Burnout: How Does Jason Rose Do It?

Written By: Jason Rose, CD-SV, RIT

This article is a contribution on behalf of the IDA Health & Wellness Taskforce. 

Hi, I’m Jason, and I am a workaholic. It all starts with acknowledging it, right?

During a recent IDA Health and Wellness Task Force Meeting, Daryl Lyons, CD-SV, asked if I would be willing to write an article about how I manage my crazy busy schedule. “How do you travel everywhere you do, conduct all those training events at your academy, do all the podcasts and webinars, and contribute all the volunteer hours for the IDA? How do you do it? How do you manage burnout?” he said. The words from my mouth were, “Yes, of course, I will.”  But I was thinking to myself, who cares about that? It sounds like a boring article. I don’t have time for that. Well, here I am, making time for that. As I write, I realize how important this topic is. Furthermore, I believe I can offer some insights and inspiration to my fellow workaholics.

What is Burnout? Burnout is an exhausting condition that can be momentary, cyclical, or chronic. It’s a state of mind, a physical depletion of energy, or a drain on the spirit to the extent that another step, another task, seems monumental. Everything, including things you usually enjoy, becomes “too much to do right now”. It is an overwhelming feeling that can impact just about every aspect of your life. In severe cases, it can be debilitating and may lead to depression. These feelings can last for days, weeks, or months. Can you relate? Many in the detailing industry can. I hear about it often.

Full disclosure, I am not an expert in this area. I am not a qualified clinician to advise others on validated therapies. But I can share how I teeter on the edge of burnout most of the time. I can tell you about the coping strategies I use to prevent dropping off the cliff into despair. I’m not dead. I’m not in the hospital. I’m still flying through my days, living life. I must be using some successful strategies to prevent burnout. I hope that some of what I do might help you.

Firstly, we must address what makes us work so hard. There could be many motivations. For me, it is my passion for what I do. There are few things more important to me than helping professional detailers and their businesses be more profitable and successful. My contribution is to help with paint correction efficiency. All my work is to help a detailer gain the knowledge, skill, and tools to get paint correction done better and faster. This is my passion. I have made it my life’s work. And I have never been wired to relax very well. Even when not working, I am going at it aggressively. I work hard and play hard. I am just as passionate about outdoor recreation and jeeping in the Rockies as I am about my job. I am full steam ahead with both work and play. But herein lies the challenge. Where is the breaking point? What is too much work and play? At what point does “doing” take over the “can do”? There is a breaking point. That is when burnout strikes.

I use a variety of strategies to help keep my “can do” pace with my “doing”. A few focus on keeping the body healthy, some are mental strategies to maintain balance, and one or more help keep the spirit nourished. These are necessary for a consistent “can do” attitude. I will be sharing my different strategies in a series of short articles over the next several months. Keep an eye out each month for a new tip for helping to prevent burnout. 

*The IDA is not a provider of medical or health services, and the information provided herein does not constitute medical advice. Please talk to your medical healthcare provider.