How to Recover From Burnout with Losing Your Ambition
The juggle is real! You may be juggling endless deadlines, meetings, and responsibilities—and somewhere along the way, your passion started to fade. If you’re a mid-level professional, you know the drill: You're expected to excel, meet high standards, and keep climbing the career ladder. If you’re reached the point where you have a family, well let’s just add the Mom Guilt hat in there too.
The weight of it all can leave you drained, unmotivated, and wondering if everything you’re doing is worth it and how to keep everything going.
Afterall, you’ve done so much work to make it where you are now - it doesn’t feel like the right time to take a step back and lose all of the progress you’ve made.
Burnout is very real, everyone has made it a buzzy word to describe the constant struggle we’re facing while having it all. Though it feels like a hamster wheel, here's the thing: it’s possible to recover from burnout while staying true to your ambition.
You don't have to choose between taking care of yourself and achieving your career goals. In fact, recovery is essential for long-term success.
What is burnout really?
Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion, typically caused by prolonged stress in the workplace. It often results in a sense of inefficacy, detachment, and an overwhelming feeling that no matter how hard you work, it's never enough. In mid-level professionals, burnout can be particularly challenging, as you juggle multiple responsibilities, manage teams, and face immense pressure for both you AND your team to perform.
What does it feel like?
Physical exhaustion: You feel tired all of the time, even after a good night’s sleep.
Lack of motivation: Your drive to excel and achieve goals wanes.
Frustration: You’re frustrated by how much effort you're putting in with little to no results.
Sense of ineffectiveness: You feel like you're spinning your wheels or not making meaningful progress.
Burnout often creeps in gradually, and before you know it, the joy and satisfaction you once found in your work have been replaced by dread and apathy.
Why is burnout so pervasive with mid-career professionals?
For mid-level professionals, burnout can feel even more pronounced. You might be expected to be an expert in your field, manage teams, drive results, and constantly prove yourself. The pressure to perform without always having the resources or support you need can be overwhelming, and without adequate recovery, burnout becomes inevitable.
One hot take on why it may continue to affect so many people, is because Ambition is working against you and not for you.
Ambition
When you think of ambition you may have positive forward thinking thoughts and associated emotions/actons. As a career coach I look for ambition in clients to measure its effectiveness in helping people achieve their goals.
But did you know that ambition can also be a hindrance at mid-level?
Ambition is a powerful driver, and it’s a key reason why you've come this far in your career. But when your ambition isn't aligned with your well-being, it can become a double-edged sword. The key to success is finding a sustainable pace in your career so you can continue to perform more regularly rather than having peaks and valleys of performance. Your ambition provides the propulsion forward for you, it’s a constant for successful mid-level professionals.
Realistic Career Goals
Did you know that you have time to achieve career success? Contrary to people you see on Linkedin or on other social platforms boasting about being a VP of something at 30, those lists do more hard than good in our culture. When we internalize someone else’s success, we assume their goals and measures of what success is as our own. When you are working with a coach, we set to define those for YOU, and not for others. This is small but mighty move when professionals move toward creating their own realities of what success is, and how to use ambition to get there.
What is success? Success isn't about doing everything at once or constantly pushing yourself to the brink. It’s about achieving personal and professional growth while allowing your own self to thrive. By prioritizing self-care and realistic goal-setting, you can continue advancing in your career without compromising your health and happiness in the process.
5 Strategies to Recover from Burnout Without Losing Your Drive
1). Reevaluate Career Goals and Priorities
Take time to reflect on your career goals and values. What truly drives you? What energizes you? What part of your job brings you the most fulfillment, and what drains you? Do a quick exercise: write down your top three career goals, then evaluate them based on how they align with your values, energy, and long-term vision. This will help you prioritize what’s most important and make strategic decisions moving forward.
2). Pace Yourself and Focus on Sustainable Growth
Instead of rushing toward an unrealistic finish line, focus on steady, sustainable growth. Break your larger career goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Celebrate each milestone along the way, and allow yourself to slow down when necessary. By pacing yourself, you can achieve lasting success without burning out in the process.
3). Prioritize Self-Care—And Make It Non-Negotiable
Self-care isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Integrate regular self-care routines into your daily life, from ensuring adequate sleep to making time for physical activity, healthy eating, and activities you enjoy. Even during the busiest periods, scheduling breaks is crucial. Burnout research, such as a study published by the Harvard Business Review, shows that burnout is significantly reduced by adequate rest and recovery (Harvard Business Review, 2021).
4). Set Boundaries and Learn to Say No
Burnout often occurs when you take on too much. Start by setting clear boundaries at work and in your personal life. This means saying no to additional responsibilities that don't align with your goals or values. Set limits around after-hours work, and don’t be afraid to delegate tasks. By prioritizing what truly matters, you can preserve your energy and focus on high-impact tasks.
5). Embrace Delegation and Seek Support
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask for help. Delegating tasks, whether at work or home, can ease your workload. If you don’t already have a mentor or coach, now might be the time to seek one. A coach can offer perspective, help you clarify your goals, and support you through difficult transitions. Investing in career coaching may feel like a big step, but it can be the catalyst for getting your career back on track.
Signs You Might Need Coaching
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed by options, or unsure about how to move forward, it might be time to seek professional help. A career coach can offer the guidance you need to gain clarity, set actionable goals, and overcome burnout.
Here’s a client example to give you more clarity on what the journey can look like:
Case Study: From Burnout to Business Owner – Maria’s Journey
Maria, a mid-level marketing manager, came to me feeling completely overwhelmed. She had been climbing the corporate ladder for over a decade, juggling long hours, constant deadlines, and a growing list of responsibilities. Despite her professional success, Maria felt exhausted and disconnected from her work. She feared that stepping back to focus on her well-being might derail her career goals, leaving her stagnant or worse—falling behind.
After our initial coaching session, we focused on redefining what success meant for Maria. We worked together to help her identify what truly energized her—something that had gotten lost in the hustle of daily work. Through deep reflection and several key exercises, Maria realized that her passion lay in helping small businesses grow, not in the corporate environment that had caused her burnout.
Maria took a bold step: she launched her own marketing consultancy. This decision was not immediate but came after a thorough process of rethinking her career goals, setting healthy boundaries, and integrating self-care into her daily routine. As part of her recovery, she embraced the idea that ambition and well-being could coexist, and she built a business that aligned with her values and allowed her to work on her own terms.
Now, Maria is thriving. Her business is growing steadily, and she has a healthy balance between her personal life and professional pursuits. She no longer feels trapped by unrealistic expectations, and she wakes up each day excited to pursue her passion. By reprioritizing her version of success, Maria not only overcame burnout but also created a career that is more fulfilling and aligned with her true ambitions.
Where Career Coaching Can Help
Coaching provides personalized strategies and emotional support/accountability during tough transitions. A career coach can help you clarify your values, reevaluate your goals, and create a sustainable plan for success. The best part? You don’t have to do it alone.
Conclusion: Reclaiming Your Ambition—The Path Forward
It’s entirely possible to recover from burnout without sacrificing your ambition. By taking small, actionable steps to prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and realign your career goals, you can move forward with both purpose and balance. Remember, your career should work for you, not against you.
Now is the time to take a small step toward recovery. Whether it’s setting a boundary, taking a break, or reaching out for support, you don’t have to go through this journey alone. If you’re ready to take the next step in aligning your career goals with your well-being, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. Together, we can map out a path forward that works for you.