Call Us +1 224-415-2491

Category: Uncategorized

  • Free eBook – You Can Recover from Burnout Too!

    Free eBook – You Can Recover from Burnout Too!

    •

    Christy Suerth, MS, SPHR, CPC, CHC

    I thought burnout was for other people until…

    After nearly 15 years of climbing the corporate ladder, I landed what should have been a dream job – an exciting leadership role with a global manufacturing giant.

    It was fast paced. High stakes. International.

    • On paper? Impressive.
    • In reality? Relentless.

    I was a co-leader on a major technical rollout while helping launch a cost-saving regional operating model. That meant nonstop travel, often overseas for weeks at a time, and no margin for rest. I liked the work. I was good at it. But slowly, it began to cost me everything else.

    • Sleep? Fragmented.
    • Nutrition and exercise? Gone.
    • Happiness? Replaced by the gnawing pressure to keep up.

    My inner dialogue was punishing:

    “Your boss expects perfection. Don’t let anything drop.”

    And the better I performed, the higher the bar was raised. No finish line. Just more. More. More.

    And at home? I was trying to be superhuman there too – wife, mom, daughter to a mother battling Stage 3 cancer, neighbor, volunteer. I wasn’t just showing up – I was striving to excel. But under the surface, I was running on fumes.

    Until my body said: “Enough.”

    Almost overnight, I couldn’t bend my elbow. My feet swelled so badly I couldn’t wear shoes, much less walk.

    After months of testing, I was diagnosed with a “permanent” autoimmune disease. The treatment? Weekly injections – just to reduce the inflammation so I could function… and yes, keep working.

    That was my wake-up call. Burnout wasn’t just a buzzword – it had taken up residence in my body.

    And strangely, I’m now grateful for it. Because the pain forced me to face what I had been too proud (or too scared) to admit: I was breaking. And I had to change.

    That reckoning became the beginning of something better.

    This is the story behind my new eBook: Your Personal Guide to Burnout and Recovery.

    I wrote it for people like me – high-achievers who don’t know how to stop until they’re forced to.

    The guide walks you through what burnout really is and how to recover. It includes reflection activities and a template for your own recovery plan.

    If you would like your own copy, just fill out the Contact Us Form and we’ll send it right over.

  • The Breath That Brings You Back

    The Breath That Brings You Back

    •

    Christy Suerth, MS, SPHR, CPC, CHC

    This week, I went to a Vinyasa hot yoga class. It was athletic and excruciatingly hot. The kind of hot where your towel isn’t just damp, it’s heavy.

    At the hour mark, I thought we were finished. We weren’t. I found myself praying for it to end.

    Eventually, the instructor led us into breathwork. First, a round of energizing fire breathing. Then, slower, calming breaths. I imagine she was helping us bring our cortisol levels down after the intense effort. It worked. I walked out feeling grounded, accomplished, and surprisingly happy.

    What’s Happening When We Breathe?

    Breath is powerful. Especially when it’s intentional.

    Deep, calming breaths activate your parasympathetic nervous system, the part of your nervous system responsible for rest, repair, and restoration. With just a few slow inhales and exhales, your heart rate slows. Your muscles release tension. Cortisol, the stress hormone, begins to drop. Your body starts whispering to your brain: You’re safe now.

    This is why breathwork can be so effective – not just in a yoga class, but anytime your nervous system needs to come down from a spike.

    Imagine This Moment Instead

    Let’s say you’re in a meeting, and someone takes credit for your idea. You feel a surge of heat and tension. Your body enters sympathetic mode, commonly known as the fight-or-flight response.

    You might notice:

    • A faster heartbeat
    • Shallow or rapid breathing
    • Sweaty palms
    • Tight shoulders or jaw
    • Dry mouth
    • A pit in your stomach

    These are not flaws. They’re intelligent signals from your body. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was designed to do: protect you.

    Now your job is to respond with care. To help your body return to a calm, steady place.

    One of My Favorite Tools: Triangle Breathing

    Just like my yoga instructor showed us, breath is the way back.

    One technique I love is called Triangle Breathing. Here’s how it works:

    • Inhale for a count of 3
    • Hold for a count of 3
    • Exhale for a count of 3
    • Hold for a count of 3
    • Repeat for 3 or more rounds

    It’s simple. It’s subtle. And it works.

    I recommend practicing it when you’re alone – on a walk, before bed, or during your morning routine – so that it feels familiar and natural when you need it in the moment, like during a tough meeting or a difficult conversation.

    The Power Is Already Within You

    You don’t need a yoga mat or a retreat or a perfect morning routine to find your center. You just need a few breaths and a little intention.

    The next time your stress spikes, try it. Your breath is a built-in superpower and it’s always available to bring you back to yourself.

  • Company Culture Contributes to Burnout

    Company Culture Contributes to Burnout

    •

    Christy Suerth, MS, SPHR, CPC, CHC

    One definition of “culture” is the collective “personality” of the company as the sum-total of workplace behaviors – the best and the worst. More simply, culture is what we experience every day at work. And it’s no surprise that your manager significantly shapes your experience and perceptions of the culture.

    Culture plays a significant role in either mitigating or exacerbating burnout. A culture that prioritizes employee wellbeing and self-care, promotes work-life balance, and fosters a supportive and inclusive environment can help prevent burnout. A manager, who is a good role model for these practices, further reinforces the company’s positive culture. Conversely, a culture or manager that emphasizes high performance at all costs, lacks support for employees, and tolerates toxic behaviors can contribute to burnout.

    Reflection: Your Company’s Culture

    Describe your company’s culture; it’s “personality.” Does it mitigate or exacerbate your burnout?