Cover Image: Burnout Survival Kit

Burnout Survival Kit

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Member Reviews

I really liked the idea of this book as Burnout is something the I regularly feel the symptoms of and whilst I think Imogen offers some really helpful and viable tips I do believe that for me it is at a 'beginner' level of managing burnout.

If you were new to the feeling the symptoms of Burnout and needed some help managing this then this would be a great guide and helpful piece of 'kit', however for me it didn't teach me anything new which is what I was hoping for!

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The right book at the right time. It's full of interesting hints and ideas and I liked how it didn't used too many buzzwords or recycled ideas.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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The Burnout Survival Kit is a handy little book that definitely discussed things I related to. Often it felt like it was just reiterating common sense but sometimes we just need someone to point those things out and remind us that the simple solutions are often best. Society has led us to believe we have to work to the point of burnout to be doing enough, which isn't true, and this book is a great reminder on how to set boundaries, to not do more than you need to just because you feel there's unsaid expectations and even has some good tips for relaxing, including some stretches with illustrations that I've slowly been trying to incorporate into my daily life!

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On first read, I didn't notice that the text begins with a curious line, “it's okay to hate this guide, you can still use it.” And this perhaps sums up my thoughts on it. Written over 26 short sections, it covers the immediate response to burn out, and both short and long term management strategies.

Much of what is written will not be new, but everything is put in simple, accessible language, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method. So much of what is presented is common sense, and things that we all know to be true, but in the midst of everyday life and text acts as a cheerful reminder of the basics.

I found value in the suggestion to go through the outstanding list of things to do and make a list of things that will not be happening in the short term. The suggestions on dress and appearance were perhaps more designed for female readers. Still, I found the open admittance of the stress and difficulty of networking events and tips on how to survive them the most interesting part of the book - especially the use of emergency chocolate!

The section on dealing with patronisation at work was illuminating. It was the reminder that most success stories have elements of wealth, luck and good fortune that cannot necessarily be imitated. As someone who works from home, the reminder that booking in dinners and coffees is not just a social pleasantry, but a necessity for professional networking outside of the house. I had never considered the technique of giving praise to get praise, and ‘echoing,’ but I will try to take these up.

I found the chatty, informal, anecdotal, blog-style of writing not to my taste - I’m a millennial, and perhaps it was put in this style to appeal to my generation - but I found it more irritating than engaging. I think I would have perhaps found this book more useful if it was more a more focused text, instead of trying to cover all the bases across very short paragraphs.

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I’m normally sceptical of self-help books, which it seems to me often patronise or recycle old ideas to make a quick buck, so ‘The Burnout Survival Kit’ was a pleasant surprise. It’s an entirely engaging and enjoyable take on modern office life that rang true with me, as someone who is very much living it. The author is a freelance writer, but clearly knows a lot about working in a corporate structure as well. She provides great tips on coping with office politics, demanding bosses, managing workloads and, perhaps most critically of all right now, working from home.
Whilst I’m not convinced there is anything truly revolutionary here, what Imogen Dall does brilliantly is make the ideas and techniques she is writing about feel achievable. The book has a wonderfully conversational tone, and is packed with illustrations, giving it a very friendly vibe. I never felt lectured to, but rather like I was having a coffee with a friend who was giving me advice.
It’s that connection Dall makes with the reader that makes this book so worthwhile. Her tips seem heartfelt and arrived at from her own experience rather than other books or TED talks. You feel like she cares about your wellbeing, which gives her words far more power. What she presents is a holistic approach to managing workplace stress and the risk of burnout. It ranges from yoga to managing your finances, to pointers for avoiding the negative aspects of social media. It can feel a little scattershot at times, but the affable, often amusing style carries it. I’ve already adopted some of her suggestions and aim to incorporate more of them into my work routine.
If you’re feeling like work is getting on top of you, or even if you aren’t, it’s a book I thoroughly recommend.

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There are a tonne of self-help books on the market to aid with stress, depression, anxiety and a multitude of other conditions but I must admit, I have never come across a book quite like this. It covers all of the basic information you need to know and understand but never overwhelms with information dumps. Set out in neatly presented sections, this is a very user-friendly, accessible and endlessly helpful guide, and I do not doubt that I'll return to it again and again in future in times of crisis.

The Burnout Survival Kit is split into sections each compiled of various chapters, including emergency problems (panic attacks; suicidal ideation; deep depression), short-term problems (stress; procrastination; workplace worries) and long-term problems (workplace toxicity; jealousy towards others; feelings of being lost, unsupported; economic problems) followed by a handy reading list allowing you easy access to further useful and reliable information should you wish to expand your knowledge.

With credible and impactful advice that can be put into action immediately, an encouraging tone and the excellent way in which everything is presented, the Burnout Survival Kit is an essential tool for those prone to mental health issues. It very much feels as though a friend is talking to you about how you are feeling, and you never get the impression that the author is preaching or being judgemental or patronising towards you as a reader; I have never really felt that before to this extent in a self-help guide. Highly recommended.

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I LOVED this and took pages and pages of notes. I will be buying paper copies to put in care packages aplenty.
(The formatting was a bit off in the review edition but I assume that’s fixed!)

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Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing PLC for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
Coming to the close of 2020, I can’t think of a time when this book might be needed more than now! It’s been quite a year hasn’t it folks! And I’m more than certain that there’s many people feeling burnt out right now.
This book isn’t a medical text book- it’s more a friendly chat with a friend and a cuppa to try and sort yourself out kind of thing. The advice isn’t overly ground breaking if I’m honest- it’s stuff we probably all know deep down. It is however, easy to loose sight of the good advice to ourselves when we are going through stressful times, and that’s when having a resource like this book to hand becomes useful.
The book is pleasing to read, with fun little illustrations throughout. In particular there is a section with illustrated stretching exercises which I think is really handy and informative.
If you’re struggling with feelings of burn out, or want to prevent reaching that situation then certainly pick up this book- it covers quite a wide spectrum of tips, and there is also links provided for additional help. Although I don’t think it should be used as a substitute for professional medical advice if mental or physical health is being effected.

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Decent general approach to the topic. The strongest parts were those explicitly informed by research but the book is a bit thin in this regard. Nonetheless, many useful suggestions and will be valuable for people looking for some quick tips.

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Surprisingly, good book, very apt for the time that the world is going through. I definitely recommend this book if you need a different perspective on life. Lots of great tips and ideas to get you through or if you are feeling brave, a change in direction.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

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This book will definitely be needed by A LOT of people at the moment. Due to the pandemic, a lot of people will be struggling - including myself.
This book is a great little pick-me-up during these tough times. It's great to dip in and out of, and the illustrations help to break up the book into easy chunks too.

Lots of good advice to take on board. Work, home life, personal life - lots to think about.

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This book arrived at the perfect time for me!
In the midst of the global pandemic with hardly any sleep due to a 1 year old teething and being back at work, this book gave me great tools to just pause.
I found spending time each day reading the book just helped on its own!

I love the way the book is written and the cute graphics. This will make a great gift as well as something for myself.

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