Dyslexia and Burnout

Before we get into things, I want to define the term burnout. Burnout, according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.”

There are a number of factors of how Dyslexia can impact burnout, particularly our lived experience:

• People pleasing

• Fear of failure

• Keeping quiet when working hard work

• Inability to say no

• Need to be seen as capable

Dyslexia causes our minds to work differently. When we work in a system that is not designed for us we become exhausted, overworked, and stressed faster than others. We are proverbial square pegs trying to fit in round holes.

Dyslexic people often work significantly harder to achieve the same results as their peers. We have become close personal friends with hard work and sometimes even wear it as a badge of pride. This hard work leads dyslexics to ignore the warning signs of burnout. This is NOT ok!

Here are 3 things you can do to decrease burnout:

Build in breaks

I Work longer days with more breaks. Stick with me here, working longer each day seems counterintuitive, but for someone who struggles with short-term memory, it can be a blessing. Working longer with more breaks gives your brain time to rest between tasks. Work smarter not harder!

Ask for help.

I don’t know everything about you, but I can guess that you are stubborn and determined. You probably already know, that is a byproduct of working twice as hard to achieve the same results. It is time to stop. Ask for help! Maybe you miss the signs of burnout till you are past the point of no return. Here are some ways to ask for help:

• Ask your partner or friend to hold you accountable. Have them tell you when you look burnt out. If they can see it then you need a break.

• Set strict boundaries for what you will say yes and no to. Saying no a few times when you are stressed and overwhelmed will not get you fired. Think quality over quantity.

• Turn to The Hive to vent! Talking about our feelings is so empowering. Naming your feelings and the struggles you are having is cathartic and will help release some pent-up stress.

Build a schedule for tough tasks

Create a schedule for the mentally challenging tasks, if you know you have a big project that will tire your brain make sure you schedule to do it in the morning when you are fresh and easier tasks in the afternoon which can give you a break.

One last word of advice. Find what works for you! There is no “right” way to avoid burnout, and every person is different. Some people need an accountability partner to tell them to stop and some people need a hard set of boundaries and borders. Just know you are not alone and the Hive is full of community members struggling and solving the same problems you are facing.

We have your back!