A Wake Up Call That Saved Me

In 2004, I hit a wall so hard I physically couldn't get out of bed. My diagnosis? Clinical depression and severe job burnout. Recovery wasn't about taking a vacation. It was about restructuring my life around three pillars of control. If you feel the pressure mounting, put these three things under your control today: 1. Control your Physiology. You cannot think your way out of burnout. You have to move. Walk outside, lift weights, fix your diet. Your brain needs the physical support to heal. 2. Control your Worry. Anxiety expands to fill the time you give it. The fix: Schedule "Worry Time." Give yourself 15 minutes a day to stress out. When the timer goes off, you move on. Set boundaries for your own brain. 3. Control your Mind. Meditation isn't woo-woo; it's weightlifting for your focus. Start with 12 minutes a day. (If you say you don't have time for 12 minutes, you need 30). The Takeaway: Even if you aren't burned out, be proactive. You never know what the person across the table is going through. Be kind. Be understanding. And take care of yourself before you hit the wall.