When is a book more than a book? Answer: when it becomes a conversation! In exploring this entire issue of moving from burnout to breakthrough, it became clear that a lack of talking about what matters most holds us back from discovering different ways to respond, from creating new relationships, and from finding a compassionate community of individuals in similar situations.

I have asked many questions in this book, some of which probably evoked a strong reaction and others you may have decided to leave unanswered. While the book’s primary emphasis is on your individual life, I felt compelled to include some organizational considerations. Thus, this study guide has two sections: one for a discussion group focusing on the members’ individual lives, and the other for a group focusing on an organization.

Individual Study Guide

1. What prompted you to pick up this guide?

2. What case study did you resonate with the most—Hamza, Lin, Becky, or Phil? Why?

3. What triggers the flames of burnout in you? (You can have more than what are listed in chapter 2.)

4. What would be the “low-hanging fruit” that you could get to begin to refuel and reclaim your life? Whose support do you need? When will you begin?

5. What area poses the greater challenge for you? Ask the group for their ideas.

6. In considering the Now of your life, what requires the most energy? Given that energy demand, what can you do to recharge yourself?

7. What is one breakout idea you’ve gotten in how you think about your situation?

8. Who or what brings joy to your heart? How often do you have that encounter? How can you improve that heart connection?

9. Where do you need to set boundaries? What’s holding you back if you are not doing it?

10. When was the last time you did something for fun? What do you do that you consider play?

11. What are at least two resilience skills you are going to practice? If you wish, can you get a burnout buddy and check in with each other?

12. What gives your life meaning? If you can’t figure out what matters most, ask at least six people to answer this question and email you the answers.

Please complete this:

  [Your name]   is the best at _______________.

I think   [your name]   makes a difference when _______________.

13. Free-for-all: What do you want to talk about?

Organizational Discussion Guide

1. What role do you play in the organization and what are your primary responsibilities?

2. How would you describe the workload? Always in overload? Just about right? Anything else?

3. When you read chapter 3, are there areas in which the organization could improve? Where do you have a sphere of influence over those areas?

4. What would it take to begin a GROSS (Get Rid of Stupid Stuff) initiative? What’s holding you back from starting?

5. What in your work provides meaning? What brings you joy?

6. How do you “play” within the work setting? (Remember, even in a cancer hospital, housekeeping and nurses found a way to add some light and fun.)

7. What would it take for you to practice “digital minimalism”?

8. Feeling heard, understood, and served is critical in all relationships. If you work with or manage others, how would they assess your ability to listen, understand, and respond?

9. Hard question: What would it take for the organization to capture your head, heart, and spirit? And if it already does, please tell others about it.

10. Free-for-all: What do you want to talk about?