How do you deal with burnout?

Regardless if whatever else is going on, I make the time for a walk in the sunshine.

It reenergizes me.

It also helps to have dog with you that you can dump it all on. They act interested and they don’t judge.

Sometimes, I feel like that scene in Beauty and the Beast where Belle sweeps the dusty castle library curtains open and drinks up the sunshine.

Sometimes the best self care is saying “no”, or at least “not right now”. That’s something I am still learning, so thought I’d share with you. It’s often myself and my own expectations that I am having to say “no” to when I’m dealing with burnout. Things I find helpful:
- Make a list of things that are stressing me out. Evaluate which ones can be delegated, delayed or done quickly. I then dedicate a chunk of time to notifying impacted people of the delays, delegating the tasks that can be delegated, and knocking out a few of the “done quickly” items, even if they aren’t the most important.
- Self care is a great way to refresh. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or time consuming ( those can negate the benefit for me). A walk outside while listening to music or a favorite podcast, taking a warm bath, going to a less messy location to enjoy a cup of tea in silence, reading a chapter or two in a book, turning on some fast music and dancing as if nobody can see me, watching a sad movie that will give me an excuse to have a good cry, and doing a craft are all things that have been forms of self care for me.

frhaberl wrote: »

Sometimes the best self care is saying “no”, or at least “not right now”. That’s something I am still learning, so thought I’d share with you. It’s often myself and my own expectations that I am having to say “no” to when I’m dealing with burnout.

this is important stuff. i used to manage a nightclub, i was a single parent, i lived an hour away from work. assistant managers were always asking me to cover their shifts, friends asked for my time, my ex kept changing the times of his visits with our son, and i was also dealing with a horrible custody battle. at one point, from doing the club owner favors and covering shifts, i was working 90+ hours per week, and friends and relatives wanted me to do all the normal socializing because they loved me and missed me. i loved them and i tried my best at the cost of any relaxation or sleep, i didn't enjoy the parties and visits because i was exhausted, i lost my ability to feel relaxed or satisfied and i put on 120 pounds as food i enjoyed was the only satisfaction i had energy or time for. i couldn't even focus to read, which has been a lifelong passion.

i finally completely broke down - was unable to work or even function, cried for no reason, developed a raft of phobias including a fear of falling off stairs or ledges or freeway overpasses that i never had before. i woke up at least twice a night with panic like i've never experienced before or since, and i couldn't fall asleep till i was truly exhausted. i couldn't face everyday tasks. all i could do for a year is mindlessly watch the lowest stress shows - nothing suspenseful or scary, or i'd have a full-on panic attack. to be honest, more than 2 decades and therapy later, i've never fully recovered although i am better.

how i wish i'd just told them no - or more politely, "i'm sorry - this is more than i can handle right now", or "i'm sorry but i really can't".

we can't be superheroes forever. it can only be done for limited periods. if you don't say no to some people you care about and place limits on your job, you may lose yourself instead. please, please take care of yourself!