Burnout Quiz

1. How do you feel when you first wake up in the morning?

• I'm ready to jump out of bed and eat a big bowl of cereal.
• I lie there exhausted, unable to move.
• I wonder to myself if I can make it through the day.
• Nothing compares to C.S. Lewis and E.B. White

2. How frequently do friends or family members interrupt you while you're on the computer, phone, or tablet and ask when you're going to be off?

• Only when deadlines are pressing or I'm working on a special project.
• A lot. I hate it, but I have to keep in touch with what's going on.
• Almost never. I don't use electronic devices except at work or when I'm alone.
• Every day. If I miss a message or don't stay wired in, I'll be more swamped than ever.

3. How do you feel about your performance at work or as a stay-home parent?

• I feel like I'm just not on top of it anymore.
• I find myself looking at others. And those others always seem to be doing a much better job than I I find myself looking at others. And those others always seem to be doing a much better job than I am.
• I'm happy with how I'm doing. I mess up every now and then, but that's human.
• I like how I'm handling even tough situations. I'm making effective decisions and feeling happy with the consequences.

4. When your spouse or partner gives you a kiss—maybe as a sign to make love—or you take matters into your own hands, what happens?

• My mind sometimes wanders, but after a few minutes I catch myself and enjoy it.
• I relax into the experience.
• I wish this person, whom I care about, would leave me alone. Or I think, "I don't have time to indulge myself like this. I should stop."
• I go through the motions, but sometimes I find myself thinking about work issues or even trivial things, like, "Do I have enough nutmeg?"

5. When you're out for a walk, where does your mind go?

• I get lost in daydreams about all the things I have to do.
• I'm pretty drained. I have to order myself to keep moving and not quit.
• I'm just happy to be outside. I sometimes even smile at people I don't know who are also out for the day.
• I don't have time for walks anymore.

6. If you got laid off due to something that wasn't your fault (budget cuts, an entire industry going kaput) and you could make it financially for the time being, what would you say to yourself—if only in secret?

• Thank God! That place was too much pressure.
• Say what they will, I'm just no good anymore and didn't make the cut.
• I really love what I do. I'll just have to find another job—hopefully one that's even more rewarding.
• What if I never find work again?

7. What did you do last weekend?

• I spent time with family or friends, did errands and shopping, straightened up the house; I felt really busy.
• I worked from Friday to Sunday.
• I took off at least one full day without doing either housework or work-work. I went to a party or other special event.
• I stared at the walls, watched TV and hardly left the house.

8. The last time a friend came to you upset or crying, you probably tried to make her feel better. But what did you really think inside?

• I just didn't have time to deal with a big dramatic crisis.
• I knew what to do—pat them on the back, say comforting things—and I did it. But I felt empty and distant.
• I was sorry the person was sad, but I didn't have enough energy to give them the support they needed.
• I was hopeful that my being there helped them.

9. How's your physical health?

• I'm tired all the time. I trudge through every minute.
• I have a lot of aches and pains, colds, minor infections or stomach upsets.
• I'm in great shape. I exercise a few times a weeks and rarely get sick.
• I feel okay, but I know I need to work out more frequently and get more sleep.

10. The last time someone sent you a gift, what did you think?

• Great. Now I have to add "write a thank-you note" to my to-do list.
• Wow. How nice that somebody thought of me like this!
• Oh, what a lovely gift, but I have all this stuff to do, so I'll just put it someplace (closet, shelf, etc.) and enjoy it later when I have more time.
• I wish had the energy to be more thoughtful to others.

11. When you think about the life of your dreams, how close does your current life come?

• I'm not doing what I want to do. Sometimes I think, "Is this really my life?"
• I don't know exactly how it happened, but I'm doing the things I love.
• Who thinks about that stuff? My life is what it is and I can't do much to change it.
• I've had some detours, but I'm generally on the right track.

12. What do you do to relax at night?

• I have several glasses of wine, or take a pain pill, and flop on the sofa.
• I work out, read a novel, listen to music or just hang out with my friends and family.
• I try to relax, but it just doesn't work.
• I zone out—watch TV or surf the web—so I don't have to think.

13. How often do you see the dentist, doctor or hair stylist?

• I don't. I just don't have time. That stuff will have to wait.
• I go, but less often than I should.
• I make an appointment whenever I need a cut or I'm due for a visit. I'd rather have a checkup than worry about more problems later.
• I make the appointments, but I get so busy, I end up skipping them and rescheduling, over and over.

14. Right before you fall asleep, what are you usually thinking about?

• What I did and didn't do today—and what I have to do tomorrow.
• How tired and overwhelmed I feel.
• What went right today, what I'm grateful for, what I'd like to try to do tomorrow or in the future.
• Everything from money issues to problems in my relationships.