Healing Burnout
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to lead a room full of administrators in a deep exploration of the complexities of burnout. As we engaged in this vital discussion, I observed lightbulbs going off when I emphasized that burnout isn’t something we can simply “cure” or “reverse,” as many popular stress-busting tools and programs suggest. The truth is that burnout is deeply rooted in dominant systems and cultural norms that prioritize productivity and constant availability. While we certainly have strategies to help heal from burnout, it’s essential to understand that simply adopting practices to build stress resilience is not enough. Burnout is a challenge that extends far beyond what any individual can tackle alone.
Burnout manifests as physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, often resulting from prolonged stress. This perfect storm can feel particularly overwhelming as we approach the pivotal election next week, which can exacerbate feelings of burnout and emotional exhaustion. The constant barrage of information and the weight of civic responsibility can add to our sense of overwhelm.
Life is full of ebbs and flows, and right now, I find myself in a stage where everything seems to converge — juggling the demands of a young child, caring for aging parents, navigating my professional life, and striving to stay meaningfully engaged in local and national politics at a time when civic participation feel more crucial than ever. All of this can often feel like a recipe for burnout, especially within societal structures that reinforce individualism and the idea that we should do it all ourselves.
Take, for example, my son’s new school, which only offers aftercare until 4:30 PM. Since he was 18 months old, we’ve relied on aftercare until 6 PM. In this new environment, it feels like many families have one parent who isn’t working or has significant flexibility, but this is not our daily reality right now so this change has added stress to our lives.
I used to feel frustration with the school for this, but deep down, I know we chose this path because we crave more time with our son, Kailash. It’s a reminder that while we strive for balance and fulfillment, the systems around us can make that balance difficult to achieve. Acknowledging this struggle is essential. When we bring this lens into our exploration of burnout, we recognize how important it is to examine the systemic pressures that shape our daily choices — and to remember that while individual coping strategies matter, we also need collective solutions.
Here are some strategies that have proven especially effective for me as I manage “all the things” in my life right now:
I’m happy to share that in this moment we’ve come up with a creative solution to early after care pick up. Now, after picking him up, we bring Kailash to visit his 88-year-old grandpa and his friends at their senior living facility a few times a week. It’s become a beautiful bridge between generations, where Kailash can connect with elders, while I find a couple of extra hours to catch up on work at a nearby coffee shop. This arrangement has been a powerful reminder of the value of community and intergenerational support, both of which are essential.
As we journey through the complexities of our lives, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the healing process of burnout — both for yourself and for those you may know who are feeling its weight. Together, we can create spaces that nurture well-being, resilience, and connection. Let’s hold each other in compassion as we navigate this path toward individual and collective healing.
Author Bio: Meena Srinivasan is a contemplative leader, celebrated speaker, accomplished author, and visionary edupreneur. She is an educator-activist at heart, consistently championing the fusion of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Belonging. Meena was featured as one of 2022’s 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in Mindful Magazine and is the Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL)™ an organization that supports educational leaders in building more compassionate and just schools. A former public school administrator and National Board Certified Teacher, Meena is the creative force behind the SEL Every Day Online Courses, an instructor of graduate level Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) courses at UC Berkeley and the CEO of Karuna Consulting, LLC, an organization that takes its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Karuna,’ signifying compassion. Karuna Consulting is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) driven by a profound mission: to foster a more compassionate world through Meena’s keynotes, professional learning, coaching, and consulting services. She is the author of numerous publications including Teach, Breathe, Learn and SEL Every Day. The latter was honored as one of 2019’s Favorite Books for Educators by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Her TEDx talk on Tenderness is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2024 (with over 2 million views). Meena has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 25 years, is an ordained Zen Buddhist and serves on the Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Learn more at meenasrinivasan.com.
