Burnt Out to Lit Up

8Beyond Burnout

“I believed that as a Black woman, I was meant to work hard and endure the most. I mistook my suffering and pain as a rite of passage.” As an executive helping lead a New York City museum, Madison Utendahl endured a grueling schedule: working seven days a week, ten hours a day.¹ She faced severe pancreatic issues and acne and, despite dietary changes, struggled with extreme fatigue and inflammation, leading to three hospitalizations. A turning point came when her doctor advised her to reevaluate her life, asserting that her health issues were stress-related. “You have nothing wrong with you,” he said, “Your issue is stress.”

In response, Madison made a bold move: she resigned from her job, took a six-month break to realign her life, and delved into understanding burnout. This exploration became pivotal when she became the founder of Utendahl Creative, where she implemented an innovative anti-burnout policy.

This policy, an agreement all new hires are encouraged to sign, supports organizational structures that combat burnout. It includes no Monday meetings before noon to ease the Sunday Scaries, ending Friday meetings by 2 p.m. for a stress-free transition into the weekend, scheduling only internal meetings on Wednesdays for better week planning, and providing extended breaks—the last two weeks of December, two weeks in August, and Easter.

The outcome has been impressive, with high retention and satisfaction levels within her team. Madison emphasizes that workplace ...