“If you don’t want to burn out, stop living like you’re on fire.” – Brené Brown
Burnout, a state of profound exhaustion, stems from relentless overwhelm. It manifests as an outcome of prolonged emotional, physical, and mental stress. When you find yourself emotionally drained, exhausted, and struggling to keep up with life’s demands, it’s almost inevitable to experience burnout.
In recent times, I have encountered more people who are burnt out than those who are thriving. Burnout syndrome appears to have become the new norm, and as Brene Brown says, almost like a badge of importance or honor.
If you find yourself in this situation, please know that you are not alone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. The levels of global stress have reached unprecedented heights. Most people felt the weight of burnout even before the past few years.
The good news is that there is much you can do to reclaim your state of thriving. Here’s a roadmap to guide you:
- Prioritize free time in your daily schedule. Allocate at least five or ten minutes to sit, meditate, and simply breathe. Create space for rejuvenation.
- Release the belief that you must do it all. You are not a superhuman. Learn the power of saying ‘no’ and set healthy boundaries.
- Resist the urge to fill every idle moment with social media or distractions. Embrace moments of stillness and allow quiet to restore and safeguard against burnout.
- Recognize that if burnout has taken hold, there is a strong possibility that you have become addicted to chaos and stress chemicals. The path to overcoming this lies in developing a deep awareness of your self-sabotaging patterns.
- Avoid the perils of multitasking. It overstimulates the brain and nervous system, leading to a state of “dis-ease” within the body.
- Remember, your worth as an individual is not tied to how much you accomplish but rather to who you are being. Embrace the understanding that you are a human being, not merely a human doing.
- Reassess your definition of success. True success cannot be achieved at the expense of burnout. Money and achievements hold little value when you are exhausted and unwell. Reflect on your priorities and make self-care a non-negotiable aspect of your journey.
By embracing these principles, you can navigate your way back to a state of thriving, reclaiming your energy, well-being, and sense of fulfillment. Take charge of your life and let burnout become a thing of the past.
