B048: How to Deal with Burnout

It happens to the best of us. It’s inevitable. And hey, you might be feeling it creeping on right now. Have you experienced burnout?

Earlier this week, I spoke with Courtney Elmer about how to stress less in life. It made me take a deeper look at when I’ve felt burnout in my own life.

Here’s what’s helped me to simplify and get back to center, when things have got out of balance:

4 tips to counter burnout

1. See it

When I’m on the verge of a total and utter burnout moment, there are few warning signs that pop up…

Sometimes it starts as a nervous tick in my eye. A rapid heart beat. A feeling like “I’ve got 8 billion things to do and NO time to do it all! HOLY CANNOLI!”

I’m willing to bet you’ve got a few characteristic warning signs of your own, whether that’s systematically forgetting to eat lunch, or finding yourself looking for ways to numb the stress. Maybe you get really snappy with others, or really quiet. Whatever it is for you, take notice.

Don’t ignore the warning signs. What may start as a whisper will turn into a shout – if you ignore it.

2. Jump off it

Okay. Your proverbial ‘check engine’ light is flashing, and the Hot Mess Express train is running rampant in your life right now. I feel ya, girl.

All you’ve got to do now is this… jump off it. No really, it’s that simple. Make a decision right here and now to honor your warning signals, by acknowledging the path you’re on is about to crash and burn.

Jump off the Hot Mess Express train.

Simply say this to yourself, ‘Ok Mary, I hear you. I feel you. So, what would nourish me right now?’ Take a deep breath, pause and listen. Your ‘Inner BFF’ will have a few ideas on how to pull you out of this. Trust me, she’ll be vocal, especially if you’ve been running ragged for a while.

3. Listen to it

That’s your intuition talking there.

Please note, not all suggestions will be healthy nor should be taken. (Hello drive-thru lane lady who knows me better than my spouse!)

Learn to listen to your deepest needs, and discern what would be the best way to nurture yourself out of burnout, stress, and a potential panic attack. When you listen to your ‘Inner BFF’ and take action on the things that help you, you start to become more attuned in your mind-body-spirit.

Over time, that makes you very powerful indeed.

4. Vow to make a change

Listen, then vow to make a change in your life.

Immediately. Like today. Not next week. Not ‘after busy season is all done.’ Not someday, somehow. But like, now.

Here are some actionables you might take:

• Take a personal day off to get your life back in order
• Call a friend for some much needed social time
• Book a massage
• Reach out for help in your personal life
• Reach out for help with your business
  • Hire a virtual assistant and delegate stuff off your plate
  • Vow to do less so you can (truly) accomplish more. When you make the vow to change, and then follow through, you’re giving your ‘Inner BFF’ another data point that you are a trustworthy person who will take good care of her, in the long run.

Don’t delay…

#Dothething.

And just one final whisper, just from me to you, dear friend… come in closer.

Sometimes, when I’m feeling on the verge of burnout, the voice of depression starts to rise, brainwashing me into thinking the situation is hopeless.

It sounds something like this – ‘No matter what you do next, it’s never going to get better.’

Which is a lie.

We all know it’s a lie… when we are clear-minded. But when we’re in the deep pools of darkness and fear, everything feels totally and utterly overwhelming.

So I’m here to gently and lovingly remind you…

You have a choice.

You will break free out of this loop.

You have what it takes to nourish yourself.

Whatever you’re dealing with right now, no matter how hard, how deep, how dark, you are loved. You are fully supported. And you will get through this.

Start with slowing down your breath. Next, drink a big glass of water. Set a 7-minute timer, pull out the journal and get back in touch with your ‘Inner BFF’.

Listen to what she really, truly needs right now.

Then, bit by bit, take action.

You’re worth it.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It’s time to SIMPLIFY.

If this thought of the day inspired you…

Snap a photo of you doing the thing and send it to me via Instagram, privately or publicly… Just tag @thesimplifiers –  I’ll be your virtual accountability buddy in your quest to simplify your life.

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Big thanks to our undercover superheroes at The Simplifiers Podcast that help us create these episodes for you – Suzen Marie, our Podcast Editor. Jeffrey Lynn, our Video Editor. Janine Yardley, our Show Notes Editor. Lyden Yardley, our Director of Brilliance. Manminder Athwal, our Blogger. Our advisory board includes: Aubri Nowowiejski, Chris Justice and George Mills. And I’m your host, Mary Baird-Wilcock. Thank you so much for listening and telling your peeps about us.

As always friends, keep things simple.