Aligning Work with Passions and Purpose to Extinguish Burnout Kacee Bohle
Turning Passion into Profession: Creating Balance and Fulfillment in Your Career
Kacee Bohle’s journey from a fourth-generation farm in West Central Indiana to becoming a coach, speaker, and advocate for personal and professional growth in agriculture highlights the importance of recognizing when burnout sets in and how to reclaim balance in life. After years of juggling farming with a corporate job at John Deere, Kacee found herself burnt out at just 23 years old. She realized that, despite her passion for agriculture, the intense pace and lack of alignment with her true purpose were draining her. This experience led Kacee to dive deep into personal development, seeking out leadership programs and self-help books that would not only help her cope with burnout but allow her to thrive in both her career and personal life.
Kacee's story is one of introspection and transformation. After years of switching jobs in search of fulfillment, she launched Agriminds, a coaching and mastermind group designed to help agricultural professionals navigate the intersection of their personal and professional lives. Through her own journey, Kacee discovered that burnout doesn’t come from doing too much work; it comes from doing too much of the wrong kind of work. In other words, burnout happens when we are out of sync with what we truly enjoy or what brings us fulfillment. Kacee’s experience working in agriculture while feeling drained by tasks that didn’t align with her passions made her realize that true success comes when our work matches our personal interests and values.
For Kacee, the key to overcoming burnout is creating awareness about what truly energizes you. As she often tells her clients, burnout is not about working hard but about working smart—aligning your work with your purpose. She uses tools like the “Working Genius” model, which helps individuals recognize their unique talents and passions, so they can do the work that not only brings in income but also fills them with energy. For example, Kacee found that activities like hiking or yoga, which gave her time for creative thinking and mental clarity, helped her recharge—far more effectively than something like running, which felt more like a task.
“Burnout is not doing too much work. Burnout is doing too much of the wrong type of work.”
This insight leads to one of her most valuable pieces of advice: set boundaries. Kacee emphasizes that saying “no” is not a weakness but a powerful tool in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Learning to say no allows us to protect our time and energy, so we can focus on the things that matter most. But it’s not just about setting boundaries with others—it’s also about knowing and honoring your own limits. Kacee’s approach to setting boundaries involves a clear understanding of your non-negotiables, whether in your personal or professional life. Once you know what those are, it becomes easier to say no to things that don’t serve your long-term goals.
Delegation is another crucial aspect of Kacee’s philosophy. Whether at work or at home, many of us feel like we have to do everything ourselves. But the reality is, sharing the load—whether it’s at work, with your spouse, or even with your children—can be a game changer. Kacee shares her personal experience of recognizing that both she and her husband needed to share household tasks more equally. By having honest conversations about responsibilities, they found a way to balance the workload and avoid burnout in their marriage and family life. In her coaching, she encourages people to embrace the idea of delegation, whether that’s at work, in their home life, or even in their community.
Kacee also explores the concept of purpose-driven living. Many of us, especially in agriculture, are deeply tied to family legacies and the expectations that come with them. Kacee’s journey was filled with moments of uncertainty, questioning whether she should follow in her family's footsteps or chart her own path. Her advice to anyone struggling with this is to be honest with themselves about what they want—not what others expect of them. By doing so, they can create a life that aligns with their true passions, rather than one built on expectations.
Ultimately, Kacee’s message is clear: burnout is avoidable, and the path to overcoming it begins with self-awareness and intentionality. Whether it’s learning how to set boundaries, say no, delegate, or simply focus on what brings joy and fulfillment, there are concrete steps we can take to improve our mental health and avoid the cycle of burnout. As Kacee says, the key is to be present, focus on the now, and trust that everything will unfold as it should.
https://www.kaceebohle.com/
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