Hillary Kerr, co-founder of the style website WhoWhatWear and senior vice president at Future Publishing, has found an unexpected yet effective method to combat burnout: a tiny trampoline.
Kerr shared her experience at the recent Marie Claire Power Play Summit, where she emphasized the importance of daily exercise for personal well-being.
“I find that I am a better partner, a better parent, a better colleague when I have done an exercise every single day,” Kerr said.
The summit, which gathered about 100 prominent businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders in Atlanta, marked Marie Claire’s first-ever event of this kind in the city.
Alongside Kerr, two other successful female executives spoke candidly about the pervasive issue of burnout, sharing their insights and strategies honed over decades in their respective fields.
Burnout is increasingly recognized as a significant concern in the workplace, characterized by chronic stress that often goes unaddressed. The World Health Organization defines it as a syndrome resulting from unmanaged workplace stress.
Kat Cole, CEO of AG1 and former president of Cinnabon, provided a firsthand account of navigating burnout during the Great Recession.
As Cinnabon’s franchisees faced dire financial struggles, she found herself inundated with their anxious calls.
“I was under unbelievable stress and pressure,” Cole remarked, recalling her time managing the crises faced by franchise owners.
To cope, a friend introduced her to a mental technique that transformed her approach. Cole learned to visualize a soft rose filter between herself and the intense emotions of others.
This method allowed her to “take it on, don’t take it in,” preventing her from absorbing others’ turmoil and emotional weight.
Katie Kime, founder of her own apparel and home decor brand, emphasized the value of setting boundaries in the workplace.
To maintain her creativity and manage burnout, Kime diligently blocks out two hours every morning, protecting this sacred time from meetings or interruptions.
“It really has just been transformative,” she explained, highlighting the importance of safeguarding her creative process.
Kerr similarly champions the concept of boundaries within her team.
She enforces a culture where employees are encouraged not to work during off-hours unless absolutely necessary.
“I really try to be as respectful as I can about people’s time off,” Kerr noted, adding that such respect ultimately enhances her leadership.
Daisy Auger-Dominguez, who moderated the panel and authored “Burnt Out to Lit Up,” practices daily gratitude to manage her own stress.
Each morning, before getting out of bed, she lists three things she is grateful for and identifies three priorities for the day ahead.
“I’m grounding myself in how I want to show up … and when the unexpected things come, I’m clear on what’s really my priority today and what’s somebody else’s,” she shared.
On a monthly basis, Cole conducts check-ins with her employees using a set of six questions she created years ago for her husband.
This practice not only aids her team’s well-being but also creates a supportive work environment where issues can be addressed openly.
The theme of self-advocacy emerged strongly as a crucial tool in combating burnout.
As noted by Dr. Richard Gunderman in The Atlantic, burnout often consists of numerous small instances of neglecting one’s own needs.
Kerr, Kime, and Cole all echoed the sentiment that self-advocacy is fundamental to preventing these emotional betrayals.
Cole succinctly said, “The greatest thing you can do to prevent burnout is to deeply, deeply love yourself.”
When one truly values themselves, it becomes easier to listen to their body and address small issues before they escalate.
In contrast, neglecting one’s needs in favor of external demands can lead to severe burnout.
As the AJC Her+Story series continues to highlight influential women in business, these leaders share their experiences to foster a community committed to overcoming burnout and pursuing well-being.
Their stories underscore the importance of balance, boundaries, and the power of self-advocacy in achieving personal and professional fulfillment.
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