Burnout Banter Podcast

As leaders, we often feel the need to be always "on" for our teams, available 24/7 to handle any issue. While our intentions are good, this constant availability can quickly lead to burnout. When we don’t set boundaries, we inadvertently teach our teams that they shouldn’t either. The result? A culture of overwork and stress. Establishing and respecting set office hours isn't a "benefit"—it's essential to being a good leader. By setting clear boundaries, we model a healthier work-life balance for our teams. This approach fosters a culture of mental wellness, where employees feel empowered to prioritize their well-being. Let's redefine leadership in the A/E/C industry. It's not about being always available; it's about being present and effective when it counts. Establish those office hours. Respect them. Show your team that mental wellness is a priority. After all, a well-rested leader and team are far more productive and creative.

Many of us find ourselves trapped in a cycle of burnout without even realizing it. This article by Anne Helen Petersen sheds light on how millennials, in particular, have been conditioned for this relentless grind. "As American business became more efficient, better at turning a profit, the next generation needed to be positioned to compete. We couldn’t just show up with a diploma and expect to get and keep a job that would allow us to retire at 55. In a marked shift from the generations before, millennials needed to optimize ourselves to be the very best workers possible." In a relentless pursuit of optimization, millennials have been trained to excel from a young age, starting in elementary school and continuing through college. "We didn’t try to break the system, since that’s not how we’d been raised. We tried to win it." At some point, millennials may realize that all the loans, labor, and self-optimization might not be "worth it." "[Burnout is] also about the psychological toll of realizing that something you’d been told, and came to believe yourself, would be 'worth it' — worth the loans, worth the labor, worth all that self-optimization — isn’t." This article is long, but it's worth the read for anyone interested in understanding the forces shaping our generation's approach to work and well-being. https://lnkd.in/eDpJ-x7

If we are in episodic or constant stress, then we burn out. The interesting thing about stress is that there's a ton of it everywhere. There are big-picture issues that cause significant stress but which are going to take a while to resolve - sometimes through a big industry change. And then there's the stress that we put on ourselves. When these two sources of stress combine, it can feel like we never get a chance to rest and recover. The good news is that we *do* have control over how much stress we put on ourselves. Learn more about how to manage personal stressors in #BurnoutBanter Season 1 Episode 9.

We often believe we're thriving during the grind, juggling countless tasks and basking in the glow of each win and or pat on the back. The hustle feels exhilarating, and the rewards motivate. But beneath the surface, burnout is quietly brewing. Yet, in the pursuit of success, many of us ignore the growing fatigue, the creeping stress. Eventually, things will start to unravel. The truth is, our bodies and minds have limits. Constantly pushing them without proper care isn’t sustainable. The very drive that propels us forward can also lead us to burnout if we’re not careful. It’s crucial to pause, reflect, and prioritize self-care. Celebrate your wins, but also honor your need for rest. In this episode, recovering burnout Davina Warden joins the podcast to have a candid conversation about the highs that come right before the crash, and how we can start to recognize the decisions that might lead us to burnout.

Understanding the connection between stress and burnout is key to prioritizing self-care in challenging industries like architecture/engineering/construction. Taking control of the stress we put on ourselves can make a significant difference in avoiding burnout. #SelfCare #Wellness #WorkLifeBalance #burnout #BurnoutBanter

We’ve talked about burnout before (like, all the time!), but this time, we’re tackling it head-on in person at the 2025 SMPS Southern Regional Conference! Jeff and Rachelle are hosting a live recording of Burnout Banter, and we’ll be covering the toughest topics facing AEC professionals right now—from the pressures of proposal deadlines to the strain of working with SMEs. This won’t be your typical session. We want to hear your questions and experiences, and we’ll share our own stories from the trenches. Jeff will break down how technical staff approach collaboration (and the challenges that come with it), while Rachelle will focus on how marketers can build more productive relationships with SMEs—and avoid the burnout trap. Whether you’re feeling the weight of back-to-back deadlines, struggling to communicate with your technical teams, or just trying to keep your head above water in this fast-paced industry, this session is for you. It’s going to be an honest, engaging conversation with some practical advice you can put into action right away. Join us on January 31st, and let’s talk burnout, collaboration, and how to work smarter—not harder—in 2025. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gjXuJ-2B

How does negative self-talk impact the stories that we tell ourselves? And how does this negative self-talk contribute to stress and ultimately burnout? Come banter with Jeff, Rachelle, and special guest Sally Z in this episode of #BurnoutBanter as we explore the power of storytelling to combat stress and transform our lives. https://lnkd.in/gQNXpijC

The culture of constant busyness often feels like a badge of honor in today's society. This 2012 article from The New York Times' Opinionator blog challenges the notion of being busy and the proud way society owns our relentless schedules. "Busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness; obviously, your life cannot possibly be silly or trivial or meaningless if you are so busy, completely booked, in demand every hour of the day." So many of us use busyness as a way to find purpose and meaning. But true productivity and creativity often arise from moments of idleness. "Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence, or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it, we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets. The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole, for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration — it is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done." In essence, the article advocates for the importance of downtime in our lives, emphasizing that allowing ourselves moments of idleness can lead to greater clarity, creativity, and overall well-being.

Have you ever felt like you're expected to be superhuman to get it all done? Our amazing guest in Season 1 Episode 6 of #BurnoutBanter, Jen McGovern, has. Jen vividly remembers someone saying, "She's capable of doing great things, but she's starting to fray around the edges." Translation: the people around her had noticed her burning out. But they weren't stepping in to help. In this episode, Jen offers tons of wisdom for our listeners that are feeling the strain of overwhelm, including: "Recognize that your company will take whatever you give. They're happy when you go above and beyond, but they will keep taking it, and so you've got to be the one to notice when you've gone above and beyond for too long. You've got to be that one who spots that sign of burnout and starts to set your own boundaries."

In today's hyper-connected world, technology is both a blessing and a curse. While it has revolutionized the way we work, it’s also pushing many of us to the brink of burnout. Our devices demand constant attention, notifications disrupt our focus, and the lines between work and life blur until they’re almost nonexistent. This episode of "Burnout Banter" explores how technology impacts our mental health and offers actionable tips to reclaim our well-being. It's a must-listen for anyone feeling overwhelmed in the digital age. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dDNpeZ4v