Q4 Burnout: When Your Emergency Tank is on Empty
I hit empty last Wednesday at 2:37pm. Not my car—me.
Sitting in my home office, at my desk, all alone. Let’s face it, I could have been in an office full of people, and I would have still felt alone. My hands were shaking, not from caffeine, but from running on pure adrenaline for weeks. Sound familiar?
Y'all saw my last post - the month of October was a marathon for both personal and professional reasons - some within my control, but most not. I am learning from my life and those of my business owners that you can spend your life trying to control what's not in your control OR you can lead well what you can control ~ yourself.
But here's what nobody talks about: leading yourself when you're already at your breaking point.
Now listen, it is easier to think we can control our schedule. I am sure if we all could schedule our lives, we'd schedule for a different October, November, and December. However, we are the ones who choose how we respond to our circumstances.
I could not and would not shut down because I refuse to give up on one of my roles as a coach, and that's showing up well for my small business owners. So what do you do when you're running on empty but can't actually stop? You can't give up or shut down…I mean, we could; however, I don't think that's what we want to do.
"LB, I'm drowning, but I can't abandon my team during our busiest season."
I hear you. Here's what I'm learning in real-time.
The 5-5-5 Emergency Refill Framework
When your emergency tank is on empty, you don't need a vacation (though that would be nice). You need strategic restoration that fits into the chaos.
5 Tasks to Eliminate Immediately:
1. Stop checking emails after 7 pm (yes, even in Q4)
2. Cancel one "nice to have" meeting this week
3. Delegate that project you've been holding onto
4. Say no to the next non-essential request
5. Skip the perfectionist review on something that's already 85% done
5 Minutes of Restoration You Can Actually Fit In:
1. Sit in your car for 5 minutes before walking into the next meeting
2. Take actual lunch breaks - even if it's just 5 minutes with real food
3. Step outside and breathe fresh air between calls
4. Listen to one worship song (my current go-to is "The LORD Will Provide")
5. Text someone in your tribe who makes you laugh - we have a codeword we text one another that means - “Help, I need a friend. to be with me in this hard moment.”
5 Perspective Shifts That Honor Your Humanity:
What am I learning? It takes a village. Yes, LB, we've heard this a million times. I know, I had to hear it until I realized how true it is.
I just recently added a rockstar vendor to my team. My energy levels and creativity are soaring again. Why? I was lacking the correct structure (or, as I like to say, scaffolding) needed to help me go to the next level.
For me, I needed to add a virtual assistant (who, thanks to The Working Genius, is an amazing fit!) - we've worked together for 3+ years. I have a project manager on speed dial, who takes on projects for me as needed. Her services are beyond what I need at times, so she and I have worked out this arrangement.
I have an AWESOME accountant who talks me off the ledge with taxes and payroll when I am not understanding the tax code, and I have a bookkeeper who keeps me sane and the books looking pristine.
Will this scaffolding always be in place? Maybe...maybe not. However, in this season, it is what the business and I both need to super serve our clients.
Here's the truth: God didn't design us to carry everything alone. Even Jesus had His disciples. Even Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms.
You steward your gifts well when you surround yourself with people who complement what you cannot do. That's not weakness - that's wisdom.
So before you hit empty again, ask yourself: What scaffolding do you need to build around your life right now? Not forever. Just for this season.
The weight on your shoulders isn't there because you're not strong enough. It's there because you haven't built the right support system yet.
Your move: Put down the phone. Step away from the computer. Walk to your team today and ask them one question: "What's one thing I could take off your plate, and what's one thing you could take off mine?"
Don't miss out on the beauty of building something sustainable together.
Inhale. Exhale. You've got this - and you don't have to do it alone.