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Interested in learning more about #burnout and #leadership in #highered? I pulled together my summer reading list for a recent article in the *Academic Leader* newsletter. Find a few new reads for the new year!

In my latest article for Harvard Business Review, I put out a warning signal for all of us - we must end toxic productivity. The piece discusses how we got here, what's made it worse, and how to fix it. "People are already struggling to meet their core job requirements, but when you factor in a staggering 192% increase in weekly meetings post-pandemic, it becomes significantly more challenging. We are over-meeting, over-looping, and over-collaborating — one of the worst work habits brought on by the pandemic. Despite the longstanding perception that more hours worked means higher productivity, data and research are finding otherwise." Have you seen toxic productivity spread into your life? In which way? Any tips you've found that have worked for curbing it? I'm sure we could all use the advice. Appreciate your insights Annie Dean, Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, Rachel Schall Thomas and data from Slack, Atlassian, Shopify, Asana, Sorbet, Expedia Group, LeanIn, Laura Giurge Thanks for reading and joining the conversation.

The advice you should never take about burnout: (and what to do instead) Burnout steals more than your energy—it makes you question everything. Standard advice often misses what you're going through: ❌ Just work fewer hours:    ↳ Burnout is caused by meaningless work and toxic leadership.   ↳ Reflect on what's causing your stress. ❌ Take a vacation, and you'll feel refreshed:    ↳ Vacations offer temporary escape but won't fix systemic issues.   ↳ Take regular breaks. Address the root causes of your burnout. ❌ If you love your job, you can't burn out:    ↳ Even dream jobs can drain you without proper boundaries.   ↳ Love your work but protect your well-being. ❌ Burnout is your problem to solve on your own:    ↳ Burnout reflects workplace culture, not a personal failure.   ↳ Speak to a mentor, build alliances and create change together. ❌ Just push through it:    ↳ Pushing harder only deepens exhaustion and damage.   ↳ Honour your limits and prioritize rest. ❌ If you're burned out, it means you're not strong enough:    ↳ Burnout happens to those who care the most.   ↳ Your worth isn't measured by how much you can endure. ❌ Burnout shows you're dedicated:    ↳ Burnout is not a badge of honour.   ↳ No one benefits from you burning out. You deserve to thrive, not just survive. Choose yourself and your well-being. Everything else can wait. ♻️ Repost to help someone overcome burnout. 🔔 Follow Dora Vanourek for more.

Feeling like your work-life balance has turned you into a creature of the night, endlessly roaming for rest? It's no supernatural secret – work-life imbalance can leave you feeling drained and like a vampire, constantly needing rejuvenation. When you feel like you're perpetually caught in the darkness of overwork, it's time to unleash your inner vampire hunter and seek out self-care tools to restore harmony and vitality. Don't let work-life imbalance turn you into a creature of the night – reach out to your fellow vampires and vampire hunters for support and guidance to keep your energy flowing! The lack of time for rest and rejuvenation can cast a dark shadow on your mental and emotional well-being, leaving you feeling as depleted as a vampire without access to blood. But fear not, fellow vampires and vampire hunters! Just as a potion needs the right ingredients, you must build connections and a support network. Whether it's a heart-to-heart with a friend or a group strategy session, reaching out can restore balance. Infuse a chalice of camaraderie, sprinkle in some empathy, and let the warmth of friendship revive the vitality drained by work-life imbalance. Together, we can resurrect a world where no vampire or vampire hunter feels alone in their struggles. After all, even the most powerful creatures are stronger when united!  🧛♂️🌙 #WorkLifeVampire #DrainingWorkplaces #BalanceRestoration #VampireHunterSupport #HarmonyRevival #RejuvenationConnection #EmpathyInfusion #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r Image created using the DALL-E image generator.

