As the end of the year approaches, everyone seems to operate and move in high stress mode! Projects need to come to a close, absurd deadlines need to be met, projections, budgets and forecasting needs to be approved for the following year, and then there’s normal life stuff that we need to see to. You know; family life, social life, other hobbies and commitments! We need to keep on moving, keep on doing, and well, keep on keeping on!
When I am beyond tired and I have to keep on going, I often joke and say “Guess, I’ll just sleep when I’m dead!” I swallowed those words one day, and I asked myself; “What on earth are you saying?” I then had a hard look at my life, and I realized that I can’t keep on keeping on, and not take care of myself! Besides why I am joking about only receiving rest once I am dead? That is a little crazy!
With the year coming to an end, we may find ourselves moving at such a rapid pace trying to juggle everything that is thrown our way, that we may start to feel overwhelmed, anxious , mentally and emotionally exhausted! Therefore it is important to look after ourselves, so that we can finish off the year feeling strong, without experiencing a total burnout!
The definition of a burnout:
Work too hard, work like a Trojan/horse/slave, work/run oneself into the ground, wear oneself to a shadow, work one’s fingers to the bone, drive oneself into the ground, sweat, sweat blood, work day and night, burn the candle at both ends, burn the midnight oil, overtax oneself, overtax one’s strength, kill oneself, do too much, overdo it, strain oneself, overburden oneself, overload oneself, drive/push oneself too hard.
Basically a burnout happens, when we move at such a rate and capacity that is not normal, and definitely not healthy for us long term! If we continually move at a fast pace, and take on too much, and constantly stress, it starts to take its toll on our bodies. A burnout leads to Adrenal fatigue, which is a stress condition where the adrenal glands become fatigued, tired, exhausted, and in the later stages of progression the adrenals can even become dysfunctional.
RECOGNIZING BURNOUT
- You feel completely tired all of the time. When you wake up in the mornings, it’s almost as if you’d never slept and you hit the snooze button as if your life depends on it.
- Mentally you feel overwhelmed, and you can’t think clearly or focus properly.
- You wake up during the night, thinking of all things that you still need to do.
- You start to develop unhealthy eating habits, and tend to eat things that are quick and easy because of your fast paced lifestyle.
- You start to experience aches and pains in your body, from carry stress in your muscles.
- Emotionally you feel unstable and very sensitive, or very grumpy, like you may just throw a chair at your co-worker!
Sound familiar?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to end the year feeling as if the world has completely devoured me and left me to feel completely drained! So how do we look after our health, and end the year off feeling strong, motivated, and not depleted ? Maybe we should prioritize the following:
1) SLEEP, SLEEP, AND SLEEP: Sleep strengthens your immune system, it allows your brain to rest and recharge allowing for better brain function for the next day. Having 8 hours or more sleep will also improve your mood, and it will encourage healthier eating patterns, along with a healthier looking you! Lack of sleep encourages the zombie look, making a person look aged beyond their years!
2) EAT HEALTHY: If we are constantly stressed, and living a fast paced life, we tend to eat food that is quick and on the go! Which entails caffeine (by the bucket loads) carbs, oil, foods with high sugar content! When we have a come down from all the sugar highs, and caffeine lows – we look for our next quick fix, and fill up on more junk! It then becomes a repetitive cycle! Therefore it is important to plan healthier meals that will nourish the body! Drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day, will help flush out the system, and keep the body hydrated.
3) TAKE TIME OUT: Sometimes we move at such fast pace that we forget to put so much needed time out for ourselves, just to do something that refreshes us! This could range from being aware of taking out a few minutes out of the day to maybe go for a walk outdoors, have coffee with a friend, exercise, have a creative outlet, have a spa day or have a planned holiday! It is important that we look for moments where we are doing things that feed into our souls and refresh us!
Don’t forget to prioritize your health, and take care of yourself as you finish off the year feeling strong, healthy and mentally prepared to enter 2016!