How to Reignite Your Passion for Work After You’ve Experienced Burnout

If you work for yourself or if you run a business, you’ve probably experienced burnout—exhaustion, lack of motivation, and feelings of ineffectiveness and frustration. It’s something that’s easy to slip into for those of us who like to work hard, and difficult to get out of once we’re in it. But not only is burnout a stressful and unhappy experience, it also prevents us from doing what we need to do. Here are 3 ways to reignite your passion for work and get out of the burnout slump.

1. Remember why your job matters. If you’re a financial advisor, you’re not just filling out paperwork—you’re helping others reach their own goals, and giving them confidence in their finances. If you’re a CPA, you’re not just crunching numbers—you’re helping companies be financially sound so they can grow and create jobs. If you need to take a day off to think through this, do it. It’s important to keep your purpose in mind.
2. Reevaluate your goals. If you’re experiencing burnout, you may be trying to do too much. Review your goals and ask yourself if each one matches your values. Often, we get overwhelmed when we are pursuing other things that ultimately aren’t that meaningful, like “the bigger house, the nicer car.” Some things can wait.
3. Reconnect with your community. Talking with others who are passionate about their work can help us get connected with our own passions. These folks don’t even have to be in your industry—they just need to be people in your community who know their mission and live it out on a daily basis. Invite someone to lunch or coffee, or go golfing or to an event together. Make it a priority to network with others who will stir your own motivation.

Burnout can feel like it will never end—that’s part of the negativity that accompanies burnout. But when you actively take steps to overcome it and reignite your passion for your work, you’ll find that it’s not as monumental a task as it initially seems.