How to Reignite Your Energy Without Burning Out

What to Do When Leadership Starts to Feel Heavy

Not every season of leadership calls for a sprint. Some seasons challenge you to sustain. And sustaining? That’s not always easy.

At the onset, you might feel energized, focused, and clear on what must occur. But then it happens. Long to-do lists. Shifting priorities. Unforeseen challenges. Slowly, your spark dims. You’re still leading, showing up, and moving ahead, but work (and life) feel heavier than usual.

The truth is, fatigue isn’t always loud. It doesn’t announce itself with flashing red lights. Sometimes, it creeps in disguised as persistent distractions. Other times, it whispers in moments of disconnection. No matter how it presents, left unchecked, that quiet fatigue can lead to burnout.

If your energy has taken a hit lately, you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. It may be time to reset. Here’s how to reignite your energy without sacrificing your well-being.

1. Redefine Rest as a Leadership Strategy

Let’s get one thing straight: rest is not a luxury. It is a necessity. In high-performing environments, we often treat downtime as something to earn. But leadership demands a different mindset. Rest isn’t the reward; it’s the foundation. Without it, you cannot lead well.

A Deloitte survey found that 77% of professionals have experienced burnout at their current jobs, yet 70% feel their employers don’t provide enough support for well-being. That’s not just a wellness issue—it’s a performance problem.

As Tricia Hersey says, You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.”

Think about it: do your best ideas come when you’re running on empty? No. They show up when you’re present, rested, and thinking clearly. So block time for focused work, unplug in the evenings, or carve out space for recovery during the week. Rest is the edge that makes sustainable leadership possible.

2. Reconnect with What Fuels You 

When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to forget what energizes you. But when you reconnect with the parts of your work that bring you joy and purpose, motivation tends to follow.

Take a moment and ask yourself:

  • When was the last time I felt genuinely energized by my work?
  • What am I doing when I feel most like myself?
  • Where am I most useful, not just busy?

These questions are directional. They help you reconnect with what matters, so you lead from a place of purpose.

It could be mentoring a team member, working on a strategy project, or carving out time for uninterrupted creative thinking. Whatever it is, make space for it. Revisit it often. Your energy follows your attention, so give it to what fuels you.

3. Clear Space to Breathe

If your schedule is packed, but your progress feels stalled, let go of what’s weighing you down.

I think of a client, Mark, a financial services leader whose company recently downsized. During one of our sessions, he asked, “How do I do more with less?” 

I gave him the hard truth: you can’t. Not without burning yourself and your team out.

The real challenge isn’t doing more. It’s doing what matters most with the resources you have. That may mean doing less but delivering more value.

Mark and I worked through three key questions:

  • What can I stop doing?
  • What projects can I put on hold?
  • What can I delegate or let go of?

Mark created a “Not Now” list—a practical step that freed up the capacity to focus on what moved the needle. With renewed clarity, he had the space and confidence to lead more strategically.

Once he had the list, we strategized how to communicate the plan and get buy-in from executive leadership.

As leaders, we often feel responsible for holding everything. But you don’t have to do it all. In fact, most strategic leaders understand that the best move can be to let go.

Try creating three lists: Not Me, Not Now, and Not Ever. You might be surprised at what you no longer need to hold.

4. Build Rhythms, Not Just Routines

Routines are helpful—but rhythms can be transformational. What’s the difference? A routine is about checking boxes. A rhythm is about creating a flow that supports how you show up.

Start by noticing your natural energy patterns.

  • When are you most focused?
  • When do you need a breather?
  • How do you carve out time for renewal (mental, emotional, and physical)?

Rhythms give you structure with flexibility. They allow you to recharge and adapt without losing momentum.

Think of it like dancing—when the tempo shifts, you don’t stop dancing; you adjust your steps. The same is true in leadership. Staying grounded while the pace changes around you is a skill. It’s a rhythm that allows momentum to last.

The Courage to Refuel

What do you do when your phone’s battery dips into the red zone? If you’re like most of us, you don’t hesitate; you plug it in and recharge. After all, it’s not just a convenience; it’s essential to keep it functioning.

Now, imagine it’s your energy that’s dangerously low. You feel unfocused and disconnected from what drives you; even the simplest tasks feel like mountains to climb. What’s your instinctive reaction? If you’re like many people, try to power through.

But here’s the truth: your mind, body, and spirit aren’t designed for endless output. Just like your phone, you need to recharge. And this isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Restoring your energy doesn’t mean pushing harder. Often, it means pausing, resetting, and reconnecting with the things that invigorate you. Taking the time to refuel is an act of wisdom and strength, not a sign of weakness.

Effective leadership isn’t running at full speed 24/7. It’s having the awareness to recognize when you’re running on empty and the courage to refuel before you burn out.

Your energy matters. Protect it with intention.

Lisa L. Baker - Certified Personal, Career, Success and Life Coach

Lisa L. Baker is a professional life coach, career strategist, and keynote speaker. Lisa is the founder of Ascentim – a Maryland-based coaching practice that utilizes a unique G.R.O.W. process to help clients gain clarity, realize new possibilities, overcome obstacles, and win at life. Lisa shows high-performing professionals how to Level Up and Live the Life of Their Dreams.

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