Empathy Burnout: When Helping People Starts to Hurt
It’s good to have empathy, and it’s a great trait to have when you’re showing up for everyone and anyone that you care about, personally or professionally.
However, when it comes to helping people, there’s only so much that you can afford to do before it starts hurting yourself. Some boundaries need to be set so that people don’t overstep the mark, and you don’t do too much.
With that in mind, here’s what empathy burnout can do and how to avoid it in your life, both at work and in play.
The emotional cost of always showing up
The emotional cost of always having to show up can be burnout itself. You might find that you’re neglecting your own wants and needs to show up for others, who might not always appreciate your efforts either.
A sense of inauthenticity can often come from trying to show up all of the time, and you may find yourself losing who you are and what you would consider the things you stand for or align with.
While showing up is important to help build trust and connection, going above and beyond consistently will ultimately lead to emotional dysregulation, feelings of being switched on all the time, and anxiety.
Finding balance between compassion and boundaries
It’s crucial to find the balance between compassion and your own boundaries. Here’s why boundaries are crucial for compassion.
Enables genuine support
Setting boundaries can help to protect your own energy, and that way, you can be supportive in a way that doesn’t feel forced or won’t be exploited by others that you trust or want to trust. It’s good to work with a law firm that cares, especially when you need that support in situations where you’re trying to seek justice or a settlement that’s right for you.
Prevents burnout
Being able to prevent burnout is good for you both mentally and physically. Unchecked compassion without any boundaries is going to lead to that burnout, and you want to try and avoid that at all costs.
Clarifies relationships
It’s good to have clear boundaries and define what’s considered acceptable for you and what isn’t. Fostering that mutual respect will make it easier for others to then show up for you as and when you need them.
Protects your well-being
Boundaries are always good to help protect your wellbeing, and when they’re constantly being walked over, that doesn’t help your wellbeing or state of mind.
Rest as a leadership skill, not a luxury
Rest is often something that’s crucial, whether you’re in leadership or you’re looking to take a step back from always wanting to be a people pleaser.
Leaders who model and prioritize rest through intentional breaks, as well as setting boundaries and delegating, do a lot better when it comes to their engagement and productivity levels. This perspective shift can work well when you’re looking to still be who you are, but without having to compromise yourself and your well-being in order to achieve it.
