“Why are we more exhausted than ever?” asks Emily Ballestros in her masterful TIME article (March 11, 2024):

“People are tired. Really Tired. As evidenced by trends such as “Quiet Quitting” , “Coffee Badging”, “Bare Minimum Mondays”, and most of all “The Great Resignation” - when over 47 million Americans voluntarily resigned from their position. People are feeling a strain on more than just their work calendars: they’re feeling it on their spirits. We are now in the era of “The Great Exhaustion.” Her book “The Cure for Burnout” provides plenty of evidence for her perspective.

According to a Gallup study, 23% of employees reported feeling burned out often or always, while an additional 44% reported feeling burned out sometimes. The burnout pandemic in the US is alarming, and affects leaders, parents, entrepreneurs and bright children, with a significant portion of the population experiencing symptoms related to chronic stress, exhaustion, and emotional depletion.

Burnout is easy to identify, but frequently hidden in an “Always on” society:

**Physical Exhaustion**: Individuals experiencing burnout often report feeling physically drained, even after getting adequate rest. This exhaustion may manifest as chronic fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, or gastrointestinal issues.

 **Emotional Exhaustion**: Burnout can lead to a sense of emotional depletion, characterized by feelings of cynicism, irritability, and a lack of motivation or enthusiasm. Individuals may find themselves emotionally detached from their work or personal relationships.

**Reduced Performance**: As burnout progresses, individuals may notice a decline in their work performance. They may struggle to concentrate, make decisions, or complete tasks efficiently. This decrease in productivity can further exacerbate feelings of stress and frustration.

**Cognitive Impairment**: Burnout can affect cognitive functioning, leading to difficulties with memory, attention, and problem-solving. Individuals may experience "brain fog" or have trouble organizing their thoughts and prioritizing tasks.

**Depersonalization**: In some cases, burnout can cause individuals to develop a cynical or detached attitude towards their work, colleagues, or clients. They may adopt a more impersonal approach and feel emotionally disconnected from the people they interact with.

**Decreased Satisfaction**: Burnout often leads to a diminished sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in one's work. Individuals may no longer derive pleasure or fulfillment from their achievements, leading to feelings of disillusionment and apathy.

Burnout awareness might be a very important first step. Could that feel like a layer between you and your own brilliance? You see, burnout sucks energy from our nervous system and puts a damper on our joy. It feels like an energy parasite. Actions turn into denial, slow mode, quiet quitting feels real. Denial and defeat seem to take over and hijack the nervous system.

 What if there was a solution that reduces and minimizes the devastating effects of burnout on a daily basis? A genius strategy that is unconventional, but evidence based and internationally proven. Even in extremely stressful situations like war zones, children use this strategy every day to emotionally survive the daily horror they have to face.

It is based on the first language we all speak as babies, even before we learn our native language. Our brains are hardwired for this modality, even before we are born and we use it to learn basic life skills like body language communication, connecting with other people, receiving affection and nourishment.

Welcome to POP - The Power of Play! The genius approach to eliminate burnout at any age.

The National Institute for Play has been providing plenty of research for this hidden power, guided by its founder Dr Stuart Brown with his book PLAY - How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination and invigorates the soul. Here are some of his key findings:

We are born with an innate ability and desire to play:

• Play connects across skin colors and age groups
• Play shapes the brain – Neuroplasticity
• Play invigorates the soul
• Play prevents violence and conflict
• Play is energizing and FUN
• Play builds creativity and trust
• Play heals emotions
• Play opens imagination
• Play opens and accelerates communication

How can we use this natural hidden power of play to offset the daily damage of burnout?

At Genius Coaching I have been developing and testing POP - The Power of Play in 2021 as an energizing program for parents who had to face the impact of the COVID pandemic with the extra load of homeschooling their children, running their businesses from the kitchen table while facing their own fears and concerns. The first POP online classes provided instant and ongoing stress relief for entire families.  Children and parents reminded each other of playing on a daily basis. Our survey results showed that they minimized irritation and conflicts by applying POP strategies and interactions: In many cases creativity and laughter created a new daily culture: POP became a part of their daily routine. It just was fun, no obligation or duty.

Several parents reported that they applied the POP techniques and strategies with their managers and team members online and reported

• More effective and open communication
• Increasing trust
• Reduced tension and fear
• More joy and laughter

Could POP serve as a catalyst to minimize the impact of burnout on an individual and organizational level?

Could a healthy daily dose of POP minimize and eliminate chronic stress, exhaustion, and emotional depletion?

Could a significant increase of smile and laughter have a healing effect on insomnia, frequent illnesses, changes in appetite or weight, and increased susceptibility to medical conditions like hypertension or cardiovascular disease?

And - over the last 3 years evidence in our Genius Coaching community has been showing that POP is highly contagious - in families, classrooms and boardrooms. Our innate ability and desire to play is no longer limited to childhood. It is available to everyone every day and deserves our full attention to effectively melt down the impact of the pandemic burnout at home, school and at work.

Play is unlimited and FUN - could it be THAT small thing that makes a BIG difference day by day? Could POP even lift your mood and reconnect you with your brilliance so you can enjoy even more who you are and what you do?

Joy motivates stronger than willpower, especially for long term projects and relationships.