Jolan from Change Burnout

The day I had to tell my employer I was going on sick leave, I walked to the office. It isn’t far from where I live. But with every step, I felt more and more tired. It was almost physically impossible to get there.

How did I end up there? For years I combined a full-time job in the cultural sector with freelance projects, courses, and the renovation of my apartment. I was eager to learn and to move forward. After an intense and stressful period, a long weekend or a holiday always fixed it. Until it didn’t anymore.

Then the company I worked for went through a difficult financial period. I had worries about my job, my colleagues, and the future of the company. I kept pushing, because I wanted to finish a project I really cared about, until my body said no. The doctor said immediately that it was time to take a break.

I thought I’d take three weeks off. I ended up staying home for more than six months. My memory wasn’t working like it used to, and small things like cleaning or making plans gave me stress. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. What is this burnout thing? How long will it last? What can I do to get better?

Maybe you recognize some of this.

I had help from my doctor and my therapist, and later from a burnout coach and a job coach. But I still missed a clear process. Which steps do I need to take, and in what order?

That question became Change Burnout. Writing the e-book was part of my own recovery. I read a lot of books and studies, and while I worked out how to explain recovery to other people, I found good tools for myself too. I’m really proud of the result. It’s my way of making sure other people don’t have to go through this process blindly, like I did.

What I am, and what I’m not

I’m not a doctor, psychologist, or therapist. What I share comes from my own experience and from research, and it doesn’t replace professional care. The e-book draws on the work of researchers like Christina Maslach, Emily and Amelia Nagoski, Barbara Fredrickson and Martin Seligman. I took a course on well-being and happiness, and right now I’m training as a stress and burnout coach.

Today I work full time again, in a new job where I’m happy and can keep a good balance. I started with one day a week and built up slowly. Looking back, I needed much more patience. But I got there.

Start here

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