sprint where an associate who is trying to make partner at the law firm works even harder than usual in order to prove they have what it takes to make it as a partner.
We were heading to the airport, with me heading home to Boston and Mark heading back to NYC. That our firm was pulling resources from a host of offices reflected the size of the project; selling assets out of the massive Enron bankruptcy was no small thing.
Me: “Hey Mark, just a reminder that I’ll be on vacation the week after next.”
Mark (not looking up): “Right. Yeah. Well, we’ll see where things stand and if that plan makes sense. We should know a lot by the end of next week.”
Me: “Well, I know some vacations are movable but this one isn’t. [Pause] I’ll be out of the office that week… one way or another.”
Mark (looking up): “Right, right. This is your surprise trip for your anniversary. Got it. We’ll figure something out.”
Me (glad to not have to make a bigger deal of it): “Say, Mark, I know you’re gunning for partner but when was YOUR last vacation?”
Mark (looking out the window): “It’s been a while…. [pause] I guess Miami doesn’t count.”
Mark explained that he and his wife planned for a week of vacation in Miami. But, he’d worked so many unbelievable hours before the trip that when the plane touched down in Florida, they had to wheel him off in a stretcher; he spent the week in the hospital recovering from a bleeding ulcer.
Yeah, Mark, that doesn’t count as a vacation.
Burn-out Transcends Type Differences
Regardless of our cognitive preferences, there are times in our lives when we push ourselves too hard. While it’s tempting to suggest this is the domain of those who prefer the Judging side of the equation, the reality is that ambitious people in our modern world of ANY type can find themselves over-scheduled and at risk of burn-out. So, my question for you readers is this: when was the last time you woke up in the morning WITHOUT an alarm being set and found yourself with…
Nowhere to be & Nothing to Do
My personal view is that EVERYONE needs these days every once in a while to avoid burn-out, and that some people (likely some type differences here) need it more than others.
A quote often attributed to John Lennon (likely INFP) and perhaps originally stemming from Bertrand Russel that I often use:
“Time spent wasting time is not wasted time.”
For me personally, my ambition pushes me to the edges of my type preferences. As an ENTP, my sense is that I peg out pretty high on a) the need for unstructured time and b) the resulting benefits such time provides. After a stretch when I’ve been traveling, training and generally being in a state where I seem to always:
Have lots of places to be & Lots of things to do
… After a long time in this state, I feel like a rubber band that has been pulled to the edge of breaking. So, when I have the opportunity to unplug, the band has a lot of energy to snap back in the opposite direction. 🙂 As my family and close friends know, once we reach that point in December when the business world slows down, I become the biggest, baddest Perceiver I know how to be. No alarms. Often I’m unclear on what day it is. Even basic hygiene is optimal – I mean, I still shower but shaving seems an unnecessary burden. It’s not always easy on everyone around me – even getting the most basic plans in place or making simple decisions becomes also impossible. Sorry everyone!
But, I do think I need it. It’s like a psychological rebalancing. The deeper and longer I’ve remained in Judger mode, the more I need the recovery.
Avoiding Burn-out: Closing Thoughts
- What do you experience when you have nowhere to be and nothing to do? Some people have shared with me that they feel anxious when this happens and their urge to put some sort of plan in place and/or be productive kicks in hard.
- How often does this moment happen for you? Enough?
- How do you feel afterwards?
If you’re like me and see the benefits this provides, maybe you can find more space for these moments in your life.
Please share your thoughts in the comments!
One Comment
Sometimes you have to take a step back to move ahead! Our ‘rubber band’ can get so tight that we actually become less productive than if we take the time to rest and recover! Our brain also needs the break!! Great article!