07/02/2022
The topic of burnout is a conversation that is not new to us. With this weekend being a holiday, I wanted to make to pause and give some practical steps for those who may find themselves in a “funk” or experiencing burnout in their own lives. Most of the conversation around burnout today is grounded in overworking. The belief is that when we work too hard or too much, we burn out. I believe we can burnout can happen in more than one area in our lives. It does not always have to be regarding work. Burnout syndrome comes from more than the hours we put in. It has a lot more to do with overworking our minds and the things we tell ourselves to fuel that work.
What is burn out?
Basically, burnout is when you reach your limit in your current state of life.
Burnout Warning Signs: 
· Lack of motivation to complete tasks
· Frequent feeling of overwhelm
· Poor focus throughout the day
· Failure to meet goals, or you are setting unrealistic goals
· Completed work is unsatisfying
· You find it difficult to complete full projects
· You’re too busy to find the time for the activities or people you love
· Feeling of unhappiness or negative thoughts
· Brain feels fried at the end of every day
· Constant feeling of stress and lack of productivity
How can we fix this?
Sleep.
You can’t recover from burn out without sleep. When I say sleep, I mean quality rest every night. I know that stress can either make you want to sleep too much, or interrupt your sleep to where you’re not getting enough.
Self care.
You cannot pour into others well unless you are poured into. Take time this weekend to unplug, and truly do something that makes YOU happy. (going for a walk, going shopping, cleaning a room in the house, reading a new book, the ideas are endless!)
Boundaries.
We must set boundaries in all parts of life. personal boundaries are vital in order for us to thrive and be in healthy relationships. Having them in place allows us to communicate our needs and desires clearly and succinctly without fear of repercussions. It is also used to set limits so that others don't take advantage of us or are allowed to hurt us. Think about where in your life you may need to set a boundary.
Plan.
Although burnout may not be fixed right away, taking these first steps is the start to turning this around. Sit down before the start of next week. Create a schedule/ routine that you will used for that particular week. You know what you need to have a successful week, so why not make it happen? Plan breaks throughout your days and set time aside for you. BUT be gracious towards yourself if you do not meet it every day.
There is hundreds of different ways to tackle the symptoms of burnout. This holiday weekend is a great time to pause and reset ourselves. Have a safe weekend ❤
Additional resources:
https://www.ted.com/playlists/245/talks_for_when_you_feel_totall
meditation apps (calm, insight timer, simple habit, etc).