LISTEEENN! I AM FED UP! BURNOUT IS REAAALLL! It was getting so bad for me last month, I woke up one day feeling like my body was physically shutting down on me. And no, I definately did not have the flu or the virus. It was burnout.
It seems, in particular, since working from home, it has become harder for me to stick to the boundaries I set for myself to allow for work-life balance. This further compounds the stress that already existed from my job, prior to WFH. Not to mention, my mental state was quickly detereorating.
For the past few weeks though, I have done a few things that have helped to recoup from the burnout and establish some semblance of balance. Here is what you can do too if you are experiencing serious burnout from your day job:
1. SET AND STICK TO YOUR BOUNDARIES
I’ve had to accept that in order to stick to my boundaries I have to be extra intentional about them. So, I actually set two alarms on my phone…one at 4pm and another 4:30pm. It forces me to log out on time, or at least at a decent time, so I don’t overwork myself. This way I am able to make time for my life after work. Some days are better than others when it comes to my discipline with this but for the most part, it prevents me from overworking. As hard as it is at times, I would urge you to stick to your boundaries – log out on time and stop overexerting yourself. If you get sick, you literally won’t be able to do any of it.
2. GET REST!
This is another difficult one for me. I’m not sure if it’s just me but sometimes, work takes so much out of you, you just want to use the rest of the hours trying to do the things you couldn’t do, earlier in the day. Other times, you’re so tired you just crash. Indulging the former though, leaves you sleep deprived and on autopilot just trying to finish the week alive. Rest is so integral. During sleep, your body is allowed to heal and reset. If you aren’t getting enough of this, you simply won’t be able to function at your best and your body will find other ways to force you to get rest i.e you just get sick.
You can actually also get rest during your work day in small ways. This may take the form of short breaks to listen to some music, to pray, to take a walk or even just to sit in silence.
3. Experience A Change of scene
Sooo…. remember when I mentioned that my body was physically shutting down on me. Yh, I wasn’t with that mess so recently I took a personal day and went on a staycation. BEST DECISON EVER! That weekend I did absolutely NOTHING except relax, eat, laugh and even get in some spontaneous retail therapy. No regrets!
I would strongly recommend doing a staycation either by yourself or better yet with your partner, family or a friend. Other than the change of scene and escape from your routine, it gives you a chance to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones.
4. Do things to de-stress after work
Work-life balance is vitaaaal. There still isn’t much we can do right now in my country due to the curfew and the concerns of the virus in general. However, there are still things you can do to effectively de-stress after work. For me, this looks like watching a movie or favourite series at the time, journalling, watching YouTube videos, working out and even spending time outside. These things help me to breath and really relax after a long and extremely draining day at work.
Look at your hobbies or things you genuinely enjoy doing and make time to indulge in them after work. It will do wonders for you and your mental health.
5. Accept Your True Worth & Identity
This is actually the most important one and something I really had to lean into.
Don’t allow your worth and your identity to be defined by your job – or your output at your job, accomplishments or failures. You are so much more than the job you have. Especially if you work in an unhealthy or toxic work environment, it’s really easy to forget this with all the pressure. But I urge you to give yourself some grace and understand that there is more to life and more to you as a person, apart from what you do. Even more so, if you are in a job you aren’t passionate about or happy doing. It’s just a job and all you can do is your best, so just do your best and keep it pushin’!
I use to get down on myself over the fact that I didn’t finish everything in one day. There is just so much to do and not enough time. This then fed into anxiety, overworking and overexerting. The reality I had to accept is this – not everything can be done in one day and just because you didn’t get it all done, doesn’t mean you are a failure or suck at your job. Not even God himself created the world in one day. He took His time to create it all over a period of days and then rested. Remember this the next time you are tempted to overwork yourself for the sake of trying to do it all.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 ESV
Are you also experiencing burnout especially since WFH? What have you been doing to cope with the added pressures and stresses during this times? Leave it in the comments below and let’s talk about it!
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As always, to God’s blessings, prosperity, faith, happiness and love!
Simone Inspires 
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