30 May 2017

CEMS Alumni discussed burnout

Thank to the increasing speed of life, upgraded complexity of work nowadays and continuously leveling up requirements that each individual puts on himself / herself, burnout is no longer a syndrome occurring exceptionally. Instead it seems as a new “disease” of the modern era. 

As this is highly relevant for the business world, we chose to dedicate a special CEMS Alumni event to the topic of burnout.

Some of the participants at the exhibition before the event

Gorgeous location

The event took place in the beautiful settings of Czech Press Photo Centre in Prague 5. Before emerging to the discussion about burnout, we got a unique chance to get a private tour at the centre and explore also “the behind the curtains” areas of this place.
Having the opportunity to see all extraordinary photos from the charity photo auction Sance prodeti (Chance for children) was an icing on a cake.

Great discussion

It was a big pleasure to welcome among us Dominika Cechova, a counselor specializing on depth psychology and relationships as well as stress on a workplace. Before emerging into the world of therapies, Dominika worked at Big 4 and went through hew own burnout experience.We were happy to see that this topic attracted wide audience with fresh graduates, experienced business professional as well as alumni, who are already parents.

Most of the participants after the discussion

Key points discussed during the evening

  1. Stress is internal, i.e. external stress does not exist: Stress is not an external element influencing us, though it is our internal reaction. Therefore, we can influence, if we get overwhelmed by it, if we start fighting with it or if we learn how to cope with it.
  2. Dealing with stress? Open the doors of Your internal world and ask for help: Help in this case does not need to a be counselor or therapist, it can be also a friend, a spouse or a manager. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is just opposite, it is a great sign of strength.
  3. Theory of two bottles: why different people react differently to stress? This is Dominika’s own theory showing figuratively how we deal with stress. A first group of people tend to get overwhelmed and feel stressed after every slight signal of pressure as a plastic bottle does. Though when something considerable happens and they fall down, they promptly take off again. The second group of people can handle a day to day stress without any sign of being touched by it. They are firm and seem to be able to survive anything. But when they fall down, they break into pieces as a glass bottle does. 
  4. Follow your intuition is not a buzzword: This might seem as a phrase. Though, it is very true. Follow your inner feeling. Does this job feel right for me? Am I taking a direct life directions? Etc.
  5. Burnout: a shining star quickly moving up and quickly falling down. A typical sign of a burnout is a steep successful career moving upwards followed by a prompt fall down. Usually, company’s stars, who are highly capable, achieve enormous results and career steps in a short period of time are the ones, who can later suffer from burnout. Burnout as such can have various symptoms such as lethargy, anxiety, avoidance of meeting people, avoidance or doing things one loves, reoccurring diseases and pains, panic attacks, migraine etc.
  6. Don’t want to be burnout? Find time for relaxation, cherish your relationships. If you feel you are on the way towards burnout – the first great signal is that you get aware of it. If you have a tendency to overachieve and be constantly great, choose in your free time activities that calm you down – e.g.. yoga, meditation, walking in the nature. Going for yet highly active sports only increases the amount of “stress in the body”. At the same time focus on other aspects of life, your family, friends. Do things you love and enjoy. Last but not least ask yourself, what is that you are actually going after by your high-speed and overachievement oriented life style? This is a part when burnout meets psychology. As also Dominika mentioned, though burnout can seem as a work syndrome initially, it is deeply rooted in our upbringing, family, our relationships to our loved ones, to people around us, to ourselves.
  7. Be aware of burnout when raising your kids: show them that burnout is a dead end. Our kids do mirror us. Our generation is the first generation increasingly suffering from burnout yet a first generation able to talk about it openly. Let’s use all these findings and / or eventually our own experience with burnout and show the kids that overachieving and being constantly the best is not on its own the best path to shining future and happy life. 

We would like to say big thank to Dominika for joining us for this evening as well as to all participants for their openness and honesty. Big thank you goes also to Honza Kubik for arranging a private tour of Sance pro deti photo exhibition and the Czech Press Photo center as whole.


Pavlina, Vojta and Honza 
Your CEMS Alumni Board Team

26 May 2017

Top reading about the CEMS Community

Interested in top reading about the CEMS Community?

Check the global issue of the CEMS Magazine and its last hottest topic: Happiness at workplace.

Explore the great Czech CEMS Community magazine called CEMS Insider, lately focused on topics of sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Pavlina, Vojta and Honza
Your CEMS Alumni Board Team
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24 May 2017

Don't miss these great CEMS Alumni Events!

Dear CEMS Alumni,
don't miss these two great upcoming CEMS Alumni events!

BURNOUT: What can I do in order not to be burned out...?

  • When: 29th May at 6:15 pm 
  • Where: Join the CEMS panel discussion at the cozy Czech Press Photo Cafe, Na zlate 1, Prague 5
The discussion will start at 7pm. If you can, come at 6:15pm to enjoy the unique private tour at the charity photo exhibition Sance pro deti / Chance for children (www.sanceprodeti.cz). More info HERE or on Facebook. Registration at: cemsalumni@seznam.cz.
You can look forward to great speakers sharing their stories and experience: counselor Dominika Cechova and film editor Michal Dvorak and CEMS ALUMNI HOSTS: Pavlina Simurdova and Vojtech Oplestil

CEMS Soireé 2017: Come to meet CEMS Alumni, Teachers and Corporate Partners

  • When: Thursday 8th June, 6 PM
  • Where: Akademicky klub at VSE
Further information HERE or on the Facebook event. Registration needed via the following LINK by 1st June 2017.

   

Update from the CEMS Community


Pavlina, Vojta and Honza
Your CEMS Alumni Board Team

8 May 2017

Interested in learning about burnout? Join our next CEMS Alumni event

Dear alumni
Come on Monday 29th May and join our panel discussion on this the topic Burnout and how to avoid it! Limited number of places available. Register at cemsalumni@seznam.cz

On the top of that, we will get a chance to go for a private tour at the charity photo exhibition the Chance for Children / Sance pro deti

The venue we will meet at

When and where

  • When: 29th May from 6:15pm / 7pm
  • Where: Czech Press Photo Cafe, Na zlate 1, 158 00 Prague 5
Program
    • Exhibition: 6:15 till 7pm - orgnized by CEMS Alumnus Jan Kubik and Thomson Reuters
    • Panel discussion about Burnout: 7pm till 9pm
    Speakers
    Counselor Dominika Cechova and film editor Michal Dvorak accompanied by CEMS alumni hosts Pavlina Simurdova and Vojtech Oplestil.

     

    Location / Refreshment
    The event takes places in the Czech Press Photo Cafe (nearby the stop Nove Butovice), where you can enjoy delicious refreshments

    Registration needed at cemsalumni@seznam.cz

    We are looking forward to seeing you!
    Pavlína
    on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team
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