Burnout: you hear about it more and more. Whether it’s actually occurring more often is the question. What we do know for sure is that there’s a need to talk about it and share experiences. But where can you go to discuss this with others who are going through or have gone through the same thing? In this interview, I spoke with Rik Zwalua, the founder of the burnout café.
Rik, from the organization Lux—a church and also a foundation—saw this problem and came up with an idea: the burn-out café. Since January, this has been a place where people meet twice a month to share experiences.
The first of a total of six meetings took place in January and drew a lot of interest, including from volunteers. For every edition, several (young) volunteers were ready to help, which already made it clear how great the need is: among young people too.
The visitors, often between 25 and 35 years old, share relatable stories. According to Rik, the need isn’t necessarily greater, but times have changed. Communities have disappeared, the sense of belonging has diminished, and the digital age has made us more individualistic. “Because of this, we lose real contact with each other.”
That community, that feeling of belonging, is what the burnout café offers. A place for coming together and recognition. “With a listening ear and an open heart, we create a place where you don’t have to feel alone. Because loneliness is also very much present among young people.”
Experts by experience play an important role in providing that sense of recognition. Their honest stories, often from people who seem successful at first glance, show that everyone struggles with something, even if you can’t see it. “Someone is much more than a first impression; everyone has their own struggles and problems.”
Rik definitely wants to continue with the initiative, possibly in a new form. Tomorrow is the last edition of this series. Will you be there too?
