Are You Starting To Burn Out?

I didn’t feel guilty for a second. I didn’t shower; I wore my sweats and sat down in front of the television for hours. I was completely worn out, and the last thing I wanted to do was open up my laptop or check messages. It wasn’t a vacation, just a lazy day off and I deserved it. After all, I had just worked fourteen days in a row and needed time off.

I’m not too fond of it when I hit a season where my time off disappears. While I love what I do, I don’t like to be doing it all the time. I know that too much work develops into busyness, which can start to become hurtful instead of helpful. I’ve met too many youth ministers who let their boundaries dissolve around them. And when that happens, many good youth workers end up burning out. It’s sad, and rarely do people recover. There ends up being too much hurt.

While burnout can happen to any of us, it is avoidable. But, recognizing it isn’t always easy. What I’ve learned from my own experience is that when you begin to burn out you:

• Grow easily irritable towards others…and sometimes inanimate objects.
• Develop weird and strange eating habits.
• Feel like you are more alone with your emotions.
• Discover thoughts that are a little scary.

As someone who has burned out, it is not a good place to be. And even if you have burned out before, you can definitely do it again. To combat these feelings and find the healing you need, it’s important to:

TALK WITH SOMEONE

If you don’t have a spiritual director or a therapist, find a trusted friend or family member, you can go to for help. Let them know how you feel and what you are thinking. Allow them to pray with you and encourage you to seek how professional help. No matter who you talk to, it’s important to vent and get the feelings and thoughts you are experiencing off of your chest.

For spiritual direction, talk to your diocese, Catholic college, or a retreat house (For more on spiritual direction, check out this guest post HERE). If you are worried about costs, consult your insurance company and talk with the therapist or spiritual director ahead of time. Most are willing to work out payment plans or point you in the right direction. Bottom line, speak up.

REVISIT YOUR PRAYER LIFE

Anytime we are hurting, we need God’s love. I know when I’m feeling disconnected or isolated, I need to revisit my prayer life. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been praying; it just means something needs to be altered. That’s where I jump to different devotionals or look up different apps.

Another prayer habit that’s been extremely helpful is journaling. It allows me to articulate my emotions safely and hand it over to God. Sometimes when I read back through my journal entries, I can see exactly what is going on in my life. It allows me to step back and approach the day with a new perspective. No matter what you do, make sure you are engaging with your Creator. But, if you aren’t sure where to start that’s where a spiritual director is accommodating.

SET-UP BOUNDARIES

One of the challenges during the beginning of the pandemic is that all my boundaries disappeared. Suddenly, I became easily accessible, and if I couldn’t meet in-person, Zoom was an instant option. As difficult as it might be, creating days and times when you are not available is crucial. By creating boundaries, you will allow yourself to rest, process, and enjoy the rest of your life. In addition to time off, you need to:

• Make sure you are not constantly checking work email.
• Discovering a hobby or exercise that refuels you.
• Embrace proper eating and sleeping habits.
• Develop relationships that are not always about work.

Create some guardrails, and you’ll be able to focus on what is most important. If you need help, ask someone you know who exemplifies those boundaries to guide you and hold you accountable. If you need professional help, reach out to us at Marathon Youth Ministry to learn more about coaching (Email us at questions@marathonyouthministry.com)

Again, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Ministry in any season can be brutal, and that’s why it’s essential to set up parameters that will help us remember what matters most. Don’t be afraid of asking for help and above else, remember you have God right there with you.

How do you avoid burnout? What best practices can you offer?