The Simple Way to Avoid Burnout
Readtime: 3 minutes
I work long hours.
Sometimes really long hours.
Probably conditioned by 22 years at KPMG...
But I don’t feel burned out.
And until a while ago, that surprised me.
For years, I assumed burnout came from exhaustion: too many late nights, too many deadlines, too much pressure.
But I’ve now learned something different.
Burnout isn’t about how much you work.
It’s about how you relate to the work.
Specifically, how much control you have over what you do, and whether you believe it matters.
I no longer think it’s just about the workload.
It’s about pressure without a feeling of being in control.
It’s about effort being required but without meaning.
When I feel that I might be getting overloaded, I return to two simple principles that keep me grounded:
1. Reclaim Control
Control is the fuel for motivation.
When you have a say in what you do, when you do it, and with whom, burnout is much less likely.
Most mornings, I start with one decision that’s already made: I know what I’ll work on before anyone else gets a vote.
Not my email inbox.
Not my messages.
Me.
It’s always the most important thing – something that moves my work forward before the day starts pulling me sideways.
That small act of pre-commitment shifts my mindset from reactive to proactive. It makes me feel in control.
It reminds me I’m not at the mercy of the day. I’m directing it (or at least some of it!).
You may not control most of your week. Few of us do.
But you don’t need total control.
I think 30% is a good percentage to aim for to feel enough ownership.
At least a couple of hours a day, or a day or two a week pulls you back from feeling out of control.
If you’re reading this and thinking “yeah, I wish!” then I’d encourage you to consider whether there are options for you to edge closer to 30%. For example, can you start by declining one meeting you know isn’t a good use of your time – and use that time for something more important?
If you can. you’ll get a double hit of a) feeling more in control, and b) creating some additional time to get things done.
Start with one meeting and see how you get on. That will be the sweetest hour of the week for you!
2. Find Meaning
Meaning doesn’t only exist in grand purposes.
And I don’t think most of us will have a job we feel wildly passionate about. But that’s actually ok.
Because the meaning that protects you from burnout is quieter and easier.
It’s in the small impact of what you do every day.
When I finish a piece of work, I picture who benefits – a client, a reader – and how their day gets better because I showed up.
That simple habit turns my effort into a purpose.
You can also increase meaning by connecting the dots between your actions and the bigger picture. For example, think about what role your work plays in something larger.
You might also not need much meaning. There was a study by the Mayo Clinic a few years ago that found that for medical professionals, 20% of their time spent on meaningful activities was the magic threshold.
And if the purpose isn’t obvious for you, create it. Decide that how you work, for example, your standards, your attention, your care, is the meaning. Find pride in how you do the work, not just what the work is.
The bottom line
Burnout happens when you lose control and forget why the work matters.
The fix isn’t always to work less. It’s to work differently, with intention and connection.
Reclaim a small bit of control each day.
And find a reason that makes your effort worth it.
At the end of the day, avoiding burnout is about rebuilding a healthier relationship with your work – one grounded in more control and meaning.
As always, if you have any thoughts on this, I’d love to hear them.
See you next week.
Mostyn
P.S. Thanks to those of you who have given me feedback on my new YouTube channel. It’s great to hear you like the combination of personal stories and practical tips.
This week’s video was released yesterday and is all about making your next big move when you’re 40+ (although a lot of the lessons are relevant for you youngsters too!).
And if you do take a look, I’d love to know what you think! Ideally in the comments, but via email is good too. Thanks!