Have you ever felt burnout in your professional life? Kim Casko, director of Client Services and Support for Elisse Glennon Consulting, shared her personal journey with “burning out” in a recent Connecting for Women luncheon event.
As the former President and CEO of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce from 2016 to 2023, Casko was feeling stressed at all times, and yet she didn’t realize the effect it had on her personal life until her loved ones intervened. They noticed Casko’s exhaustion and forced her to take two weeks off from work — or as Casko calls it, “forced paid time off.” Amidst supporting the Chamber through the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheading a merger, she hadn’t noticed that during her quiet time she had become “squirrely.”
“Even when I left the job, I was still like, ‘What am I going to do today? Here’s my to-do list. Who are we visiting today?’” she recounts. “I would be trying to fill the calendar even though I would be with my husband by the peaceful water.” After Casko learned that she was uncomfortable in open spaces, she adopted new tricks to find that serenity in her personal life. She created a “10 daily habit” checklist, which she falls back to when she is feeling adrift. “What is measured is managed,” she told the other women in the room. “This is to reground me and it’s a daily practice.”
Of course, Casko could not combat her burnout without her community. Once she returned to work at the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, her team became aware of Casko’s burnout and stepped up to take on more responsibilities. They also held her accountable in prioritizing the most important tasks and kept her from taking on extra projects. Though Casko eventually left her job, she found a better fit in a new career and has taken the time to consistently pursue therapy, yoga, and meditation. For our attendees of the luncheon event, they received a resource list that included books, podcasts, and programs she has found helpful. If you or someone you know is experiencing burnout, we encourage you to seek support with wellness and mental health professionals in our community.
Many thanks to UnityPoint Health – Grinnell for hosting the event in partnership with SHE Counts, Grinnell College, Grinnell Mutual, REMAX Partners Realty – Grinnell, and Double You Marketing, Inc.
About the Connecting with Women Series
The Grinnell Connecting For Women series, hosted by the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, aims to bring together women for a networking, coaching and mentoring session from the region’s most influential business leaders. We encourage you to join us for our 2025 UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Connecting for Women events.
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