What your Human Design Type says about burn-out (the guide to support your energy)

In recent years, burn-out has been particularly prevalent in the professional sphere, among both employees and freelancers. It's even more taboo to talk about burn-out among wellness entrepreneurs, probably because they promote a more aligned and respectful way of working but don't always achieve it in practice.

As a Projector, energy is a very important issue for me. I don't have much of it, and I'm keen to show that it's possible to live in alignment with your energy, without compromising your dreams.

In this guide, I invite you to explore the different causes of burn-out according to your Type in Ethical Human Design, and what you can do simply to support your energy in your business or activity.

‍

Before getting to the heart of the matter, I'd like to offer a brief definition. Lack of energy can take different forms depending on your situation:

• burn-out: this is a state in which you have no energy left because you've done too much. Literally, you've burnt out your circuits.
• brown-out: this is a state of extreme fatigue caused by a loss of meaning in what you're doing, a loss of direction.
• bore-out: this is a state of distress and lack of energy because you're too bored with what you're doing.

In this guide, I solely focus on the lack of energy linked to burn-out, overwork and doing too much.

All Energy Types can run out of energy and find themselves in situations of severe burn-out. However, the causes of this lack of energy differ according to your Human Design.

If you’re new to Human design and don’t know your chart, please check it first and come back to continue reading !

‍

You're a Generator

Even though you're by definition an energetic person, you can also run out of energy and find yourself exhausted. How can this happen?

The answer lies in the source of your energy: Joy. Your fuel - what makes your life engine run - is joy. If you don't like what you're doing, if you're doing something you don't like, then your gauge empties and your energy diminishes.

What's more, your gauge isn't like the jar of porridge in the story: it doesn't fill up forever. So you need moments to recharge your batteries, even if it's less often than others. If you feel frustrated, that's a signal that you need to stop and take a step back.

‍

Bear in mind

You may have a tendency to want to please others. Because you have so much energy, you tell yourself that you can put up with more than others, and you try to be helpful. However, just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should". Choose projects and tasks that bring you as much joy and satisfaction as possible, to fill your gauge and sustain your energy.

Take action: Make a list of all the things that bring you joy. For one week, choose one thing from this list and start your day by doing it (if it's relevant). Observe how your energy is throughout the day.

You're a Manifesting Generator

Like all Generators, you have a lot of energy to burn. But in the same way, you also need to follow your joy to recharge your batteries. The major difference is that you need to diversify your tasks . You're one of those people who can multi-task when it feeds your creativity.

You like to be of service and naturally go out of your way to help those around you. However, you don't always have the space, joy or energy to support them, and this can reduce your creativity and vitality. When you hear "I must" or "I should" in your reasoning, take a step back and adjust your priorities.

‍

Bear in mind

Yes, you have a thousand ideas a minute and that's great. Yes, you can do several things at once... in theory. In practice, you're likely to feel scattered and stretched too thin between your various tasks. Like Bilbo, you can feel like butter spread on too big a slice of bread. The key here is to come back to your body regularly and ask yourself the question: am I reallyenjoying this task/project? And then choose where to channel your energy.

Take action: Observe what arouses your curiosity and enthusiasm at the moment (it could be something very simple). Give yourself at least 12 minutes a day to do these things before moving on to other tasks. Note how you are feeling and what are your energy levels.

‍

You are Projector

By design, you have very little energy at your disposal. The Human Design system tells you that you shouldn't work more than 4 hours a day. Of course, the concept of work is different for everyone, but the idea is to avoid doing activities that drain your energy for more than 4 hours a day. The remaining time should be spent resting and exploring the topics you're passionate about.

You may have noticed that when you're with certain people, you're bursting with energy, exhausting everyone, but as soon as you're on your own, it all comes crashing down like a soufflé (yes, I'm using culinary metaphors today). That's because you're surfing on other people's energy. You have this ability to channel and amplify the energies of the Sacral beings around you (Generators and Manifesting Generators). That's great, but watch out for an energy hangover! Allow yourself time to slow down around these periods of agitation.

‍

Bear in mind

In our society, productivity is strongly linked to the value of the individual. So you may feel guilty or even ashamed that you're not working as hard as everyone else, or you may feel that you're resting too much. The guiltier you feel, the less beneficial your rest will be. As a Projector, your rest is the source of your magnetism. By taking time for yourself and what nourishes you, you recharge your batteries so that you can be really present for others, and respond to their invitations with serenity.

Take action: Look at the situations that drain your energy.Make a list.Choose one thing a day for a week and take it out of the list without doing it. Replace this task with something that nourishes you.Write down how you feel and how your energy is.

‍

You are Manifestor

You have plenty of energy, but it fluctuates a lot. You can feel full of energy, work long hours and then need several days off to recover.

Generally, your energy is linked to your creativity.When you feel creative, you have energy to spare.You may even forget to eat, or eat a lot more than usual for fuel.However, as you don't have a reliable long-term energy reservoir, these creative hurricanes will almost certainly leave you stranded.

You need long periods of rest to renew your energy and feed your creativity for the next intense period.

‍

Bear in mind

Your creativity is the source of your brilliant ideas, but it can also play tricks on you. You have the energy to launch projects, get ideas off the ground and connect people to these ideas, but not to see them through. If you find that you're pushing ahead while your vitality is flagging, it's time to let go. This project probably doesn't need you any more - or maybe you don't need or want it any more. Have faith in the fact that good ideas will continue to develop in the hands of good people: you've done your part of the contract!

Take action : Take stock of the projects you are currently working on. Sort them according to their energy cost (to you), their stage of development and the number of people involved. Can you leave at least one project where you're no longer needed? (Your ego may balk, but your creative genius will thank you).

‍

Tu es Reflector

Like Projectors, you're not cut out for long, hard work. At least not all the time. You have profoundly fluctuating energy levels, which is very dependent on your external environment. You may feel full of energy when you're with other people, then completely exhausted when you're alone... or the other way round!

By observing your fluctuations and the elements outside and inside you, you'll be able to see more and more clearly when you're "working" and when you're resting. Your energy is closely linked to the seasons, and to your menstrual cycle if you have one. You can't be 100% 24/7. (spoiler: nobody can).

As a self-explorer, you need time to observe how you function and adjust your actions accordingly.

‍

Bear in mind

You're a rare Pokémon. You have a specific way of working that is very rarely seen in the work environment. You may not have any role models to inspire you and help you meet your needs. You're also likely to struggle to explain to others what you need (for fear of being judged or not feeling seen). The biggest thing on your growing path is to be OK with the fact that you’re on a different planet from everyone else. Yet, you are a reflection of the environments in which you evolve: if you feel bad, it's probably because the people around you feel bad too!

Take action: Take a look at the environments you're in at the moment. Do they make you feel good? Where do you feel drained? Can you leave from at least one of these situations? You can also make a list of all the places that recharge your batteries and visit one of them at least once a week.

‍

Your Type isn't the only reason for your burn-out You may also feel exhausted because of other factors such as your diet, your relationships or your health.

Ethical Human Design is not a miracle solution, but a first step on the path towards your vitality. I therefore invite you to do the exploration exercises in this guide to observe your unique functioning before taking drastic measures. And don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it (vulnerability is contagious!).

‍