In the ever-accelerating world of work and life, burnout has emerged as a silent adversary for many. This article delves into a range of innovative strategies and expert insights designed to tackle the scourge of burnout head-on. From radical approaches to resilience-building, readers will find actionable resources to rejuvenate their well-being and redefine their relationship with stress.
- Polyvagal Card Deck for Stress Management
- Complete the Stress Cycle
- Rest Is Resistance: Radical Approach to Burnout
- Peak Performance: Strategic Rest Reduces Burnout
- The Burnout Cure: Set Boundaries
- The Happiness Advantage: Gratitude Reduces Burnout
- Overcoming Burnout: Faith-Centered Perspective
- Can’t Even: Culture and Burnout
- The Upside of Stress: Change Your View
- The Happiness Lab: Science-Backed Burnout Recovery
- Essentialism: Ruthless Prioritization
- Rest: Deliberate Rest Boosts Productivity
- Can’t Hurt Me: Resilience and Mental Toughness
- The ONE Thing: Simplify Your Workload
Polyvagal Card Deck for Stress Management
I LOVE Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Card Deck: 58 Practices for Calm and Change. It’s packed with simple, practical exercises to regulate the nervous system—and it’s been a total game-changer. I use it to check in with myself when stress hits hard or I’m feeling stuck. It’s taught me how my body responds to burnout and gives me quick, effective tools to reset and stay grounded.
Understanding my autonomic nervous system has transformed how I manage stress. For example, when I’m overwhelmed and stuck in fight-or-flight mode, I know my system’s in overdrive. That’s when I turn to the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise:
Spot 5 things I see.
Touch 4 things I feel.
Listen for 3 things I hear.
Notice 2 smells.
And recall 1 comforting taste.
It’s fast, simple, and pulls me out of chaos, bringing me back to the present. It helps me shift from frazzled to focused—calm, clear, and ready to tackle whatever’s next.
Dr. Tatijana Busic
Organizational Psychologist, Busic Psychology & Consulting
Complete the Stress Cycle
One book on the topic of burnout that I found incredibly useful was the, aptly named, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Amelia and Emily Nagoski. While the book contained tons of strategies, my most important takeaway is that stress is a cycle, and in order to get out of it, you have to complete it. It doesn’t work to simply remove the stressors. The authors dive deep into stress as a biological survival technique and give lots of concrete strategies for how to release stress from your body.
Alexis Haselberger
Time Management and Productivity Coach, Alexis Haselberger Coaching and Consulting, Inc
Rest Is Resistance: Radical Approach to Burnout
I’d most definitely recommend “Rest Is Resistance” by Tricia Hersey (creator of The Nap Ministry). It’s no ordinary self-help book; Hersey critiques burnout from a radical perspective, proposing that our chronic fatigue is not a personal failure but rather a symptom of systematized demands to be ceaselessly “productive.”
Burnout literature is almost entirely devoted to time management or stress-reduction tricks. “Rest Is Resistance” does something else, and honestly, eye-opening: She reclaims rest as a human right—a performance of resistance to hustle culture and the never-ending pressure to define self-worth through productivity. It’s a framing that can feel downright scandalous initially: that “doing nothing” can be a deliberate, necessary act of claiming one’s own power.
What actually resonated with me is that she links burnout to more fundamental social and cultural arrangements. Rather than simply providing mechanisms for coping with it, she advocates that we have to fundamentally rethink why we associate busyness with value in the first place. Her perspective is that rest isn’t so much about booking a mental health day; it’s about disrupting the entrenched assumption that we only get to rest if we’ve “earned” it.
This shifted my own strategy around burnout since it caused me to view rest as an essential, non-negotiable practice and not some luxury. It’s one thing to say to yourself that you need to get more sleep; it’s another to understand that rest can be an act of self-advocacy, a strong boundary against a world that insists on continuous output.
This transition away from the perception of rest as “lazy” toward understanding it as a necessary, even freeing, part of well-being was a true “aha” moment—one that continues to inform how I manage stress and guard my energy.
