Navigating Burnout with Andrea
“Have you been feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally burntout? It can be so hard to feel productive at work, get motivated, or stick to a consistent routine. Even harder, though, is the struggle to get yourself through to the other side of the of burnout once you’ve found yourself in a rut.
Some signs you might be feeling burnt out right now include feeling more irritable than usual, trouble sleeping, feeling drained or lethargic, inability to cope, a sense of numbness, an increase in headaches or chronic pain, crying spells, withdrawing or isolating from others, and a general lack of pleasure or contentment. These feelings or signs can lead us to cope in a variety of ways, but primarily utilizing coping mechanisms that are both unhealthy and avoidant. If you have been consuming more alcohol than usual, engaging in drug use, binge-watching more TV than usual, procrastinating, or ignoring responsibilities, ask yourself: am I burnt out?
If you identify with any of the signs or coping mechanisms above, consider utilizing one of these strategies to dig yourself out of the burnout ditch.
Start small. One of the worst ways to motivate yourself is to make a massive to-do list with nearly impossible goals. Start with small, tangible steps like going to bed 10 minutes earlier than usual, commenting on a friend’s social media post once per week, or going to the nearest window for a vitamin D break for 3 minutes per day.
Establish an accountability partner. Sometimes one of the best things we can do to ensure that we’re taking steps toward feeling better is establish a support person or accountability partner. Pick a friend, family member, coworker, or significant other who can gently hold you accountable and assist you in completing your small, tangible goals each day.
Focus on your values. I love using values-based journal prompts and assessments to help my clients find their “why”. Finding your why and establishing your values can inevitably give you a boost and help you visually see how the actions you are taking to increase burnout directly contradict your why and your values system.
No matter how burnout might be showing up for you in this season, I urge you to use this month to rest, reset, and rewind. No season lasts forever and burnout doesn’t have to either!”