The "Sleep It Off" Myth: Why Burnout Needs Deeper Healing

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from people who are trying to heal their burnout is that sleep alone will heal it.

It is likely that some well-meaning person in their life told them that they just need to “sleep it off”

And while there’s a tiny bit of truth to that, it’s not the full story. 

Here are three reasons why sleep alone cannot heal your burnout: 

The Root of Burnout: It’s Deeper Than Tiredness

• Lack of sleep is not the root cause of burnout.

• Burnout is caused by prolonged periods of stress, overwhelming workloads, and unrealistic expectations.

• While insomnia or lack of sleep is certainly associated with burnout, it is not the root cause. 

Rest v. Sleep

• Sleep is only one component of rest and recovery.

• Other ways to rejuvenate include gentle movement, connecting with friends and loved ones, engaging in hobbies, and mindfulness activities like meditation and breathing practices. 

The Values Factor (Fair warning, this one is hard!)

• There is a misalignment between what you do and the values you hold.

• When we do work that doesn’t align with our values or doesn’t serve the purposes and goals we have, it can take a physical and emotional toll on the body.

• Unfortunately, no amount of sleep will help resolve the misalignment of values, goals, dreams, or how you feel about the work that you’re doing. 

While sleep is certainly important to rejuvenate, it's important to know that it is just one aspect of burnout recovery. 

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This post is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please speak to your physician before implementing any changes related to your health.