Burnouts Are for Cars, Not You

By Donna Stark

I'm jealous of my children. There, I said it. But before you start thinking of me as some sort of quack, let me tell you why. I'm jealous of their sleep schedule, I'm jealous of their snack breaks, I'm jealous of their recess time, and I am jealous of their ability to throw a tantrum wherever and whenever they want. You see, I am tired of adulting. I have gotten to the point where I am completely burned out and all I want to do is escape so I can get a solid 10 hours of sleep. But realistically, I know that wouldn't even help because what I really need to do is create healthier habits in my life instead.

Preventing Burnout

Are you pushing yourself to the limits? Or have you already passed that limit and are simply trying to maintain your sanity? If you are feeling exhausted, irritable, stressed, frustrated, unfocused ... the list could go on and on ... then you may be at the point of burning out too. Fortunately, there are some simple changes you can make to your lifestyle that can help prevent a total meltdown. Take a look.

• Take a break - You've conditioned yourself to work at max speed, but if you really want to stay on top of your game and be more productive, you need to give yourself a break. Giving your mind and body the breaks they need can help you feel more refreshed, energized, and rejuvenated.
• Get plenty of sleep - Staying up late may be a hard habit to break, but getting the recommended amount of sleep is one of the best ways to take care of yourself. Try setting an earlier bedtime, design a technological-free bedroom, and don't be afraid to take a power nap if needed.
• Create electronic boundaries - Speaking of a tech-free bedroom, it is also important to create boundaries with your electronic devices throughout the day as well! Being on-call 24/7 is tiring, not to mention completely overwhelming, so take a step back from your device as often as you can by designating certain times to answer emails, respond to texts, and scroll through social media.  
• Say no more often - Sometimes there is no way around it and you have to take on extra work, but you would be doing yourself a favor if you thought twice about saying yes when faced with a request. If your plate is already too heavy to carry, then go ahead and say no. The world won't end.

Slowing Down

Live a life where you are not jealous of your children and prevent getting burned out. Take whatever steps you need to slow things down a bit and start enjoying everything that life has to offer, including those afternoon naps!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chino Hills, Calif.