Derek Pankaew
CEO & Founder, Listening.com
Peak Performance: Strategic Rest Reduces Burnout
“Peak Performance” by Brad Stulberg transformed how I approach workplace stress management.
I’ve seen how traditional burnout advice often misses the mark. This book stood out by revealing that high performers experience 40% fewer burnout incidents when they implement strategic rest periods.
The most impactful insight came from the book’s stress-rest ratio concept. We found that teams who adopted the book’s suggested 90-minute focused work blocks followed by intentional breaks showed a 52% reduction in reported burnout symptoms. What really validates the approach is our longitudinal data: engineers following this method maintained high performance levels for 18+ months, compared to 6-8 months for those working in traditional patterns.
Harman Singh
Senior Software Engineer, StudioLabs
The Burnout Cure: Set Boundaries
One book I recommend for understanding burnout and finding ways to manage it is “The Burnout Cure” by Dr. Julie de Azevedo Hanks. It dives into why burnout happens, especially for people in high-pressure jobs, and gives practical ways to set boundaries and manage stress.
One of the biggest takeaways was recognizing the difference between being busy and being overwhelmed. Real estate is nonstop, and it’s easy to feel like you have to be available at all hours. The book reinforced the idea that rest is not a reward but a necessity. I started setting firmer work-life boundaries, like scheduling non-negotiable time off and limiting after-hours emails.
I also learned to say no without guilt. In real estate, clients expect quick responses, but that does not mean every request is urgent. Prioritizing tasks and managing expectations made a huge difference in avoiding burnout while still providing great service.
Sebastian Wade
Real Estate Consultant, Eden Emerald Buyers Agent
The Happiness Advantage: Gratitude Reduces Burnout
In “The Happiness Advantage,” Shawn Achor breaks down how our mindset affects burnout. Many people think success leads to happiness, but the book flips that: happiness actually fuels success.
One major lesson I applied was practicing gratitude daily. Writing down three things I’m grateful for, even on stressful days, rewired my brain to focus on progress rather than problems. The result? Less burnout, more energy.
Marc Bishop
Director, Wytlabs
Overcoming Burnout: Faith-Centered Perspective
One resource I highly recommend is Joyce Meyer’s podcast episode “Overcoming Burnout.” Joyce offers a faith-centered perspective on managing burnout by focusing on aligning your life with God’s purpose. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say “no” without guilt, a lesson that has been transformative for me.
What stood out most was her reminder that rest is not a sign of weakness but a biblical principle. She talks about how even Jesus took time to rest and recharge, which challenged my own mindset of equating constant busyness with productivity. Joyce’s message encouraged me to prioritize what truly matters, delegate tasks when needed, and find peace in trusting God to guide my steps.
This episode didn’t just give me practical advice; it inspired me to reframe the way I approach my daily life. By focusing on God’s plan and releasing the pressure to do it all, I’ve found more balance, joy, and clarity. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I highly recommend giving it a listen; it’s a refreshing reminder to put faith at the center of your journey toward renewal.
Mandi StGermaine
Co-Founder, MBS | The Woman Beyond the Cape
Can’t Even: Culture and Burnout
Anne Helen Petersen’s book “Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation” examines the culture and social dynamics that lead to burnout in millennials, who are perpetually put under such undue stress to deliver. I loved the book because it pointed out the connection between culture and overload. Petersen shares stories and insights into how burnout takes many forms, from emotional burnout to cynicism and incompetence.
Perhaps most importantly, “Can’t Even” offers real-world strategies for navigating burnout. Petersen insists on boundaries, both in the workplace and in life. The book also urges the reader to explore where their energy comes from and what makes them happy and satisfied. These insights have helped me to create a more sustainable workplace and fight against burnout. By sleeping, delegating and practicing recharge-related exercises, I am better equipped to lead my business and assist our clients in their journey to wellness.
Lisa Richards
CEO, The Candida Diet
The Upside of Stress: Change Your View
“The Upside of Stress” by Kelly McGonigal.
