When Burnout Strikes Hit Back
By Sandy Schroeder
Most of us have been operating under a variety of physical or mental pressures with the pandemic. Now as the future improves you may be feeling a burnout with physical, emotional or mental tiredness. You may also be working more slowly and feeling negative and unmotivated.
If you can relate, don't just accept the situation. Take steps to turn things around. WellandGood.com suggests some coping strategies that may help.
Reach out to connect - We still have limitations but phone calls, texts, emails and regular mail can do a lot to stay in touch with your friends and relatives. Start a round robin letter among your group, or start sending out updates with photos and comments. If you have special interest groups, update them too.
Relish the small moments - Make the most of the little things that you enjoy. Pause with your morning coffee and drink the rest in your garden. Listen to your favorite music or pick out a new book for evening reading. Play with your dog or take him out for a long walk. Start planning your spring garden or picking wallpaper for some spring projects. Refurbish your bike and start biking on the weekends.
Expand your horizon - Finding ways to not feel cooped up may be as simple as finding a new park or hiking destination. If you are a biker pick some new paths. If you love basketball or soccer add some practice areas to your backyard. At the same time you may want to redo your patio or plant a new spring garden.
Reclaim some old habits - If you have forgotten to allow time for reading, chatting with friends or watching old movies, now's the time to treat yourself. Get out of that work and worry groove and slip into some fun things for a change. Challenge your family to a tournament of your favorite games and make every Saturday game night. Whatever works at your house is well worth doing to banish burnout.
Start some new self-care routines - Now's the time to enjoy warm baths, treat yourself to a massage, or rethink your diet as you set new goals. When you look your best you often feel a lot better too.
Everybody's different. Figure out what makes you feel good and use it to erase the burnout.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Windermere, Fla.