You’re an urban planner who’s dealing with burnout. How can you get your spark back?

Look into creating a self care plan. There are lots of resources on the internet to help with this. Many can help you find out the areas in your life that are contributing to the burnout.

●Take a Break: Allow yourself time away from work to recharge. Even a short vacation or a few days off can make a difference. ●Seek Inspiration: Explore new urban environments, attend conferences, or engage with online communities to rediscover what initially drew you to urban planning. ●Networking: Connect with other urban planners, both online and offline, to share experiences, exchange ideas, and gain fresh perspectives. ●Reflect and Reframe: Reflect on your past successes and accomplishments in urban planning to remind yourself of your capabilities and achievements. Reframe challenges as opportunities for growth. By implementing these strategies, you can reignite your passion for urban planning and overcome burnout.

I have burnt out two times in my career and made changes that led me back to sanity. Getting clear on exactly which part of your job is causing the most friction is everything. For me, one huge factor was too many late-night public meetings. And I mean late. Like midnight to 2-3 in the morning late. And it was often. I am a morning person and an introvert so that one factor alone was causing lots of friction in my job satisfaction. My solution, which has changed everything in the most positive ways, was to find a different role where I can do great meaningful work, and have maybe 1+ meeting a month versus 1+ a week. I have energy for myself and my family again because I enjoy my work and have peace.

When I started my current job, I was coming from a place of extreme burnout from my last job. And I got thrown into it from the first day. I quickly realized that I needed to figure out some healthy boundaries for myself. I wrote a list in my journal, and wrote and rewrote what I was going to say to my boss. I fretted, I was anxious, and I had all the negative self-talk points swirling in my head. But I went ahead and shared my truth and asked for what I needed. And guess what, my boss just said, 'Ok, no problem....' What?! I worked myself up so much and she said we'd work it out. You can ask for what you need and if your boss scoffs or doesn't hear you, you have choices. There are great bosses out there. I know because I've had both.

Stay in front of your field, on trend and talk with the Urban Planning innovators and leaders nationally and worldwide. Learning something new about the field everyday! A lot of times our position can pigeonhole us and keep us from seeing the broader picture…the reason we chose the profession. You will be alright! OR, of course you could take the knowledge you have built and roll it into a new and exciting career/journey. Either way, best wishes to you!

Learning new things always reignites my fire. Being able to take a step back from project work and attend a state APA conference, or even attend a training session online covering something that intrigues you can be energizing. It sparks the parts of your brain that like to problem-solve and process new information. Attending State APA Conferences is a great way to get reinspired. I have never left one without at least a handful of takeaways that made it worth my time. The other benefit of conferences is the social aspect. Most planners have been burnt out at some point, and it helps so much to be able to talk about what you're feeling with other trusted planners who know exactly what you're going through.

See if you can undertake a different job or add a different type of project to work on. If you work in the public sector, see if you can switch roles with a colleague — it affords cross training to the organization, while hopefully helping getting you out of your hum drum mood.