Volume, Velocity, or Values: Which burnout are you fighting?

✨inner spark✨

Ignite Your Weekend with Purpose

“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging” - Will Rogers

🐝 There’s a buzz in the air right now - that unmistakable May-cember energy. You know what I mean: end-of-year events, celebrations, transitions, and ALL the things happening at once. And while I’m here for practical survival tips (because sometimes that’s exactly what we need!), I’ve learned something important about navigating overwhelming seasons: sometimes we’re trying to solve the wrong problem!

Here’s what I’ve discovered both personally and in my work with high-performing leaders: burnout isn’t one-size-fits-all. In fact, there are three distinct types - and each needs its own solution. I call them the three Vs of burnout: Volume, Velocity, and Values.

📣 Volume burnout is about the sheer quantity of work - when there are simply too many tasks on your plate.

💨 Velocity burnout comes from the relentless pace - when everything feels urgent and the deadlines keep coming.

⭐️ And then there’s Values burnout - when the work itself feels misaligned with what matters most to you.

I learned this the hard way. When I was feeling burned out in my previous role, I tried all the ‘right’ solutions. I turned off email notifications. Set better boundaries. Delegated more. But nothing shifted - because I was treating a Values issue like a Volume problem.

Here’s what I know from both personal experience and working with leaders: understanding which type of burnout you’re facing is the first step to finding the right solution. You wouldn’t try to fix a leaky pipe with a new paint job, right? The same goes for burnout - the solution needs to match the actual problem.

Volume burnout.

This is when your to-do list feels like it’s reproducing on its own. You’re managing multiple projects, endless meetings, and now add in all those end-of-year events and celebrations. The problem isn’t necessarily the pace or the work itself - there’s simply too much of it.

⚠️ Signs you might be experiencing Volume burnout:

You feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks
Your to-do list never seems to get shorter
You’re constantly trying to find more hours in the day
Even well-planned days feel overwhelming

🔋 Power Questions for Volume Burnout:

What percentage of your current tasks truly need YOU specifically to complete them?
Which activities are giving you energy versus draining it?
What would happen if you said ‘not now’ to your bottom three priorities?

Here’s the deal with Volume burnout: while it can feel overwhelming, it’s often the most straightforward to address. The key is being ruthlessly honest about what needs your personal attention versus what can be delegated, delayed, or deleted.

🏆 Quick wins for Volume burnout:

Conduct a task audit: Sort everything into ‘Only I can do this’ versus ‘Someone else could do this’
Practice the ‘not now’ strategy: Explicitly choose what can wait
- The Eisenhower Matrix is a GREAT tool to help!
Create clear criteria for your ‘yes’ and ‘no’ decisions

Velocity burnout.

When the pace feels relentless. Everything is marked ‘urgent,’ your calendar is back-to-back meetings, and you’re constantly racing from one fire drill to the next. The volume might actually be manageable, but the speed at which everything needs to happen is exhausting.

⚠️ Signs you might be experiencing Velocity burnout:

You rarely have time to think strategically
Your days feel like one long sprint
You’re constantly context-switching
Even ‘quick’ tasks feel overwhelming because there’s no breathing room

🔋 Power Questions for Velocity Burnout:

What’s driving the sense of urgency in your work?
Where could you create intentional pauses in your day?
Which ‘urgent’ items would actually be fine if handled tomorrow?

The key with Velocity burnout is creating strategic slowdowns. This isn’t about working less - it’s about working rhythmically.

🏆 Quick wins for Velocity burnout:

Build buffer zones between meetings (even 10 minutes can reset your energy)
Create ‘strategy blocks’ in your calendar for deep thinking
Challenge the ‘urgent’ label - often it’s habit rather than necessity
Batch similar tasks to reduce mental switching costs

Values burnout.

The most subtle but often most significant type. This happens when your work feels misaligned with what matters most to you. The volume might be reasonable, the pace manageable, but something still feels off.

⚠️ Signs you might be experiencing Values burnout:

You’re doing all the ‘right’ things but still feel drained
Success doesn’t bring the satisfaction it used to
You question the purpose of your work more often
Your motivation has shifted from excitement to obligation

🔋 Power Questions for Values burnout:

What energized you when you first started this role?
Where do you feel most aligned in your current work?
What would you change if you had complete freedom to redesign your role?

Here’s the truth about Values burnout: it’s the hardest to solve with quick fixes. While Volume and Velocity challenges often respond well to tactical solutions, Values misalignment needs a deeper look.

🏆 Quick wins for Values burnout:

Identify moments when you feel most energized and look for patterns
Seek opportunities to reshape parts of your role around your strengths
Connect your daily tasks to your bigger ‘why’
Have honest conversations about what matters most to you

✨ Weekend Spark Opportunity ✨

As we head into this May-cember season, I encourage you to pause and reflect: Which type of burnout are you experiencing? Are you trying to solve a Values issue with Volume solutions? Or managing Velocity when Volume is the real challenge?

Remember:

✨ Naming the real challenge is the first step to solving it.✨

Speak soon, friend!

Lauren

P.S. Want a partner to help evaluate the cause of your burnout AND find solutions that work for you?

P.P.S Did you enjoy this newsletter? Hooray! I’m so glad.

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Somewhere in the Golden State
San Carlos, CA 94070, USA