Does my work matter?
I tend to look for purpose and value in any work I do. I feel a sense of accomplishment when what I do matters—when I can see its impact on people, processes, products, or services.
During job interviews, when asked what motivates me most, my answer has always been: to make a meaningful impact. Purpose sustains me when things get hard.
Because of this, I’m prone to experience an existential crisis when my work starts to feel meaningless or diminished. I immediately question the value of the work—and, by extension, my own value and purpose. Does my work matter?
Sometimes that feeling is temporary or mostly in my head. Other times, it’s real and likely to persist for a while. External factors, extenuating circumstances, and other people can all contribute to the growing weight of purposelessness and inefficacy.
The Burnout I Fear
The World Health Organization defines burnout as “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Chronic means ongoing and persistent.
Of the three dimensions of burnout—exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inefficacy, I fear professional inefficacy the most. It’s marked by a reduced sense of purpose, value, competence, and accomplishment in one’s work; and research shows it can erode self-esteem, engagement, and performance.
I didn’t realize it could be so damaging—both to individuals and their work. Recognizing it as a legitimate dimension of burnout elevates the need to manage it proactively and give it the attention it deserves.
Rest as Antidote
The antidote to burnout isn’t pushing harder; it’s allowing ourselves to rest.
We can prevent burnout with the right type of rest. Since professional inefficacy stems from a loss of purpose or value, I think creative rest and spiritual rest can help.
Creative Rest
Creative rest involves engaging with nature or the arts to replenish our sense of wonder and inspiration. It might mean making something with your hands, visiting an art museum, soaking up the sun, or listening to your favorite playlist.
For me, starting my own business has become an outlet for creativity. I had an idea I wanted to offer the world—and something to say. Like an artist, I began sketching in my “Ideas” notebook: business strategies, marketing concepts, messaging frameworks.
Some drafts were discarded; others kept for their potential. I researched my problem statement deeply, sought wisdom from trusted peers, and used design thinking to experiment, prototype, and iterate. More drafts, more sketches, more creations. I was having fun again.
Spiritual Rest
Another type of rest that can help with this kind of burnout is spiritual rest. Spiritual rest is engaging with something greater than ourselves to find a sense of value, purpose, and belonging. It might align with one’s religious practices or simply involve engaging a non-cognitive part of us – our spirit.
At my previous company, I co-founded a Filipino employee resource group. I still remember how the mere existence of the group felt like a miracle, because so few of us had ever worked with other Filipinos. Our leadership team of six decided to plan a big event to celebrate Filipino American History Month – complete with catered Filipino food, a traditional dance performance, and of course, a stage for karaoke. We invited anyone and everyone we worked with to come – and they did. Two hundred people came! That evening, we had so much fun as we celebrated each other.
Closing Thoughts
Burnout isn’t one-size-fits-all—and neither is rest. The type of rest you need depends on the kind of burnout you’re experiencing.
For those who feel a loss of purpose and value, I invite you to explore creative and spiritual rest. Come rest. Carve out some time and start with a simple practice. See what helps.
When I no longer feel like I’m making meaningful impact or my work matters, I remind myself that I still matter.
#meaningfulrest #rest #burnoutprevention #wellbeingatwork #wellness #restcoach