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After more than six weeks in lockdown, and countless people feeling burned out and devoid of energy, a Waiwera author’s new book might be just what the doctor ordered.
Burnout and the Mobilisation of Energy by Annamaria Garden describes exactly what burnout is – and what it is not – and aims to help people and organisations get out of it, stay out of it and reactivate their energy.
Annamaria says the book comes from 40 years of her own experience of burnout, together with her PhD research, consulting work and clinical interviews in London and the US.
“An awful lot I gathered from consulting in London with people in high pressure jobs, which inspired me to write about what I know,” she says. “I figured I knew quite a bit about burnout that would help people.”
She says burnout is not depression, stress, depersonalisation or anxiety – at its simplest, it is an extreme form of energy depletion which ususally results from people putting something, ususally work, as top priority and ahead of their own needs.
Solutions can include not defining yourself by your work, taking plenty of physical breaks, ignoring your mobile for long periods and maintaining leisure and a private life.
The book uses many real-life examples of different individuals and organisations to illustrate the effects of burnout and the methods needed to kick old, unhealthy habits.
Annamaria moved to Waiwera five years ago, having worked as an economist in the NZ and UK Treasuries and as an organisational and business consultant. She has written four previous books on organisations, one on burnout and a biography of her aviator father, Oscar Garden. She now works part-time in a local mental health facility.
“After my career, I wanted to do something completely different,” she says. “It’s fabulous. We work with a wide range of people, some of whom need a great deal of care.”
Info: www.annamariagarden.co.nz
BOOK GIVEAWAY: Hibiscus Matters has a copy of Burnout and the Mobilisation of Energy to give away. To be in to win, ‘like’ Hibiscus Matters’ Facebook page and message your name and contact phone number. Alternatively, write your name, address and phone number on the back of an envelope and post to Burnout Giveaway, Hibiscus Matters, 21 Florence Ave, Orewa. Entries close October 15.
