Welcome to Consider Yourself Hugged! Click below to watch or Click here to listen to Episode 197.
*Disclaimer:
The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources at the end of the show notes, or others in your area.
Welcome back! Today Michelle and I are going to tackle BURNOUT!!!
💡 Feeling drained, exhausted, or unmotivated? Burnout is real, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into:
✅ What burnout is (hint: it’s NOT just stress)
✅ Who’s most at risk (it might surprise you!)
✅ How to recognize and prevent it before it takes over
✅ Our personal burnout experiences & strategies that helped
✅ Self-assessments and resources to help you check in with yourself
Let's kick off this episode with a preview of upcoming episodes—including:
📚 A special book discussion on The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath at the end of February
📚🤖 March’s 4-part series on AI tools for emotional & mental well-being
🔗 Want to read The Bell Jar with us? Grab your copy here: 📘 Amazon
What is Burnout?
World Health Organization (WHO) Definition:Burnout is a syndrome caused by chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Key Characteristics:
✔️ Exhaustion – Feeling physically & emotionally drained
✔️ Mental distance from work – Cynicism, detachment, or resentment toward your job
✔️ Reduced professional efficacy – Struggling to perform even basic tasks
📌 Burnout is classified as an “occupational phenomenon” with an ICD-11 medical code—but let’s be real, it happens beyond just work! Parents, caregivers, students, and even entrepreneurs can experience burnout, too.
📊 Burnout Statistics (They Might Shock You!)
52% of employees report experiencing burnout in the past year (2024 NAMI study)
60% of healthcare workers report burnout—the highest of any industry
48% of teachers experience burnout, with many considering leaving education
50% of project managers and corporate employees also report high burnout levels
📌 The takeaway? Burnout is more common than you think, and no one is immune.
⚠️ Who’s at Risk? (And Why)
Burnout can happen to anyone, but these groups are especially vulnerable:
🔹 High-stress professionals – Healthcare workers, teachers, first responders
🔹 Overachievers & perfectionists – People who push themselves beyond their limits
🔹 People-pleasers – Struggle to say "no" and take on too much
🔹 Caregivers & parents – Constant emotional and physical labor
🔹 Those without strong boundaries – Work-life balance? What’s that?
📌 Personal takeaways: Even when you love what you do, burnout can sneak up on you. It’s about constantly giving without refilling your cup.
🛡️ Preventing & Managing Burnout
Ask yourself these key questions:
❓ What am I truly capable of?
❓ What would it take for me to function well in this environment?
❓ Do I even WANT to do this?
Strategies That Help:
✅ Match workload to capacity – Don’t take on more than you can handle 💼⚖️
✅ Set realistic expectations – For yourself and others 🎯💡
✅ Establish community & support – You don’t have to do it all alone 🤝💙
✅ Recognize fairness & values alignment – Work that aligns with your values feels less draining ⚖️✨
✅ Prevent early rather than recover later – Easier to slow down before hitting burnout 🚧🔄
✅ Determine if it’s temporary or permanent – Can you manage it, or do you need a change?
🆚 Burnout vs. Compassion Fatigue
💡 What’s the difference? Burnout and compassion fatigue overlap, but they’re not the same.👀 Compassion fatigue will be our focus in next week’s episode! Stay tuned for Part 2.
🔗 Resources We Promised!
📝 Burnout Self-Assessment:
📰 Links to Articles:
📚 Book Mentioned in This Episode:📘 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath – Amazon
💬 Join the Conversation!
🔥 Have you experienced burnout? What helped you recover?💬 Share your thoughts in our Facebook Group or comment on YouTube!
📌 Subscribe & Stay Connected
🙌 If this episode helped you, send it to someone who might need it too! 💙
📩 Subscribe & Review!If you love the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with someone who needs it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📌 Follow Us:
🔗 Website: www.tamiwest.com
📘 Private Facebook Group for Women! Consider Yourself Hugged Community
📺 YouTube: Check out our video episodes!
👥 Want to join us on a retreat? Let us know in the comments!
As we've always asked in the past, please pass the show link along to your friends and subscribe, download, and review wherever you are listening. If you’re a woman and you haven’t joined our private FB group A Place for Women, please do that now! It’ll be your source of encouragement. I'd love for you to follow my Tami West Seminars Facebook page as well. If you'd like to know more about my Mental Health First Aid Courses, contact me at 615-497-7714 or tamiwest@tamiwest.com.
And next time, Consider Yourself Hugged (AND warned 😘🤗
Mental Health Resources:
Michelle Kixmiller, MSN, MAE, RN, APN, PMHNP-BC
Michelle Kixmiller is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Licensed Educator. She works with children and adults with mental health needs including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Michelle served as a public school teacher and science department chair for over a decade when a family tragedy pulled her in a different direction. The death of her younger brother after a multiple year battle with depression and alcoholism led her to pursue a career in the mental health field. She went back to school to become a registered nurse graduating and gaining experience as a critical care nurse at a level 1 regional burn center prior to completing a graduate degree to become a mental health nurse practitioner. Her vision is holistic care through teamwork to create a more peaceful school environment for students and staff alike. No one should have to struggle alone. Michelle currently works full time for a non-profit community mental health center at an outpatient clinic and works PRN for an inpatient crisis stabilization unit. When not at work she loves spending time with family, traveling, watching movies (not scary ones), running (slowly), and Crossfit. Contact Michelle at Silver Lining Psychiatric Solutions, 615-378-7713 or mkixmill@gmail.com.
Tami West, PhD
Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.
Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity.
Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. In any given year, Tami speaks to groups with audiences consisting of anywhere from 100 to 3,000 people.
Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including three books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. When she's not speaking or writing, you might find her with her traveling with her husband and family, reading historical fiction, or watching Big Bang Theory.
Tami connects with audiences through real experience, cutting edge research, and transparent stories – all sprinkled with humor! She will make you laugh, cry, and shine a refreshingly new light on life's challenges.
Television Interviews
Contact Tami at tamiwest@tamiwest.com