When you feel like a bolt of lightning has jolted you into a state of constant high energy, it's time to harness your inner scientist and conduct self-care experiments to bring back balance and calm. Don't let burnout turn you into a frenzied creation – reach out to your fellow monsters and mad scientists for support and understanding to keep your energies in check! The lack of rest and relaxation can cast a dark shadow on your mental and emotional well-being, leaving you feeling as out of control as Frankenstein's monster in a raging storm. Without a lab full of caring souls to lean on, burnout can electrify feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, and agitation. But fear not, fellow monsters and mad scientists! Just as a potion needs the right ingredients, you need to stir up some connections and conduct a support network. Whether it's a heart-to-heart with a friend or a group brainstorming session, reaching out can work wonders to calm the storm of burnout. So, grab your surge protectors because it's time to create electrifying moments of connection. Conduct a surge of camaraderie, infuse in some empathy, and let the warmth of friendship calm the electric storm of burnout. Together, we can reanimate a world where no monster or mad scientist feels alone in their struggles. After all, even the most potent experiments are more successful when conducted together! #BurnoutBoo #FrankensteinsSupportGroup #MonsterSelfCare #SpookySupport #ElectrifyingEmpathy #MadScientistCommunity #BurnoutBewitched #GhoulishFriendship #RestorationResurrection #HalloweenHealing#MonsterWellness 🧟♂️🔬 Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r Image created using the DALL-E image generator.

Feeling witched out and burned up? It's no hocus pocus – burnout is real, especially when flying solo without a coven of support. When the cauldron of stress is boiling over, and you feel like a lone witch in the woods, it's time to brew up some self-care spells and seek out your magical support network. Don't let burnout stress your well-being – reach out to your fellow witches and warlocks for some potion and motion to keep your spirits high! The lack of social support can cast a dark spell on your mental and emotional well-being, leaving you feeling as isolated as a witch in a storm. Without a coven of caring souls to lean on, burnout can brew up feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and exhaustion. But fear not, fellow witches and warlocks! Just as a potion needs the right ingredients, you must stir up some connections and brew a support network. Whether a heart-to-heart with a friend or a group spellcasting session, reaching out can work wonders to banish the shadows of burnout. So, grab your broomsticks and gather 'round because it's time to create some magical moments of connection. Whip up a cauldron of camaraderie, sprinkle in some empathy, and let the warmth of friendship cast out the chill of burnout. Together, we can conjure up a world where no witch or warlock feels alone in their struggles. After all, even the most powerful spells are stronger when cast together! 🧙♂️🌟#BurnoutBusters #WitchyWellness #CovenConnections #SupportSpells #MagicalMentalHealth #SelfCareSorcery #EmbracingEmpathy #WitchesUnite #WarlocksUnited #BrewingSupport #BanishBurnout #CauldronOfCamaraderie #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r Image created using the DALL-E image generator.

As we venture into the mysterious season, it's time to shed light on a truly spine-chilling topic: the haunting of dysfunctional workplace dynamics. In this post, we'll unravel the enigmatic world of mummies and intertwine it with the eerie realities of dysfunctional workplace dynamics. We hope you unwrap the secrets within. 🔦 As Halloween approaches, let's delve into the realm of mummies and uncover the lurking specters of dysfunctional workplace dynamics. 👻 Like encountering a mummy in a dimly lit tomb, grappling with dysfunctional workplace dynamics can leave us feeling ensnared by unseen forces. Navigating the entanglements can be spine-tingling, but fear not—just like a courageous explorer of ancient ruins, we can navigate these challenges with resilience and determination. Remember that not everything is within your control when the haunting of dysfunctional workplace dynamics looms. Instead of allowing it to shadow your professional life, embrace the intricacies and find ways to navigate them with a steadfast spirit, just like a fearless explorer in the heart of a mysterious pyramid. Just as a torch guides through the darkness of a tomb, a clear plan can illuminate the path through dysfunctional workplace dynamics. Don't let the lack of clarity unnerve you—instead, devise a strategy to confront the entangled challenges, and you'll emerge from the workplace with a sense of accomplishment, just like a triumphant explorer emerging from a hidden chamber! So, this Halloween season, when the workplace starts to feel like an ancient tomb, remember that you have the power to face the mummies of dysfunctional workplace dynamics and emerge as a resilient professional. Keep calm and carry on confidently, just like a brave explorer in the face of the unknown! 🔦👻 We hope you found this post enlightening and mummy-rific. Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r #HalloweenAtWork #DysfunctionalWorkplaceDynamics #NavigatingEntanglements #ProfessionalResilience #MummyWorkplace #FacingChallenges #CourageousExplorer #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup Image created using the DALL-E image generator.

