Breaking the Cycle of Burnout: A Motivation-Aligned Approach

Heading into a busy season with too much to do and already feeling the overwhelm of how to fit it all in?

Maybe you’re staring down all those things you’ve been putting off, and now they’ve piled up—and you’ve got nothing left in the tank to tackle them.

The to-do list feels endless, the deadlines are looming, and no matter how much you try to push through, the exhaustion is taking over.

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle. Let’s talk about how to turn things around.

Because burnout is all too real.

In my coaching practice, I see it all the time, and if I’m being honest, it’s one of the hardest things to help people manage. But here’s the good news: burnout can be managed.

It starts with understanding how you’re wired—what fuels you and what drains you—and ends with humility, intentional planning, and trust in the process.

➡ Know Yourself

Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight—it’s often the result of working against your natural tendencies for too long. That’s why understanding how you work best is the first step to overcoming and preventing burnout.

Each of us has unique Core Motivational Drivers, known as our MCode—the strengths and inclinations that energize us—and Burnout Triggers, which drain us. Identifying these helps you design a day that aligns with your core motivators and limits time spent in areas that exhaust you.

In my coaching practice, I use the Motivation Code (MCode) Assessment, a narrative-based tool that uncovers your core motivations and reveals how they shape who you are. Using that information, clients can discern the tasks they love to do, the ones they don’t, and how to create a plan that works for them—not against them.

For example:

• Highly motivated to Realize the Vision? Focus on creative, big-picture planning and delegate repetitive tasks that don’t align with your strengths.
• Do you find it energizing to Collaborate with others? Prioritize teamwork, client interactions, or brainstorming sessions to stay energized and engaged.
• Do you find Systematizing or maintaining processes tedious? Automate or outsource tasks like bookkeeping or data entry when possible. If you can’t delegate these tasks, lean into a core motivator to help you refocus your why.

Even when you can’t delegate, understanding your natural tendencies allows you to reframe draining tasks as small, manageable steps toward larger goals.

➡ A Dose of Humility

One of the hardest parts of managing burnout is acknowledging when you need help. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a mark of wisdom. The Lord created us to work in community and to lean on others when we need support.

Humility in action looks like:

• Delegating tasks: Focus on what only you can do and let others handle what they’re better equipped to manage.
• Working in shorter bursts: When a task feels overwhelming, break it into smaller pieces and set achievable goals. For example:If editing a long document feels daunting, commit to editing three pages at a time.
  Prioritize time for yourself: If you’re dreading a networking event or have a packed schedule of meetings, carve out 15 minutes before and after each one to recharge and reset. Taking this intentional break will help you show up more present and engaged for each encounter. In my experience, this practice also prevents me from dwelling on moments where I felt I wasn’t at my best, allowing me to move forward with confidence.
  

You don’t have to push through to the bitter end of that to-do list. Give yourself permission to rest and reset as needed.

➡ Intentional Planning

Intentional planning starts with focusing on what matters most. I call this approach Motivation-Driven Scheduling—a method that structures your day around your core priorities and leverages your natural motivational design, beginning with a spiritual plan as the foundation.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start with your spiritual plan. Schedule daily prayer, Mass, and Scripture time first.
Include Adoration and Confession regularly.
Build in community time to connect with others and recharge spiritually.

2.Align tasks with your core motivators. Identify tasks that align with your Core Motivational Drivers (MCode) and prioritize those during your most productive hours.
Keep burnout-zone tasks short and focused.

3. Create a rhythm of balance. Batch similar tasks to maintain momentum.
Build in buffer times for transitions, rest, or unexpected challenges.

This process isn’t about cramming everything into your day; it’s about working with your motivational abilities, not against them.

It’s about restructuring your to-do list to align with how you naturally work best, leaving you with more energy and balance—and helping you avoid burnout and fatigue.

➡ Trust the Process

Burnout often feels like a personal failure, but it’s not a result of laziness or a lack of virtue. It’s a sign that you’ve been working against your natural tendencies or trying to carry too much alone.

You have something unique to offer the world—something only you can bring in your own way. But you were never meant to do it alone. God created you not only with a purpose but also with the need to rely on Him and the people He places in your life.

Trusting the process means embracing this truth and recognizing that putting things back in their right order—while leaning on God and others—is part of His plan.

Remember:

• You aren’t lazy. You’re likely just working in ways that exhaust you unnecessarily.
• Lean into your community. Learn to rely on others for help with tasks they’re better equipped to handle. By stepping back, you create opportunities for others to step forward—and sometimes, that simple act can be the answer to prayers they’ve been waiting for.
• You’re not alone. Having a trusted mentor or friend to regularly check in with can help ground you when your thoughts start to spiral and overwhelm takes hold. While knowing others face similar challenges won’t solve the problem, it can remind you that you don’t have to navigate it on your own.

A Spiritual Foundation to Prevent Burnout

For Catholic business leaders, solopreneurs, stay-at-home parents, and everything in between, a spiritual plan is key to staying focused on what matters most. It also provides the grounding you need to face the challenges of daily life with grace and resilience.

A solid spiritual plan includes:

• Daily prayer: Anchor your day in prayer to align your heart with God’s will.
• Mass attendance: Add a few weekday Masses to your schedule in addition to Sunday Mass.
• Adoration and Confession: Spend time in Adoration regularly and prioritize the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Scripture reading: Lectio divina is an easy—yet profound—way to meditate deeply on the Word of God.
• Community time: Connect with others through fellowship or ministry. Professional networks like SENT can help you stay connected to your faith as you manage all you’ve been called to do.

Many of these practices can even be stacked with other habits—for example, pair a walk with prayer or spend 10 minutes reading Scripture during a lunch break. The ways in which good and holy habits can be stacked are endless.

Whatever works naturally for you is key. You’re not adding more to your day; rather, you’re building your day around foundational practices that will sustain you.

Putting It All Together

Burnout isn’t just about doing too much—it’s about doing too much of the wrong things in the wrong way. By knowing yourself, practicing humility, planning intentionally, and trusting the process, you can reduce the risk of burnout and find peace in the rhythm of your life.

The Lord created you for good work, but He also created you to rest, to be in community, and to receive grace.

So, know that you can move forward with confidence, even in the face of burnout, because you don’t have to rely solely on your own strength. Burnout can leave you feeling isolated and overwhelmed, but God meets you right where you are, offering clarity, support, and grace exactly when you need it.

By trusting Him to guide each step and leaning on His plan instead of trying to carry everything on your own, you can begin to put things back in the right order.

With His help, you can face the challenges of burnout with resilience and purpose, knowing you are never walking this path alone.