A busy, running non-stop, can’t catch your breath lifestyle can drain you of your vital resources. Whether you’re commuting to work. Or you’re heading to a business meeting. Perhaps you’re even going on a fun adventure. The tasks involved in keeping yourself energized are exhausting. And you can reach burnout.
Sure you could slow down. But maybe there’s no time. Others are depending you. Or your busy schedule is needed for your job. But, here’s the good news. You’re able to make lifestyle choices to strengthen your body and immune system and protect yourself from busy lifestyle burnout.
So starting today, follow through with actions that give your body a break when you’re pushing it to the max. These are time efficient And they’ll keep you from careening towards a burnout.
Use mental exercises to preserve your physical energy.
A poor frame of mind will directly impact your physical energy and burnout. Truth be told – meditation isn’t for everyone. But it can help if you’re struggling to retain focus when your life seems crazed. This is because it enables you to create perspective and calm yourself.
On the other hand, a breathing technique like box breathing can also be helpful. This is a technique that forces you to take slow, deep breaths. And it helps regulate your nervous system.
Being social and talking with others is also beneficial. And this is about connecting on more than social media. The satisfaction that comes with talking and spending time with others can have a beneficial physical impact on the body.
Stop feeding the burnout
This might seem obvious. But let’s say your diet is full of trans fats, quick digesting carbs, and an abundance of sugar. This sets you up for physical burnout. You can only feed yourself unhealthy food for so long before your actual cells become drained. And you feel awful.
Here’s the challenge. Quick digesting carbohydrates and sugar can give you a quick lift when you’re lacking energy. So you might think they’re helping. But that quick energy rush will almost always be followed by a crash.
If you’re trying to increase energy, you need to think about slow releasing carbohydrates and healthy fats. Get an adequate amount of nutrients. Proper nourishment will strengthen your response to stress and burnout – from vitamin D for your mood to having enough salt in your body
Schedule time for self-care
Part of burnout comes from feeling that everything takes priority over your own self-care. You’re indebted to your job, your family, your spouse, your children, your home and…well, you get the idea. You need to schedule self-care regularly into your days.
What does this look like? No need to schedule big blocks of time. Even setting up 5 minute breaks during your day can be effective. So you can’t say that there isn’t enough time.
Do breathing exercises while you’re standing in line at the grocery store. Bring your favorite book and read it if you get to your destination early. Get out of bed 5 minutes early and do some stretches. Little blocks of time can make a big difference.
There isn’t one way to practice self-care. It’s about what has meaning and a calming effect for you. But if you look past self-care to prioritize other projects, you’ll pay the price eventually. And so will everyone else who depends on you.
Be sleep savvy
When you’re busy, there’s no time for sleep. The late evening are used to catch up on what you missed during the day. And exhaustion is just the price to pay for staying on top of everything else essential in your life.
And let’s say your busy schedule involves business trips and other travel. This now means time changes, dehydrating plane rides, and little time to stop and just breathe on top of everything else. How do you keep yourself going in this situation?
You may rely on eating lots of sugar, and drinking lots of caffeine in place of sleep. And this may leave you so wired from your day that you need a drink or two to settle down at night. It’s easy for this to become your default routine to cope with burnout. But are these tips effective?
Some of these tips work on a temporary basis. But the best tips are the ones that help you sleep. Otherwise, this tension places a huge burden on your body. It’s important to prioritize rest when you’re busy. After all, if you create a situation of burnout. you’ll move slower and be less effective with everything else you do.
Know your burnout breaking point
Your body gives your warning signs there’s something wrong. Maybe you’ll feel unexceptionably emotional. Perhaps you’re experiencing headaches. Or maybe you have brain fog. All of these are signs that there’s something off-balance with your body.
You can pop an aspirin. But if discomfort becomes a pattern, you owe it to yourself to look for the deeper meaning. If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, this might mean you are reaching your burnout breaking point.
Learn the signals of what happens to you when you’re showing early signs of exhaustion. And practice things like self-care, box breathing, and nourishing your body. And that way you can stop a busy lifestyle burnout before it even begins.
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Top photo courtesy of Pxhere.com
Wonderful tips that I sure could have used in my corporate job. The breathing tips are important, too. I am a lousy sleeper, but have figured out that calm breathing at bedtime can make a world of difference!