As we journey on, it's essential to shine a light on a truly hair-raising topic: the howling uncertainties of unclear job expectations. In this post, we'll blend the enigmatic world of werewolves with the vexing realities of unclear job expectations. We hope you sink your teeth into it. 🌕 With Halloween drawing near, let's uncover the werewolves of unclear job expectations that may prowl in the workplace. 🐺 Like encountering a werewolf under a full moon, facing unclear job expectations can leave us at the mercy of unpredictable forces. It can be hair-raising to grapple with ambiguity but fear not—just like a vigilant werewolf hunter, we can navigate these challenges with resilience and determination. When the uncertainties of job expectations loom in the workplace, remember that not everything is within your control. Instead of letting it cast a shadow over your professional life, embrace the ambiguity and find ways to navigate it with a steadfast spirit, just like a fearless werewolf hunter in a moonlit forest. Just as a silver bullet is the weapon of choice against a werewolf, having a clear plan can be your defense against the uncertainties of job expectations. Don't let the lack of clarity unnerve you – instead, carve out a strategy to handle the ambiguous challenges, and you'll emerge from the workplace with a sense of accomplishment, just like a triumphant hunter emerging from the hunt! So, this Halloween season, when the workplace starts to feel like a moonlit forest, remember that you have the power to face the werewolves of unclear job expectations and emerge as a resilient professional. Keep calm and carry on confidently, just like a valiant hunter in the face of the unknown! 🌕🐺 We hope you found this post enlightening and fang-tastic. Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r #HalloweenAtWork #UnclearJobExpectations #NavigatingAmbiguity #ProfessionalResilience #WerewolfWorkplace #FacingChallenges #VigilantHunter #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r Image created using the DALL-E image generator.

As we start the spooky season, it's important to address a truly frightening topic: the burnout 'scaries'. This month, we'll be mashing up classic Halloween Monsters with the scary realities of burnout, compliments of DALL-E. We hope you enjoy it. 🎃 As Halloween approaches, let's shine a light on the skeletons of burnout that can lurk in the workplace. 🦴 Just like encountering skeletons in a haunted house, sometimes we encounter situations at work that make us feel like we've lost control. It can be bone-chilling to experience a lack of control, but fear not—just like a brave explorer in a dark dungeon, we can navigate through these challenges with resilience and determination. When the bones of uncertainty rattle in the workplace, remember that not everything is within your control. Instead of letting it cast a shadow over your professional life, embrace the uncertainty and find ways to navigate it with a steadfast spirit, just like a fearless adventurer in a haunted maze. Just like a map guides the way through a labyrinth, having a plan can help you navigate the twists and turns of uncertainty. Don't let the lack of control spook you – instead, carve out a strategy to handle the unexpected challenges, and you'll emerge from the haunted workplace with a sense of accomplishment, just like a triumphant warrior emerging from battle! So, this Halloween season, when things at work start to feel eerie, remember that you have the power to face the skeletons of uncertainty and emerge as a resilient professional. Keep calm and carry on with confidence, just like a valiant hero in the face of darkness! 🎃🦴 We hope you found this post educational and humerus. Source: https://lnkd.in/eFiEPK_r #HalloweenAtWork #WorkplaceSkeletons #NavigatingUncertainty #ProfessionalResilience #HauntedWorkplace #FacingChallenges #BraveExplorer #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela. Educators are crucial in providing people with the knowledge and skills to make a positive difference. They empower individuals to harness their potential and contribute meaningfully to society. Through education, people are equipped with the tools to address challenges, innovate, and create positive change. Therefore, the impact of educators extends far beyond the classroom, shaping a better future for everyone. Source: https://lnkd.in/eqcunUGd #EducationMatters #EmpowerThroughEducation #ChangeTheWorld #NelsonMandelaQuotes #EduLeaders #PositiveImpact #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup #MBCGLLC #MerakiConsultancy #MerakiBusinessConsultingGroup