In our fast-paced world, the line between dedication and depletion often blurs. A recent IAEE Women’s Insights Hour featured guest speaker Natasha “Coach Coco” Benitez, who shared her personal journey through burnout. Here, she offers valuable lessons for those navigating the complexities of modern life in managing burnout and, more importantly, amping up your bliss.
The Burnout Epidemic
Nearly 78% of participants admitted they operate from a “should do” rather than a “want to do” mindset – a startling revelation that highlights how many of us are disconnected from our genuine desires and instead live by external expectations. This disconnect is often the first step on the path to burnout.
Burnout isn’t simply feeling tired after a long day – it’s a state of chronic physical, emotional and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to stress without adequate coping mechanisms. Unlike everyday stress, which can be managed with proper strategies, burnout seeps into every aspect of life, transforming enthusiasm into cynicism and productivity into procrastination.
The workplace signs are unmistakable:
- Declining quality of work and productivity
- Constant fatigue and lack of energy
- Growing cynicism toward colleagues and responsibilities
- Withdrawal from social interactions and team activities
These symptoms don’t appear overnight – they build slowly, often unnoticed until we are already deep in burnout territory.
The Path to Bliss
Contrast burnout with bliss: that state of contentment and peace that releases endorphins and dopamine, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and boosting immune function. Bliss isn’t just feeling good – it’s a neurochemical reality that enhances our physical health and mental clarity.
When we experience bliss, we notice:
- Enhanced creativity and motivation
- Heightened feelings of fulfillment about both work and life
- Increased resilience when facing challenges
- A naturally positive outlook that persists through difficulties
The question becomes: How do we move from burnout to bliss? The answer lies not in grand gestures but in small, intentional daily practices.
Building a Bridge From Burnout to Bliss
The journey from burnout to bliss begins with awareness. One way of raising awareness is to engage in reflective journal exercises to identify moments of joy and frustration in your life. This simple practice creates the foundation for change by recognizing what drains us and what fulfills us.
Prioritizing well-being isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. Likewise, setting boundaries around your time and energy isn’t about limiting your impact, rather it’s about ensuring sustainability so you can continue making a difference without depleting yourself.
Creating balance requires intentional action:
- Add 1-3 joyful tasks to your daily to-do list, not as rewards after work but as essential components of a balanced day
- Practice mindfulness meditation to increase self-awareness and reduce stress responses
- Take lunch breaks away from your computer to create mental space
- Reconnect with nature to reset your perspective and nervous system
Remember: these aren’t luxury activities. They are necessary maintenance for a well-functioning mind and body.
The Power of Choice
The most profound insight from the session was the revelation about the “should do” versus “want to do” mindset. Imagine how different your life would feel if you intentionally chose more activities that aligned with your genuine desires rather than external expectations.
This doesn’t mean abandoning responsibilities! It means being specific and intentional with your goals, and questioning assumptions about what is truly necessary so you can find ways to bring more joy into necessary tasks.
What if you approached your work with curiosity instead of obligation? What if you viewed self-care not as another item on your to-do list but as the foundation that makes everything else possible?
From Insight to Action
Knowledge without action creates little change. The Women’s Insights Hour concluded with participants committing to actionable steps like mindful eating and digital detoxes. These small but significant changes can make big strides in shifting the balance from burnout toward bliss.
The journey from burnout to bliss isn’t a destination but a continuous practice. It’s about creating moments of joy amid challenges, finding purpose in pressure and remembering that well-being isn’t something we achieve once but something we nurture daily.
As you reflect on your own position on the burnout-to-bliss spectrum, consider one small change you could implement today. Perhaps it’s taking a genuine lunch break, scheduling a brief nature walk or simply pausing to breathe deeply between meetings.
Remember that sustainable success doesn’t come from constant pushing; it emerges from the rhythm of engagement and renewal. In that balanced dance, we find not just productivity but also joy, not just achievement but also fulfillment.
What one joyful task will you add to tomorrow’s to-do list?
