It creeps up on us, especially around this time of year. Unwelcome irritability or grumpiness begins to rear its ugly head, unexplained fatigue begins to pull you down, or maybe the things you usually enjoy are not making you smile. Your normally positive relationships at work are suddenly strained and difficult. Sounds a bit like depression, right? But it could just be burnout. Stressors add up quickly and without time to recoup and reset, your brain and body begin to shut down to try to repair the damage from everyday difficulties. How to best beat burnout? When things are moving too fast or feeling too hard, try these 3 steps for a quick fix: solitude, saying no, and self care. First take a mindful moment alone. Just breathe and reconnect with your body to get out of your head and back into the moment. Next, remember you are allowed say no to requests at work or home to regain a little time for yourself. It’s much more healthy to say no to a request that will will overextend your energy than to say yes and end up double booked and frantic. Finally, try a little self care to restore. Maybe a hot bath with essential oils or a cup of tea with the door closed is all you need to reboot your day. Maybe an exercise class or a walk is your self-care solution. Perhaps reaching out for help is your best bet to unburden your cares and call in a little support. Whatever you need, take a moment to find out what that is, and treat yourself to some loving care to avoid burnout.

by Karyn Bender | Jan 4, 2016 | Facebook