Four Ways To Overcome Trainer Burnout

Personal trainers are instrumental in guiding individuals towards their fitness goals and motivating clients to lead healthier lives. The job is highly rewarding and lucrative when you become a freelance trainer or set up your own business.

However, with all the highs associated with being a personal trainer, there are some lows too. Trainer burnout is a very real problem, and failing to deal with it can impact the quality of your work and lead to a lack of motivation.

Luckily, there are things you can do to avoid burnout and rev yourself up again. In this guide, we’ll reveal them, so stick around to learn more about trainer burnout and get some top tips on handling it.

What is trainer burnout, and why does it happen?

Even extroverts can suffer from burnout – especially when they have high-energy jobs. A personal trainer’s success lies in their ability to pump people up and motivate them to secure the best possible results.

Doing this day in and day out can often lead to personal trainer burnout, and some people struggle so much that they even decide to choose a new career.

While personal trainer burnout can be emotionally damaging, knowing how to recognise the signs can make a significant difference in how you navigate it.

What are the signs of personal trainer burnout?

Before revealing our top tips for dealing with personal training burnout, it’s essential to recognise the signs and symptoms of it. You might have all of these signs or only one of them, but any symptoms can start simple and worsen further down the line.

Exhaustion

Both mental and physical exhaustion are severe conditions that can seem like nothing at first. However, if you notice you can get a good night’s sleep but still feel tired and worn out, it could be a sign that your body’s responding to stress.

Some personal trainers can also feel emotionally depleted and find it difficult to connect with clients, leading to communication problems.

Decreased Motivation

Burnout can lead to a significant decline in motivation and enthusiasm for training and working with clients.

You might struggle to find joy or satisfaction in your work and experience a lack of interest in skill development and continued learning.

Irritability and Mood Swings

Trainers under high-stress levels and burnout may become more irritable, easily frustrated, or experience frequent mood swings.

If you find yourself unable to bite your tongue or react inappropriately to stressful situations, there’s a chance you’re dealing with burnout.

Reduced Performance

As a personal trainer, you must always bring your A-game to every session and maintain momentum with each client. Some trainers notice a decline in their performance, which can trigger other symptoms of burnout.

For example, you might find you’re unable to handle a long session or struggle with your exercise routine.

Mental health problems

Mental health is a serious problem that some people still treat as a stigma. Burnout often occurs due to high-stress levels, and over time this can make you feel depressed.

Many people with depression experience sleep problems, and anxiety is also common.

Understanding the Causes of Trainer Burnout

Trainer burnout can stem from a combination of factors, including:

• Long and unstable hours: Many trainers work with clients throughout the day, including early mornings and later at night. Failure to strike an effective balance can lead to burnout.

• Work-Life balance: Along with long hours, some trainers might find they spend so much time working with clients there’s not enough for their family and social life.

• No support system: The right support system can make a massive difference to your personal – and professional – life. If you work alone or in a large gym, you might not receive proper support.

• Pushing yourself: Becoming a trainer requires a lot of motivation, but if you push yourself too hard, you might find you begin to feel tired and stressed.

• Client retention issues: Being self-employed takes a lot of commitment, and failing to secure or retain clients can cause short-term stress and long-term emotional exhaustion.

Four Ways to Overcome Burnout

So, now you know more about personal trainer burnout, it’s time to look at how to overcome it. Following these tips ensures you can navigate stressful times and prevent burnout before it becomes an issue.

1. Prioritise Self-Care

If you want to successfully coach clients, your own health matters. Self-care is about giving your body and mind what it needs, along with maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Think about what you enjoy and try to incorporate them into your life.

For example, if you love spending time with your dog, go on a long walk or spend some quality time with your furry friend. Enjoy sewing or playing an instrument? Keep your mind calm by indulging in your favourite hobbies.

Meditation and pamper days are also great ideas because they allow you to focus on yourself and do things that make you feel better.

If you’re new to the world of self-care, Happier Human has some fantastic checklists.

2. Set Boundaries

Setting clear boundaries is essential for managing burnout, but it’s easier said than done. There’s no doubt that personal trainers are mental and physical coaches, and when you’re someone’s support system, it’s easy to experience burnout.

Trainers should establish limits with their clients and communicate them effectively. Learning to say no and having strong professional boundaries will ensure you can avoid feeling stressed.

The last thing anyone wants is their phone going off constantly, and setting defined working hours will help you manage client expectations.

You can set boundaries by: 

• Telling current and new clients when you’re available.

• Setting clear expectations before setting off on the training journey.

• Letting clients know you don’t tolerate specific behaviour, such as aggression.

• Creating a timetable of the hours you work and sticking to them.

By setting boundaries, you can regain control over your time and energy, enabling you to enjoy training clients once again.

3. Seek Support

One of our top tips for avoiding burnout is probably the simplest: get support. Nobody will understand what you’re going through more than other personal trainers, and having a strong network in place can help you deal with physical and mental exhaustion caused by stress.

Trainers can connect with fellow professionals in the industry and share experiences, challenges, and successes. Mentorship and coaching programs will provide valuable guidance and support to help trainers navigate the demands of their profession.

Seeking support from friends, family, or professional counsellors can also contribute to emotional wellbeing and help you beat burnout.

4. Revisit and Realign Goals

When you’re experiencing burnout, it’s time to sit back and look at your life from a different perspective. Are you working too much? Do you avoid working because you don’t have enough energy?

Trainers should periodically evaluate their career objectives and assess whether they align with their passion and values.

Adjusting goals or exploring new avenues within the fitness industry can reignite motivation and bring a renewed sense of purpose to trainers’ work.

How to avoid burnout happening again

Overcoming personal trainer burnout is hard, but once you know the warning signs, you can make sure it doesn’t occur again. These tips will ensure you enjoy the career you chose once again and can go on to become a more successful personal trainer.

Go after what you want

Change is good, and if you’ve been a general personal trainer for years, it might be time to look at different specialisms. There are so many to choose between, including Children’s Fitness and Level 3 Pre And Post-Natal Training, which will give you more variety with your job.

Better still, these courses allow you to study online in the comfort of your own home and at a pace that suits you.

Give yourself enough time

Some people work to live, and others live to work. There’s nothing wrong with either mentality, but giving yourself the time you need to develop relationships and spend time with your children or friends is essential.

Don’t push yourself if you’re dealing with fatigue because the body responds to stress, which can worsen things.

Relax when you need to, and don’t overfill your schedule. It will make a significant difference to your emotional wellbeing.

Be proud of yourself

Helping people exercise regularly, build their skills and reach important milestones is a rewarding career you should be proud of. Never lose sight of your valuable contribution to society, and reward yourself for them.

The bottom line 

Trainer burnout can be highly damaging; if you don’t address it, the effects will impact your daily life. By understanding what burnout is and how to manage it, you’ll be able to navigate challenging times and come out at the other end stronger.

Remember, becoming a personal trainer is an ongoing – but rewarding – learning experience, and studying with The Fitness Circle could help you reach your goals and enjoy more variety in your career.

If you’d like to know more about our courses, please feel free to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.