Most of the time, it’s very easy to sense a burnout coming. Suddenly, everything feels urgent. You feel tired & exhausted, both mentally & physically. Unexpected lack of control & emotional overload hit hard & all you feel like doing is giving up.
Burnout can very easily lead to resentment towards the very thing you’re working on or trying to accomplish. It’s almost as if your body forces you to slow down & then eventually slowly begin to shut down. It’s not a good feeling.
Burnout can touch anyone, it isn’t just our jobs or our careers where it happens. It can happen to stay at home parents, caregivers, people who are just beginning to try to figure out their lives & even those who already do seem to have it all figured out. So, how to you go about overcoming a burnout?
Be Kind To Yourself & Your Emotions
Addressing you emotional stress without blaming yourself can be difficult. So, yes, first thing is to not blame yourself. Don’t blame yourself for your lack of action, for goals that weren’t achieved, for your feeling uninspired, stuck or feeling burned out. I’m quite the master at this & it’s something that I know takes work to get over.
When you’re feeling emotionally & physical drained & you know that things have to get done, the last thing you should do is put yourself down by telling yourself that you’re lazy or that you suck. I know it’s easier said than done because I know I can fall into this trap as well but give it a go & see how you get on.
I find that it’s helpful to admit to yourself that you feel lost, tired & exhausted. If you feel like you need to have a good cry to express frustration, then do it. Write it out & cry it all out, if that’s what you feel like doing. Without noticing, it’ll work wonders. If you try to avoid addressing your emotions they will eventually come back & hit you twice as hard. Trust me on this one - do not allow your emotions to build up & get the better of you. Take the time to address them now & save yourself later.
Another thing is, if you don’t have anyone you feeling like you can talk to or maybe you’d just rather do this than talking to anyone, grab a journal & pen. Don’t get me wrong, I have an amazing people in my life that I can talk to but I also find it really therapeutic to spill it all out onto paper as well. Journaling is such a great tool in times of emotional stress. Keep at it regularly & you will notice that your response to stress will eventually change.
Stop
One of the best & probably one of the most important things you can do for yourself in times of burnout is taking a break. Quieting your mind.
Even when one of our first instincts is to power through, remember that it is okay to stop. If you feel you can’t do that, then at least try to slow down. For a second, stop trying to reach for things you’ve been trying to achieve & overcome & take some time to decompress. Take some time out to reset; once you’re ready to go ahead & ease back into your routine, do so slowly.
Reorganise & Switch Things Up
Simplify & declutter. You’d be surprised at how often I do this. Get rid of any junk & useless bit & pieces - anything you don’t need but for whatever reason you’ve keep around.
I always find overcoming a burnout is twice as hard when you’re surround by junk, when you’re sitting in a messy office or room where there is so much to do, you don’t know where to start. If every single one of your days looks the same or pretty similar, don’t be afraid to switch things up. Don’t underestimate the power of changing your environment or switching up your routine.
Surround Yourself With Inspiration
Read books that make you happy, listen to music that makes you feel relaxed & do things that bring you joy. I’ve even made a vision board for the next six months & I’ve found it’s been really helpful to look at for that everyday spark we sometimes need.
Remember This: Motivation Comes From Within
At the end of the day, motivation can only come from within. Sure, sometimes you come across an inspiring video, an article or a quote that makes you feel all fired up inside. “Yes, yes, yes! This is it, it’s time for me to get out of this slump & turn things around.” The truth is, there are also times & days where you can watch ten or twenty motivational speeches, yet nothing will change.
Think about it. If accomplishing goals & dreams & fulfilling your big plans or staying disciplined were easy, we’d all be living out our dream lives. A lot of people will tell you to stay positive & happy or to raise your vibe & it’ll all work out. While I believe all those things are important I also believe they’ll get you know where unless you’re prepared to do the work.
By saying this I don’t want to discourage you, I’m saying it to prepare you. When you put yourself in that mindset & realise that things won’t always come easy, that it actually takes work to get to where you want to go. It helps you to prepare yourself for potential obstacles, setbacks or small fails & the hard work that comes with all of that. Once you’ve lost that motivation, you & you alone are the only person that can find it once again.
B x
