A guide to hacking burnout using emotional intelligence skills.

This is a topic I have been geeking out over as of late, not just because I am suffering from burnout but also because students are lacking the resiliency of those who came before them when it comes to all things stress management. Listen, this isn't always a bad thing. I envy this generations ability to set and hold boundaries...but either you have that skill or you don't, and there is no in between. So I have been a search for tools that will not only help me recover from a burnout cycle I have been in for nearly two years, but may prevent students from dipping their toes into the burnout pool.

That said, nothing I read was earthshattering. I marked it up, in aaaalllll the colors, and took notes. There are some techniques I plan to try out over the summer months so that *if* they work for me, they are engrained habits by the time the Fall semester rolls around. I really appreciate Wiens' writing -- it is interesting, straightforward but also laidback; overall, easy to follow and enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the section regarding compassion vs empathy, For me, the highlight was the three R's...iykyk.

The one standout of this book over the others books/articles/all the things I've read is the focus on emotional intelligence. And I was hitting myself in the head for not seeing the connection sooner. Hone your EI skills + you're less likely to suffer from burnout. Ta-da! I know it seems like I am being sarcastic, as that is my primary language, but I'm not. I was floored when I stepped back and thought to myself "Why has no one worded it this way before?" Many of the techniques are the same as I've read elsewhere, but looking at it through the EI lens just made something click for me. Here's hoping it does for you too!