What happens when you burn out not from stress, but from passion?
We’ve worked hard to align our lives with our values, establish boundaries, and stay committed to our mission. We push forward not because we have to, but because we want to. We believe in what we do. We know our “why.” We’ve found our passion and are enjoying what we do. But there’s a catch: the very thing that fuels us can also deplete us.
Most of the time, I feel full of energy and motivation, driven by adventure and the desire to help others. But even when you’re doing what you love, the relentless pursuit of impact and success can lead to burnout. And it’s a different kind of burnout. This kind of burnout is harder to recognise because it comes from good things we genuinely enjoy.
For those of us who thrive on purpose, we’re not just chasing success in the traditional sense. We don’t believe that a new car, the latest iPhone, or the next promotion will make us happy (especially if we run our own adventure business!). We understand that real fulfilment comes from meaningful challenges, pushing our limits, and growing through discomfort. But what happens when this constant striving, this deep-seated drive to make a difference, starts to take too much from us?
The power of pausing
Burnout doesn’t always come from being overworked and exhausted. It can also come from running on autopilot for too long. When your work is your passion, stepping back can feel counterintuitive; maybe you feel that slowing down would mean to lose momentum. But paradoxically, slowing down is often what allows us to move forward faster and with greater clarity.
My grandfather, my hero, always told me, “Less speed, more haste, Trace.” It used to drive me mad. I thought getting things done faster meant I could do more. But over time, I’ve realised that moving too fast often leads to more mistakes, more exhaustion, and less fulfilment. So, how do we navigate this?
Creating space in the hustle and bustle
Schedule in reflections and resets. Whether it’s a solo hike, an unplugged weekend, or a daily journaling habit, creating moments for self-check-ins can help realign your energy.
Take moments for micro-pauses. Small resets throughout the day, like a deep breath before a meeting or stepping outside between tasks, can prevent burnout from creeping in unnoticed.
Find a wellness ally. Just as we hold our adventure clients accountable for self-care, we need people who remind us to pause, step back, and breathe.
Flip the script on productivity. Instead of measuring success by how much we do, we should measure it by how much we experience, feel, and sustain.
Find and connect with the Why behind your What. Your mission isn’t all about pushing forward and ticking things off checklists. Think about living fully, which includes rest, recovery, and being present in the moment.
