I don't know if it's just the time of year, with the seasons changing and the summer falling away, or just sheer coincidence, but it seems that more and more people are feeling some kind of mental burnout lately.
It's all a bit meh. A bit, enough already. And the pressure to dig deep and carry on weighs heavy on our already busy minds.
I personally suffer from the dreaded burnout a lot.
I'm constantly juggling my ambition to be someone, my need to work, the demands of being a Mum, a wife, a caregiver, and an online social butterfly (which doesn't come naturally!) And it takes it's toll.
So how do I solve it? How do I ease the internal burdens and release the pressure?
I take on more of course!
Urgh! I know, but this is typical of me. If one situation is stressing me out, I'll find solace in another. I'll bury my head in a new project or goal (which, most recently has been running) and pretend that everything is OK!
It's a bit like, 'La la la. Nothing to see here. Just a middle-aged woman having yet another manic episode as she scrambles to avoid yet another emotional breakdown...' (And all of a sudden, the whole Life On The Rocks thing makes more sense!) However, as the apparent adult of my family, as the designated grown-up who has no choice but to carry on, I do believe that finding something to smile about goes a little way to helping.
It doesn't need to be anything big or dramatic - it's just something for me (or you in your case, because doing something for me probably won't help you...) that can lighten the mental load, despite adding to the physical. It should be something that brings a sense of achievement or calm, a kind of 'The world is on fire but oh, look at this pretty flower' situation.
You could read a book (or my blog!), go for a long walk, a long bath, or a long sleep. You could take up painting, or doodling, or crocheting yourself a blanket.
You could organise a shelf, or a box, or an entire room. Sort through your clothes, and laugh at how awful that top is from 20 years ago. Or plough through the kitchen cupboards, and throw out those long-forgotten spices, now 3 years out of date!
Raiding the kid's sweet jar is another great option, along with watching your favourite childhood movie (Drop Dead Fred or Beetlejuice the original for me!) And remember, Amazon does offer next-day delivery should the sweet guilt kick in and you need to replace them... Not that I've ever done this of course!
But on a more serious note, hitting that mental burnout is hard. And quite often, it's unavoidable. You can't lock it away in the closet. Or tuck it under the bed with the excess blankets and pillows.
You can, however, take 5 minutes out, and do something for you. You can push the other stuff to a side, just for a little while without feeling guilty.
And you can, if all else fails, go to the bathroom, lock the door, and scream into a towel. Yes, a towel - it'll muffle the noise and prevent your neighbours from thinking there's a murder taking place!
Your feelings, good or bad, are completely valid - remember that.
And be sure to check out these 53 Inspirational Burnout quotes to help you accept, embrace, and overcome the hard knocks of life.
53 Heartfelt Quotes On Coping With Anxiety
“Burnout is nature’s way of telling you, you’ve been going through the motions your soul has departed; you’re a zombies, a member of the walking dead, a sleepwalker. False optimism is like administrating stimulants to an exhausted nervous system.” - Sam Keen
“Self-care is how you take your power back.” - Lalah Delia
"Tough times never last. Tough people do." - Robert Schuller
“But what happens when you work hard at something unfulfilling? It drains your spirit. It robs you of your life force. You end up depleted, depressed and angry.” - Oprah Winfrey
"Don't let today's disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow's dreams." - Unknown
“No beating yourself up. That’s not allowed. Be patient with yourself.” - Holly Mosier
"If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit." - Banksy
“Self-care is your fuel…Whatever the road ahead or the path you’ve taken, self-care is what keeps your motor running and your wheels turning.” - Melissa Steginus
"A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life." - Christopher K. Germer
"It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Acknowledging your emotions is a sign of strength, not weakness." - Unknown
“Take rest. A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” - Ovid
“Just because you take breaks doesn’t mean you’re broken.” - Curtis Tyrone Jones
"Today I will not stress over things I can't control." - Unknown
"Caring for yourself isn't a luxury, it's a necessity." - Unknown
"A quiet moment with a warm beverage can soothe a tired soul." - Unknown
"Have respect for yourself, and patience and compassion. With these, you can handle anything." - Jack Kornfield
“Learn to say no to demands, requests, invitations, and activities that leave you with no time for yourself. Until I learned to say no, and mean it, I was always overloaded by stress.” - Holly Mosier
"Cut yourself some slack. You’re doing better than you think." - Unknown
"Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Don't hesitate to reach out." - Unknown
“When you’re at peace with yourself and love your self, it is virtually impossible to do things to yourself that are destructive.” - Wayne Dyer
“It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it." - Dale Carnegie
"Self-care is a personal journey. Find what nurtures you and make it a priority." - Unknown
"Nobody’s perfect, so give yourself credit for everything you’re doing right, and be kind to yourself when you struggle." - Lori Deschene
“Burnout occurs when your body and mind can no longer keep up with the tasks you demand of them. Don’t try to force yourself to do the impossible.” - Del Suggs
“Being overwhelmed means that your life or work is overpowering you. Regain control by clarifying your intentions, setting realistic expectations, and focusing on your next step.” - Daphne Michaels
"Give yourself permission to rest. It's essential for replenishing your energy." - Unknown
"Behind every 'I'm fine' is a mom who's holding it all together by a thread." - Unknown
“Stress is the trash of modern life. We all generate it, but if you don’t dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.” - Danzae Pace
"It's okay to admit you're not okay. You don't have to be a superhero all the time." - Unknown
"Take care of yourself, mama. You deserve a break, a treat, and a whole lot of love." - Unknown
“You will burn and you will burn out; you will be healed and come back again.” - Fyodor Dostoevsky
"When your to-do list feels longer than your lifetime, it might be time for a change." - Unknown
"Boundaries aren't walls; they're fences that protect your garden of well-being." - Unknown
“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.” - Betsy Jacobson
“Burnout is the result of too much energy output and not enough energy self-invested.” - Melissa Steginus
“I actually think burnout is the wrong description of it. I think it’s burn up.” - Richard Boyatzis
“It’s perfectly okay to admit you’re not okay.” - Unknown
“Burnout is a bone-tired, soul-tired, heart-tired kind of exhaustion.” - J. Pennebaker
“We have outstretched our personal boundaries and forgotten that true happiness comes from living an authentic life fueled with a sense of purpose and balance.” - Dr. Kathleen Hall
“Gratitude for everything you still have, and every step of your recovery, is such an important part of healing from burnout.” - Emma Matthews
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nothing is worth your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.” - Steve Maraboli
"Sometimes it takes a good fall to know where you really stand." - Hayley Williams
“You’re feeling burnt out and discouraged, but you’ve made it this far, and I think that’s really brave.” - Unknown
“Time spent in nature is the most cost-effective and powerful way to counteract the burnout and sort of depression that we feel when we sit in front of a computer all day.” - Richard Louv
"The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them." - Unknown
“So, while I knew what burnout was, I never thought it would happen to me.” - Jenn Bruer, Helping Effortlessly
“Affirmations are our mental vitamins, providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.” - Tia Walker
“A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.” - Lysa Terkeurst
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Bernard M. Baruch
“Even the loveliest shoulders can bear but so much.” - Jill Alexander Essbaum
“Choosing to laugh doesn’t undermine the serious work we have to do. It enables us to do it.” - Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored” - Earl Nightingale
