Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). Yet, many people feel they need to "burnout," rather than wear out! Symptoms often associated with burnout include: fatigue, trouble getting to sleep, trouble concentrating, a feeling of being under a great deal of pressure, disappointment with accomplishments, low energy levels, and headaches.
People experiencing burnout do a lot of negative "self-talk." "My work hasn't been worth much. No one knows what I'm going through. Life isn't fair. My life isn't counting. I'm 45, and I can't wait to retire. I wish I could get a different job." Ralph Cramden might have said, "You're going to the moon Alice; you're going to the moon!" Christine Maslach describes burnout as resulting in emotional exhaustion, a desire to withdraw, and a reduced feeling of accomplishment.
What's the remedy? I remember a time when I said "yes" to every request (I'm a firstborn); yet, last week I said "no" to three different wonderful people! Of course I feel a little guilty; but then, I was raised on guilt --I’ll just have to deal with it somehow or other. We must take control of our own lives where we can. Many of these feelings of inadequacy have to do with purpose in life --the idea of "amounting to something," counting, not wasting your life. It could help us all to see the purpose of our lives as simply serving God through caring for individuals. I Kings 19 gives the story of Elijah at a time when he was burned out. As God ministered to him, he provided rest and food, then reassured Elijah that he was not alone in the world. Therapists recommend exercising, changing routine, forgiving, prioritizing life, learning to say "no," and learning not to expect perfection. Perfection is just a mirage in the desert; no matter how hard you work at it, there’s no water to be had from it. One more thing, don't forget to let God help you; he can "restore your soul" (Psalm 23:3).