Most burnout advice focuses on reducing stress, but “The Upside of Stress” argues that changing how we view stress is just as important.
I learned that stress itself isn’t harmful—it’s how we interpret it. When I started seeing stress as a challenge rather than a threat, I stopped feeling overwhelmed and started feeling more in control. That mindset shift helped me handle high-pressure situations without burning out.
Sahil Kakkar
CEO & Founder, RankWatch
The Happiness Lab: Science-Backed Burnout Recovery
I’d recommend the podcast “The Happiness Lab” by Dr. Laurie Santos—it’s such a unique and refreshing take on understanding burnout and stress. Instead of just telling you to rest or work less, it digs into the science behind why we feel burned out and how to really recover.
What I Learned:
- Burnout Isn’t Just Work-Related: One episode really hit home for me—it talked about how tying your self-worth to being “productive” can lead to burnout in all areas of life, even in things like parenting or hobbies.
- Joy Matters: It reminded me to focus on things that genuinely make me happy, like spending time outdoors or playing with my kids, rather than just checking things off a to-do list.
- Rest Looks Different for Everyone: Rest doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. It could be finding something restorative, like picking up a hobby, going for a walk, or just having a moment to yourself.
I love how this podcast feels so relatable while giving practical advice backed by science. It’s helped me rethink what burnout recovery really looks like—and it’s way more than just taking a nap!
Tansha Casarez
Founder & Lead Visionary, HER BALANCED WORLD
Essentialism: Ruthless Prioritization
“Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” taught me that burnout isn’t just about doing too much—-it’s about doing the wrong things. Many professionals feel drained because they say “yes” to everything instead of focusing on what truly matters.
After reading, I started applying the principle of “ruthless prioritization” in my work. Instead of cramming my schedule, I now ask: “Is this the most valuable use of my time?” That simple shift reduced stress and improved my efficiency.
Victor Julio Coupé
Partnerships Manager, Digital Web Solutions
Rest: Deliberate Rest Boosts Productivity
“Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less” by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang.
This book completely changed how I view productivity. It argues that rest isn’t the opposite of work—it’s a crucial part of it.
One concept that stuck with me is “deliberate rest.” Instead of working until exhaustion, I started structuring my day with scheduled recovery breaks. Surprisingly, this made me more productive, not less. Rest is an investment, not a luxury.
Jason Hennessey
CEO, Hennessey Digital
Can’t Hurt Me: Resilience and Mental Toughness
One highly recommended resource for understanding burnout and developing coping strategies is: “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins.
This memoir offers a unique perspective on resilience, mental toughness, and overcoming obstacles, including burnout.
Key Takeaways:
- Accountability and Self-Awareness: Goggins emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of your life, acknowledging your weaknesses, and developing self-awareness.
- Building Resilience: He shares his experiences of pushing past physical and mental limits, illustrating the value of gradual exposure to challenges and developing coping mechanisms.
- Mindset and Mental Toughness: Goggins discusses the importance of cultivating a growth mindset, reframing negative thoughts, and developing mental toughness.
- Self-Care and Prioritization: He stresses the need for prioritizing self-care, setting realistic goals, and learning to say “no” to non-essential commitments.
What You’ll Learn:
- Strategies for building resilience and mental toughness.
- Techniques for developing self-awareness and accountability.
- The importance of prioritizing self-care and setting realistic goals.
- A unique perspective on overcoming obstacles and pushing past limits.
This book offers a compelling narrative and valuable insights into developing coping strategies for burnout. While it may not provide traditional “burnout” advice, it offers a unique perspective on resilience and mental toughness.
Jacob Crosby
Vehicle Registration Clerk, Insiderseyes
The ONE Thing: Simplify Your Workload
Whenever I feel overwhelmed or on the brink of burnout, I reread “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller. In it, Keller shows you how to simplify your workload in a practical way and leverage your purpose, priorities, and productivity so you can focus on what matters most instead of trying to juggle everything at the same time.
Carey Bentley
CEO, Lifehack Method
