For the past 8 days I have felt exhausted; physically, mentally and emotionally.
Not only have I felt exausted, but I’ve felt uninspired and a lack of motivation.
When I experience this, I like to take a step back and rest. I’ve used more hours of PTO than I’d like to admit. But, you know, I’ve been feeling burnt out and like I just need a nice, long vacation. LOL. Haven’t you felt this way before?
Of course, we all have.. Or, will at some point. And, that is why self-care is so important and so necessary. Especially in the high-stress days we are living in now. There are so many things in our world Sometimes you’ll have to walk yourself through the process of shifting your perspective. I rehearse the point of prioritizing self-care on a consistent basis, even as a part of your daily routine, but it helps to combat feeling burnt out.
Step 1
Realize that IT is a feeling and that YOU have control over this feeling.
Step 2
Shut it down. Log off the social media pages, turn off the T.V., put your cellphone on silent or do not disturb and distance yourself from anyone or anything that you consider toxic to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s time to shut it all done. Temporarily of course.
Step 3
Take a step back. Take time away from your “To – Do List.” And, I put this in quotations, because, maybe you don’t have an actual to-do list written out, but I’m sure you have a schedule or thing that you make sure to get done everyday. Whether it’s someone or something.. If you’ve felt stressed, unmotivated to do a certain task or have found yourself procrastinating, that may be something you want to take a step back from. Hit the pause button and take a moment to rest.
Step 4
Self-care. Self-care doesn’t look the same for everybody. Maybe it’s taking a few days off of work to read, meditate and have a family stay-cation. Or, maybe it’s hopping on a plane and flying out of the country for awhile. Maybe it’s having a spa day by yourself or with family. Maybe it’s turning off the alarm and sleeping all day. Self-care is time that you should use to rest, relax, detox, recharge and reset. TIP: Incorporate acts of self-care into your daily routine. Don’t wait until you feel stressed or burnt out to make self-care a priority. It is essential to your well-being and enhances your ability to bounce back!
Step 5
Take action. If you have gone through the process of taking steps 1 through 4, and you still feel burnt out, you have to make a conscious decision to take action! You can’t sit back and wait until you feel ready or motivated to jump back in. Sometimes, you’ve got to dip your foot in the water and get a taste of what it feels like to do what you love to do. And, once you get going you’ll begin to gain momentum. The key is to get started AND to keep going.
It’s okay to push yourself AFTER you have taken time to rest and recharge.
The passion that was once burning on the inside of you is still lit. It’s still there. But, sometimes, you have to give it a jump start. Sometimes, you will have to jump off the cliff and trust that the parachute will open.
We all experience burn out from time to time. In fact, I write about this topic at least once a year. It reminds me that it’s okay. And, really, it’s just a part of the process of setting and slaying my goals. I’ve been putting in work, chasing my goals, and when you add all the emotional stressors of life.. from the pandemic to protests, and all the challenges in my own business and personal relationships… It can get overwhelming. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that it’s okay to slow down or in fact, hit the pause button and rest. The same goes for you my friend. It’s okay to hit the pause button and rest.
Peace & Blessings to you. Thanks for reading!
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