Burnout for Enneagram Five
How burnout can happen:
Being habitually engrossed in researching, analyzing and seeking ever more information in order to ensure that you know enough can take its toll after a while. In Enneagram Five it’s often combined with reduced social contact and a general forgetting to take care of oneself that can be as basic as missing meals, not drinking enough fluids, or not taking care of one’s appearance. There’s often an anxious desire to make do with less in order to prevent running out of essential resources; it’s a sort of scarcity mindset that can lead to compulsive collecting, saving and a strong need to hold on to what one has. Real or imagined demands and expectations that other people might place on the Enneagram Five can also add anxiety. This, combined with an inherent discomfort with social interactions, results in a need for privacy, and a tendency to withdraw into a place of solitude and self-isolation. Strong feelings of overwhelm and a lack of general self-care can lead to high levels of anxiety, stress and potential burnout.
Strategies to avoid burnout:
It’s important to avoid getting habitually stuck in deep analysis, continual research or the constant gathering of information. While this may relate to a skill set that you have, overdoing it or becoming addicted to it, can cause problems. Try setting specific timeframes for these activities; take scheduled breaks when you do something physical such as taking a walk or going for a run. Ensure that you take care of your health; eat well, drink enough healthy fluids, exercise and take care of your physical appearance. Remember to allocate time for applying the knowledge and wisdom you gain, perhaps sharing it with others or using it in other practical ways. Starting a daily ‘gratitude practice’ in which you appreciate all of the positive things you have in your life can help create a more abundant mindset, along with doing ‘random acts of kindness’ for others. Also, remember to set time aside to spend with the people you love.
Read more about Burnout for Enneagram 1, Enneagram 2, Enneagram 3, Enneagram 4, Enneagram 5
