In this episode, Tara welcomes Kelsea, The Seamless Coach, who specializes in burnout prevention. They discuss Kelsea’s personal experiences with burnout and how they inform her current work.
The conversation highlights the inadequacy of self-care and vacations as solutions for burnout, emphasizing the importance of addressing root causes. Additionally, Kelsea introduces the concept of job crafting and workplace value alignment, offering actionable tips for making your job work for you.
They also explore how organizations can better support their employees by addressing systemic issues rather than placing the burden of burnout on individuals.
The Self-Care Trap
We’ve all heard it before:
- “Take time for yourself.”
- “Go on vacation.”
- “Have a spa day.”
- “Treat yo’self.”
But here’s the thing: self-care is a band-aid. If your work environment or role is out of alignment with your values and needs, no amount of yoga, green juice, or PTO will fix it.
As Kelsea shared in our conversation:
“If you value autonomy but have a micromanaging boss, no bubble bath is going to cure that.”
That’s why so many people come back from vacation still dreading work. The underlying problem hasn’t changed.
The Real Culprit: Value Misalignment
One of the most surprising causes of burnout? When your personal values clash with your workplace values.
Values misalignment creates friction—an ever-present tension you might not even realize is there.
You don’t have to hate your job to feel burned out. You just have to feel that something’s off.
For example:
- If you value collaboration, but your team operates in silos, you’ll feel isolated.
- If you value integrity, but your company cuts corners, you’ll feel disillusioned.
What can you do about it?
- Identify your values. What matters most to you in your work? Integrity? Autonomy? Creativity?
- Assess the fit. Does your current role or organization align with those values?
- Make adjustments. This could mean advocating for change, crafting your role (more on that below), or finding a new job altogether.
The Power of Job Crafting
Not ready to quit your job? That’s okay. There’s still plenty you can do to make your role work for you.
Job crafting is all about taking ownership of your workday. It’s not about overhauling everything—it’s about making small, intentional changes that reduce stress and align your work with your strengths and values.
Examples of job crafting:
- Task crafting: Delegate or redesign tasks that drain you and focus on ones that energize you.
- Relationship crafting: Build stronger connections with colleagues who support and inspire you.
- Cognitive crafting: Reframe your mindset to find meaning in what you do.
One of Kelsea’s clients created a simple one-sheet guide to streamline a confusing new system at work. It saved her time, reduced stress for her team, and earned her recognition from leadership.
That’s job crafting in action—solving your own problem while making work better for everyone.
Burnout Prevention Is a Leadership Issue
Here’s the tough truth for organizations: burnout isn’t just about individual employees. It’s about the systems you’ve built—or failed to build.
If 75% of your workforce reports burnout, that’s not a “people” problem. That’s a you problem.
Kelsea highlighted some of the most common organizational culprits:
- Poor leadership that doesn’t support employees.
- Workloads that are unmanageable.
- Values that aren’t lived out in practice.
Burnout prevention requires more than gym memberships or mindfulness apps. Leaders need to focus on creating a culture where people feel valued, supported, and aligned with their work.
What You Can Do Today
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight, and neither does recovery. And you don’t have to fix everything at once. Start small.
Here are three steps you can take today:
- Reflect on your values. What are your top priorities in work and life?
- Identify misalignments. What’s creating friction in your workday? Is it your role, your team, or your organization?
- Make one change. Advocate for a resource, tweak your workflow, or build a new habit that aligns your work with your values.
Recovery isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about regaining control, piece by piece, until work feels manageable—and even meaningful—again.
What’s one value that drives how you approach work? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re making work work for you.
Got thoughts or questions from this week’s episode? Drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear from you! 🫶
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To connect with Kelsea:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:58 Meet Kelsea: The Seamless Coach
01:31 The Importance of Community
04:02 Understanding Burnout: Personal Experiences
13:11 Viral Insights on Burnout
22:36 Aligning Workplace Values with Career Goals
23:49 Personal Experiences with Workplace Misalignment
27:56 Understanding and Implementing Job Crafting
36:57 Systemic Solutions to Combat Burnout
42:12 Defining a Balanced Badass Life
I’m Tara Kermiet, a leadership coach specializing in burnout prevention and work-life integration. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re holding it all together with duct tape and coffee. But success doesn’t have to mean running yourself ragged. I help high achievers find work-life balance and shine as badass leaders.
👉 Take my quick quiz to find out where you stand on the burnout spectrum, plus get tailored tips to help you turn things around before it’s too late. Visit: https://tarakermiet.com/free-resources/
😍 If we’re not friends yet on social media, why the heck not? Follow me on Instagram (@TaraKermiet) and/or LinkedIn (@TaraKermiet) so we can stay connected!
🎤 Got a question, a topic you want me to cover, or just want to share your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you! Send me a DM or email.
Stay balanced, stay badass, and make good choices!
Disclaimer: My content is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. For serious concerns, please consult a qualified provider.
