When Passion Leads to Burnout

When we equate work we love with “not really working,” it propagates a belief that if we love it so much, we should do more of it — all of the time, actually. But this mentality leads to burnout, and the impact on our mental health can be profound. Recently, the concept of burnout was legitimized when The World Health Organization (WHO) included it in its International Classification of Diseases, which should increase the number of healthcare providers and insurers who acknowledge, treat, and cover the symptoms. Mission-driven executives, non-profit employees, teachers/principals, nurses, and physicians are some of the people most at-risk for burnout. So, what can leaders do to prevent it in their own organizations? Teach people that setting healthy boundaries is OK. It’s not selfish. It’s actually selfless. It allows you to be more effective at what you do, and to better help those you wish to help.