Are you resilient enough to avoid burnout? Take the Quiz.
My life’s work is to help others through life transitions. We go through the same life transitions again and again, until we learn the life lessons each transition offers us. I understand how challenging life transitions can be, both personally and professionally. I know what it feels like—the uncertainty, the insecurity, the overthinking. In the last 30 years, I have been through 45 life transitions, sometimes more than one at a time. It hasn’t gotten any easier, but I got better at coping with it, and at learning the life lessons faster, with the steadfast support of my horses. I want to share what I have discovered with you, to help you increase your Resilience Quotient too.
What is a life transition? A career change, starting a new business, moving to a different country, a divorce, the loss of a loved one, an empty nest, a debilitating illness, retirement – any substantial change -planned or unplanned – in your circumstances.
Unless you are particularly resilient, life transitions can push you into full-out burnout before you know it. Resilience is defined as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.” The irony is that burnout can be caused by the very qualities that help us handle challenges – dedication, accepting responsibility, compassion, conscientiousness, and attention to detail – all increase our vulnerability to burnout.
How resilient are you? Can you cope with major life changes, challenges and transitions without putting yourself at risk of burnout?
The “Are You Resilient Enough to Avoid Burnout During Life Transitions?” Quiz
- How do you typically react when faced with a sudden, unexpected change in your life?
a) I stay calm and adjust my plans accordingly.
b) I feel stressed but try to handle it.
c) I panic and struggle to cope. - When you encounter setbacks or obstacles, how quickly can you recover and move forward?
a) I recover quickly and find new solutions.
b) It takes me some time, but I eventually bounce back.
c) I often get stuck and feel defeated. - How often do you set aside time for self-care (e.g., rest, relaxation, hobbies)?
a) Regularly, I prioritise self-care.
b) Sometimes, but I forget if I’m very busy.
c) Rarely or never—I’m way too busy for that. - How comfortable are you with asking for help or support during tough times?
a) Very comfortable—I reach out when I need it.
b) Somewhat uncomfortable—I only ask if I have no other option.
c) Not comfortable at all—I prefer to handle things myself. - How well do you manage stress on a daily basis?
a) I have effective strategies that keep stress manageable.
b) I manage okay but feel overwhelmed sometimes.
c) I feel so stressed most of the time that I don’t know how to cope. - Do you have a strong support system (friends, family, colleagues) you can rely on?
a) Yes, I have a great support network.
b) I have some support, but it’s limited.
c) I feel isolated and unsupported. - How often do you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities?
a) Rarely—I can manage my workload well.
b) Occasionally—I feel overwhelmed at times.
c) Frequently—I often feel like I can’t keep up. - When dealing with difficult emotions (sadness, frustration, anxiety), how do you usually cope?
a) I acknowledge and process my emotions healthily.
b) I try to distract myself or avoid thinking about them.
c) I suppress my emotions and keep pushing forward. - How do you perceive major life transitions (career change, relocation, relationship shift)?
a) As opportunities for growth and learning.
b) As challenges that I need to get through.
c) As overwhelming and difficult to manage. - How would you describe your ability to set healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life?
a) I’m confident in setting and maintaining boundaries.
b) I sometimes struggle but make an effort to set boundaries.
c) I have difficulty setting boundaries and often overcommit. - Do you feel like you have a sense of purpose guiding your decisions during life transitions?
a) Yes, I have a clear sense of purpose.
b) Somewhat—I’m still figuring it out.
c) No, I often feel lost or unsure of my direction. - How do you typically respond to feelings of uncertainty?
a) I remain flexible and adapt to new circumstances.
b) I feel anxious but try to work through it.
c) I become paralysed by uncertainty and avoid decision-making. - How do you balance your personal needs with the demands of others (e.g., family, work)?
a) I put my needs first while meeting my responsibilities.
b) I aim for balance, but I often end up putting others first.
c) I frequently neglect my own needs to take care of others. - Do you regularly take time to reflect on your goals and progress during transitions?
a) Yes, I make time for reflection and reassessment.
b) Occasionally, but I get caught up in the demands of daily life.
c) No, I rarely stop to reflect or reassess. - When you face uncertainty or challenges, how optimistic are you about finding a solution?
a) I’m usually optimistic and believe I’ll find a way forward.
b) I have doubts but try to stay hopeful.
c) I often feel pessimistic and worry about the outcome.
Scoring:
- For each A answer, give yourself 3 points.
- For each B answer, give yourself 2 points.
- For each C answer, give yourself 1 point.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to get very annoyed if I have to hand over my e-mail address to get the results of a quiz, so the results of this quiz are right here on this page (see below.)
Results
So…are you resilient enough to avoid burnout?
Score 15-24 points: No, you are not. If you struggle with challenges, uncertainty and roadmapinsecurity, do not worry, you certainly aren’t the only one. The pandemic has wreaked havoc with our usually effective coping strategies. So you now lack resilience. Don’t let this get you down! We’ll find out why you aren’t as resilient as you would like to be and figure out what you can do about it. Perhaps you haven’t got much self-confidence. Perhaps you have a negative attitude. Maybe you need more robust stress management strategies or you need help dealing with issues that are beyond your control. Don’t give up – there are lots of tools that you can use to become more resilient. If you find yourself spending a lot of time feeling as though everything is a struggle, I can help you deal with stress more effectively and enable you to substantially increase your self-confidence. Next Step
Score 25-34 points: No, you are not. You have some skills and strategies to deal with stress, but when everything goes as wrong as it did in 2020, for example, you find it hard to think and act positively and may have difficulty coping with the demands made of you. This is perfectly normal, it has been a very hard couple of years. You might need to take a good look at your coping strategies, unhelpful habits and limiting beliefs. I can help you update and improve your stress management strategies and help you get rid of outdated habits and limiting beliefs. Next Step
Score 35-39 points: Not quite yet. You’re not easily defeated, and you are fairly resilient, but clearly, there is still plenty of room (and need!) for improvement. Perhaps despite your resilience, you are still no sure of your life purpose, you still fear the future, put yourself down, doubt your abilities, or expect to fail. Many of us do. Maybe you need to develop your stress management skills in just one or two areas or make small changes in several. I can help you figure out what your life purpose is so that you can increase your resilience and self-esteem and cope effectively with whatever challenges come your way. ‘Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.’ Z. Abdelnour Next Step
Score 40-45 points: Yes! You have a variety of coping skills and strategies that help you to cope with stress. You are adaptable and flexible in your approach. You’re willing to take on challenges and you are keen to help others where you can. You most likely have a solid support system. That’s good, you can’t face all challenges on your own. Sometimes you need help. If your support system fails you or you need objective input, I can help you to develop a plan of action to cope with the challenge you are facing without allowing stress to get the better of you. Maybe all you need is a free course to remind you to recharge, replenish, renew your energy and how to manage stress. Next Step
If you would like to increase your resilience in 5-10 minutes a day, I invite you to subscribe to my Savoir Vivre Vignettes newsletter to get immediate access to my eye-opening, mind-altering and heart-stirring free online retreat: Manifest A Stress-free Life Change.
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Additional Resource: Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ)