Home Youth Leaders Youth Leaders Blogs Go + Go + Go = Burnout

Go + Go + Go = Burnout

How many of these statements describe you?

1. You pride yourself on working 50+ hours a week at the church.

2. You frequently miss personal and family events and cancel plans with friends.

3. You say, “Let me just finish this one thing” all the time.

4. You check email after midnight and/or the second you wake up.

5.Your kids have to holler at you—several times—to get you to look up from your laptop.

Believe me, this is a test you don’t want to ace. You need a break. You need to “go dark” once in a while. It’s not good to be “on” all the time. Two reasons we resist this are:

1. Unhealthy expectations

Often we don’t turn it off because our senior pastor or supervisor doesn’t let us—or at least that’s what we think. We assume overworking is a sign of good job performance, when it really drives us to a dangerous place and perpetuates unreasonable expectations. If you manage others, set an example by going home on time. If you’re job-hunting, inquire about typical work habits. And if you’re in a bad situation, get out or nudge the culture toward health.

2. Brokenness

It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-importance, even outright arrogance. Will the world really fall apart if you miss youth group one week? It feels nice to be noticed when you’re gone, but we take it too far. Pray that God will help you fight against personal insecurities and mold your heart into healthy balance.

There’s hope, but it starts with some tough changes. See below for a few tips for fighting back against unhealthy expectations and brokenness.

Go + Stop + Go = Health! 

  • First, pray for your heart and health.
  • Start every day in time with God.
  • Track your hours and see where you can gain back some time.
  • Take a day off every week.
  • Turn off email alerts on your day off.
  • Don’t bring your laptop home.
  • Limit the number of nights you’re away from home each week.
  • Find a hobby that fills you up.
  • Have a frank conversation with your boss about hours and expectations.
  • Practice saying no.
  • Schedule vacation time right now for the next two years.
  • Invite accountability in this area.