“My name is Marianne Penner and I want to share with you what happened to me. I started working for my Conference six months before the pandemic. Alongside stepping into this new job, I was also completing a Coaching Certificate in Geneva. I started that because learning how to listen and how to ask good questions would enable me to help people connect…
Although I didn’t realise what was happening, I chose to cover my burnout under the superhero disguise. I was super active and did not complain about it at all. When lockdown arrived, I remember my daughter saying, “Great – Covid is going to give me my parents back. Because of lockdown my work intensified, not least in preparing daily video meditations for the people I serve. At one point I set my alarm for 1:00 am, so videos could be uploaded over the internet overnight when neigbours were least likely to use the internet.
I ended up working 230 hours for several months in a row, plus my studies. But I was still happy to have lots of assignments because I thought I would be able to balance things out in my mind. I carried on because I knew that the work I do is good.
It was during October 2020, that life became manic. I was travelling a lot, presenting, and to cut a long story short, at that moment the body collapsed – and let me tell you, you really can’t miss it! I also was involved in a car accident…
Marianne Penner serves as the Communication and Media director for the South France Federation / Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. on 30 May she led the monthly Communication and Media seminar run jointly by the TED and Inter-European Division.
Do you feel guilty if you rest? Do you live your work as a vocation? Is your work an integral part of your life? Is you career path on an upwards trajectory Are the boundaries between your professional and personal life weak or non-existant?
Marianne’s shared more of her story during the monthly TED/EUD European Communication Seminar. Discover how she made her way back – and move from manic to a sustainable work/life balance.
You can download the presentation notes and bibliography here.
