Be Undaunted: Lead Stronger, Elevate Your Impact, Live With Energy
Burnout: What Happens When Everyone Counts on You Episode Theme: Recognizing burnout, protecting your energy, and building sustainable high performance. In this episode of Be Undaunted, Tara Collingwood and George Dom tackle a topic that affects nearly every high performer at some point: burnout. Burnout is more than simply feeling tired. It’s the gradual erosion of energy, focus, resilience, and purpose that can leave even the most capable people feeling emotionally exhausted and disconnected. Drawing from experiences in military leadership, executive coaching, and health performance, Tara and George unpack: * Why high performers are especially vulnerable to burnout * The warning signs most people ignore * What actually helps recovery * How leaders unintentionally create burnout cultures * Practical strategies to protect energy and sustain performance If you are the person everyone relies on, this episode is for you. George’s Pentagon Burnout Story George shares a vivid story from his final Navy assignment working in the Pentagon during strategic planning for Operation Iraqi Freedom. His days routinely looked like this: * Arriving by 6:00 AM * Back-to-back meetings all day * Evening updates for admirals and generals * Working until midnight or later * Repeating the cycle six days a week Despite taking pride in being “the last initials on the sign-out sheet,” George realized that by Thursday and Friday, he was operating on fumes. Key Insight: “You’d still get the work done — but they weren’t getting your best work anymore.” The story highlights an important truth: Burnout often develops while people are still functioning and performing. Why High Performers Are at Higher Risk Tara and George explain why ambitious, responsible, high-achieving people are especially vulnerable to burnout. Common Drivers Include: Identity Becomes Tied to Performance High performers often equate productivity with self-worth. Fear of Letting Others Down Many people worry that slowing down will make them appear less committed. Rewarded for Overperforming Reliable people often receive more responsibility because leaders trust them. Addiction to Adrenaline High achievers can become dependent on the stimulation of pressure, urgency, and constant motion. Delayed Recovery People often tell themselves: * “I’ll rest after this project.” * “I’ll take vacation next month.” * “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” But recovery keeps getting postponed. Burnout Warning Signs Burnout rarely appears overnight. Instead, it builds gradually through chronic stress and insufficient recovery. Physical Signs * Poor sleep * Waking during the night * Brain fog * Forgetfulness * Digestive issues * Appetite changes * Increased cravings for sugar and caffeine * Constant fatigue Emotional & Behavioral Signs * Irritability * Short temper * Loss of humor * Feeling emotionally flat * Going through the motions * Reduced motivation * Increased cynicism or apathy Performance Signs * Declining focus * Taking shortcuts * Lower creativity * Reduced resilience * “Checking boxes” instead of bringing full engagement Burnout Isn’t a Lack of Effort One of the biggest takeaways from the episode: Burnout is not caused by laziness. It’s caused by prolonged output without adequate recovery. George’s Key Insight: “Burnout isn’t a lack of effort — it’s a lack of recovery.” Initially, stress can sharpen focus and improve performance. But chronic stress eventually drains physical, emotional, and cognitive capacity. What Doesn’t Work Tara and George discuss several common but ineffective strategies people use when approaching burnout. These Usually Make Things Worse: * More caffeine * Less sleep * Skipping meals * Working longer hours * Ignoring warning signs * “Pushing through” indefinitely * Treating exhaustion as a badge of honor Important Reminder: Burnout is not solved by “trying harder.” What Actually Helps Recovery 1. Tactical Recovery Throughout the Day Research shows that short recovery breaks every 60–90 minutes significantly improve performance and reduce stress. Examples: * Going for a short walk * Getting sunlight * Stretching or doing squats * Drinking water * Talking with a coworker * Stepping away from screens * Practicing deep breathing Tara’s Insight: Recovery is not just vacations. It’s small resets throughout the day. 2. Strategic Recovery Tactical recovery helps during the day. Strategic recovery means intentionally taking extended time to rest and recharge. This includes: * Vacations * Weekends without work * Protected downtime * Recovery after travel * Sleep restoration George emphasizes that people often do their best work before vacations because their brain knows recovery is coming. 3. Setting Boundaries George shares how difficult boundary-setting was during his military career — and how important it became later. Memorable Quote: “If you don’t protect your time, somebody else will spend it.” Healthy boundaries may include: * Leaving work at a consistent time * Limiting after-hours emails * Protecting sleep * Scheduling recovery after travel * Saying no to unnecessary commitments The Power of Habits & Routines The hosts discuss how sustainable habits reduce reliance on willpower. George’s Insight: “You don’t rise to the occasion — you fall to your habits.” Helpful habits can include: * Daily movement * Transition rituals between work and home * Consistent sleep schedules * Hydration High Trust Leadership by George Dom https://www.georgedom.com/book [https://www.georgedom.com/book] More about George Dom: https://www.georgedom.com/ [https://www.georgedom.com/] More about Tara Collingwood: https://www.dietdiva.net/ [https://www.dietdiva.net/] Follow the show: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-undaunted-lead-stronger-elevate-your-impact-live/id1861951337] • Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6txCTUCajOUaGEYBBnKKyE?si=945c13259acb45d1] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BeUndaunted] Be Undaunted is produced by JAG Podcast Productions: www.jagpodcastproductions.com [www.jagpodcastproductions.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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