The Color That Helps You Prevent Burnout

It starts as a slow fizzle and culminates in a soul-sucking implosion. Once associated primarily with jobs, burnout is now recognized as a threat to anyone under chronic pressure or stress.

There is great danger in not recognizing the early symptoms of burnout, such as fatigue, anxiety, and a feeling of cynicism and detachment. You may “suddenly” discover you have too little energy to function effectively—and then realize you don’t even care. There is no more pleasure in life.

With burnout, you’ve spent more than you had to spend, and you’re now deep in debt emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Yes, you can come back from burnout, but it’s so much better to avoid it altogether!

As someone who experienced severe burnout and a lengthy recovery, I never want to burn out again. I had to learn what keeps me healthy, and I’d like to share this proven strategy with you. I’ve organized it with the acronym PURPLE to serve as an easy-to-remember checklist.

The PURPLE Preventative to Burnout

People: When we’re stressed, we often seek isolation. But God created us to be a community of people who love and support one another. Do you have people in your life who love, support, and encourage you? If not, seek them out, perhaps by joining a small group at church.

Unloading: We weren’t made to carry burdens. We have to regularly recognize what we’re carrying and hand it over to Jesus, who wants to unburden us:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).

Resting: No matter how busy we are, we must take time to be still and know God. His peace, which surpasses all understanding, comes from his presence in your life.

Here are two ways to rest in the presence of God:

1. During the day, when you find yourself overwhelmed and outdone, close your eyes and imagine yourself in the presence of God. Slowly blow out all the stress (through your mouth) and then, in a deep, slow breath, breathe in God’s love and light (through your nose.) Repeat this a few times with a thankful heart and feel your body relax as you put yourself in the loving arms of God.

2. Before you fall asleep for the night, quiet yourself before God and bring your day before him as you remember its events. With images and not words, review the events and feelings of the day and thank him for his presence in your life.

Purpose: Burnout steals our motivation and hope, but purpose keeps us motivated and hopeful. Do you know that God has prepared good works for you to do? Do you trust that God will work in your life to do them? If you’re not sure why you’re here, read “Do You Know Your Life Purpose?”

Limits: It can be difficult to set limits, but without them, we will always spend more than we should. We all have physical and emotional limits of how much we can do and feel, and when that limit is broken, stress results. When you say yes to something, you’ve got to be sure you can pay the emotional and physical cost to your body and soul. If you have a hard time saying no, remember that every unnecessary yes takes a toll on you and those who most need you. We must learn to rebuke the lie that we’re never doing enough.

Exercise: For me, the first thing busyness drives out is exercise. But exercise is an essential part of self-care. It reduces our levels of stress hormones and stimulates the production of chemicals in our brains that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators.

Jesus said that he came to bring us the abundant life. Don’t let burnout steal any part of it from you!

Are you on the path to burnout? Take the self-assessment and reflect on how you’re handling pressure and stress.