Resources for Individuals
Welcome to your toolkit! The resources I’ve created for you are focused on making you burnout-proof and keeping you vibrant and engaged in your career and your life.

Take action using any, some or all of the resources below. They contain practical, easy and fun strategies. It’s gonna be ok, lovely.

the burn
bright toolkit

Find Your Balance
Find Your Balance
Somewhere to start, for the gal who doesn’t know where to start!
In a panic and needing instant relief? One of these strategies is almost guaranteed to work for you.

free 5 days of self-care journal

30 ways to reduce stress in 5 minutes or less

Black Girl Burnout Podcast

The Black Girl Burnout podcast is dedicated to helping black women manage the stress of daily living and preventing the detrimental effects of burnout. Black women often feel overburdened and undervalued, and this podcast offers palpable solutions for this undeniable phenomenon.

Opt-Out Of Drama

Opt-Into Forgiveness

listen:

Opt-Out Of Lies

Black Girl Burnout Podcast

The Black Girl Burnout podcast is dedicated to helping black women manage the stress of daily living and preventing the detrimental effects of burnout. Black women often feel overburdened and undervalued, and this podcast offers palpable solutions for this undeniable phenomenon.

Handling Trauma in the Workplace With Erica Reed

Defining Allyship w/ Christian List

listen:

Defining Allyship w/ Christian List

Burn Bright Podcast

The Burn Bright podcast is dedicated to helping you keep your personal and professional radiance. Every week, we will discuss how to prevent burnout, the right way to build a good self-care routine, and how to build a support network that lasts.

Handling Trauma in the Workplace With Erica Reed

Defining Allyship w/ Christian List

listen:

Defining Allyship w/ Christian List

The Burn Bright Podcast

Say goodbye to burnout and hello to vibrant living with this podcast for big-hearted, creative women.

The Burn Bright podcast is dedicated to helping you keep your personal and professional radiance. Every week, we will discuss how to prevent burnout, the right way to build a good self-care routine, and how to build a support network that lasts.

Handling Trauma in the Workplace With Erica Reed

Defining Allyship w/ Christian List

listen:

Kelley Bonner

“Burnt” by

THE BOOK

COMING SOON

KEEP ME POSTED ABOUT THE RELEASE DATE

My upcoming book “Burnt” looks not just at how to recover from burnout, but burnout’s relation to the nature of work itself. At its core, I believe burnout is a betrayal. It results from consistent self-violation and betrayal by the systems we work within. “Burnt” examines both how we “burn” ourselves through consistent self-betrayal and how modern work “burns” us, too.

I also explore how the modern, post-industrial work world is inherently exploitative, and how systemic inequity and lack of psychological safety create burnout… and what we can do about it.

Includes insightful interviews, stories, and advice from the likes of:

  • Well-known political figures
  • Entertainment executives
  • Professionals just like you

Learn how to heal up and get that trust back. 

What is burnout?

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to excessive stress. The World Health Organization classifies burnout as an “occupational phenomenon,” meaning it results from chronic workplace stress. However, these days people experience burnout in a wide array of different ways; burnout from the media, from parenthood, from family… the list goes on.

By my definition, burnout is a misalignment. It’s what happens when we lose the ability to honor ourselves while doing work that we love. It results from consistent self-violation and betrayal by the systems we work within.

How can I spot burnout?

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to excessive stress. The World Health Organization classifies burnout as an “occupational phenomenon,” meaning it results from chronic workplace stress. However, these days people experience burnout in a wide array of different ways; burnout from the media, from parenthood, from family… the list goes on.

By my definition, burnout is a misalignment. It’s what happens when we lose the ability to honor ourselves while doing work that we love. It results from consistent self-violation and betrayal by the systems we work within.

Why is it important that I address burnout and not just “power through”?

What are some specific actions I can take?

Redefine your values and what matters most to you. Values are the qualities in ourselves that we take pride in. They represent who we are and who we want to be. When we are clear on our values, we prioritize infusing our work with what matters most to us.

When realigning values, try this: set aside 15 mins to write out what matters most to you in life and what qualities you are most proud of in yourself. Then based on the list, choose one of those values, and write out how you can express them at work.

Establish boundaries and protect the things that matter by putting boundaries around your time and your energy. I can’t say this enough: the fewer boundaries you have, the more likely you are to burn out. As a result, developing boundaries can save your personal and professional life.

Suggested practice:

Pick one type of boundary you would like to reinforce in your life. Some ideas include:
• Develop a time each night where you put away all electronics.
• Practice saying “not now” or “let me think about that and get back to you tomorrow,” when people ask something from you.
• Take email off of your personal phone.
• Put an out-of-office message up when you leave work for the day.

Develop self-care practices that work, and prioritize them. Self-care is cultivating practices daily that restore our mind, our emotions, and our body. Impactful self-care should be able to be done in 15 mins or less, consistently. The goal is to create short bits of rest in our day.

When building a self-care routine, try this. Make a list of small ways to take care of yourself during the day. Potential examples are:
• Schedule your annual exams
• Keep a water bottle filled and with you all-day
• Spend a few minutes catching up with a friend
• Take a break during the day and watch or read something for fun
• Do an act of kindness for someone else
• Find ways during your day to laugh
• Take a short walk

Listen to one of my podcasts for more specific ideas of what you can do.

CREATE A LIFE FREE FROM BURNOUT. YOU’RE WORTH IT!

What people are saying

“So good! I really love this podcast. Kelley gets at the things you’re feeling but have a hard time putting into words. Highly recommend!”

Alijani, Listener on Apple Podcasts

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