Irritable?
Anxious?
Overwhelmed?
Unable to focus or concentrate?
Having trouble sleeping, despite being exhausted?
If youโre experiencing any of the above, you may be burnt out.
You may also be feeling incredibly fatigued, more pessimistic than normal, and lacking motivation and inspiration, or just feeling stagnant where youโre at.
All of those are symptoms of burnout.
Burnout has been described as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.
While burnout can be experienced in multiple facets of our lives, when it strikes, it often presents the same way: it feels like we are unable to give any more of ourselves.
And burnout is a beast.
With the state of the world right now – COVID, political drama, back to school, holidays, work stress – shit starts to pile up, and more and more people are experiencing burnout.
But letโs not be all doom and gloom – letโs get you some good news:
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL YOUR BURNOUT.
Iโm gonna give you some tools for your toolbox, some tips and tricks thatโll help you combat burnout and maintain your immune health, which is key to avoiding a total physical breakdown.
Burnout can generally be categorized into four main areas: work, physical, relationship, and parental burnout. You may experience symptoms in one area, or even all areas, AND THATโS OK. It makes you human to feel burnt out ๐คทโโ๏ธ.
Note that the following symptom lists are not inclusive – you may feel one or more, or you could be experiencing symptoms beyond whatโs listed.
Four Types of Burnout Infographic
Did you find yourself fitting into one of those boxes up there โ๐ป?
Maybe more than one box?
THATโS NORMAL.
Knowing where in your life youโre feeling burnt out will help you figure out why youโre feeling the way you are.
We can break it down into three causes:
Lack of control: feeling like you have no control over your future, or the position you are currently in.
Difficult environment: being in a physical workspace, home, or relationship that is negative or chaotic.
And the most common cause of all โ
Lack of balance: too much work, not enough play; too much parenting, not enough solo time; and giving too much in a relationship and not having it feel reciprocated are all examples of lack of balance.
Iโm going to preface this by saying: if you are currently experiencing burnout, any (or all!) of the suggestions below might feel hard to implement. I get that. Introducing new things to your routine can be daunting and overwhelming, especially when youโre already in a space of exhaustion.
Take a deep breath.
In through your nose.
Out through your mouth.
Now do that again. And then again.
And letโs take some baby steps together.
Donโt implement everything all at once – youโll be more likely to quit all of them. Introduce one at a time and, once your body and mind realize how good youโre starting to feel, introducing another task will seem more doable.
Ok? Got it?
Letโs do this!
Move your body every.single.day.
It can even just be for 30 minutes.
Moving your body is critical for your body and mind to function optimally.
Itโs almost probably the most intimidating one to start.
In times of stress, itโs often tough to find the motivation to exercise, but it is so important for both your mental and physical health. Find a movement that you like and look forward to – something as simple as walking (get out in nature and enjoy some forest bathing!), to at-home HIIT workouts, yoga, biking, pilates, or anything in between.
Did you know that research has found that exercise can increase emotional resilience in the way you handle stress?
Exercise produces endorphins which help decrease tension, elevate mood, improve sleep, and boost self-esteem โฆ all of which are basically non-existent when youโre burnt out.
Iโm personally a big fan of yoga – it moderates the nervous system, balances hormones, and regulates nerve impulses, three factors that can reduce stress levels, making you better equipped to handle stressful situations. A regular yoga practice can also reduce blood pressure and heart rate, lower cortisol and inflammation, and promote beneficial changes in the brain.
I encourage you to do what you love โ things that feel invigorating and positive, instead of depleting. This is different for each person. You might find solace in yoga, or get an endorphin high from hitting the trails on your bike. Or you might find peacefulness in a long hike in nature.
Whatever movement you do to feel good, DO IT OUTSIDE so youโre getting a hit of that Vitamin D as well! And we could all use more fresh air and sunshine in our lives these days.
When youโre burnt out, one of the first things to go out the window is your immune system. Youโre not eating properly, youโre not sleeping properly, youโre exhausted and just not taking care of yourself. Itโs hard to make that a priority – I GET IT – and thatโs where high-quality, bioavailable supplements come in.
Aside from the obvious – moving your body daily (preferably outside), eating a nutrient-dense diet, and staying mega hydrated – a cure-all for everything! – these are my favorite supplements to keep your immune system in tip-top shape:
Vitamin D: 1 capsule (5000 IU) daily with a meal (that includes a healthy fat) as maintenance. If you get an active sickness, double the dose for two weeks. Vitamin D is – hands down – the most important nutrient to be supplementing with to protect you and bolster your immune system.
Probiotics: 1 capsule daily. The health of your gut is paramount to the health of your immune function.
Vitamin C: Without a doubt, Vitamin C is one of the most popular (for good reason!) vitamin to enhance immune system health. You can take it in capsule form – I like this one, or if you would prefer a powder to mix in liquids, this one is delicious (and your kids can take it too!).
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): 1 capsule, twice daily. This is an amino acid complex that is the precursor to glutathione production, the bodyโs most powerful antioxidant, and helps promote optimal detoxification and immune system health.
Zinc: 1 capsule daily. Zinc is a mineral which drives the immune system, catalyzing its biochemical maintenance and function. Because zinc is not well represented in foods, most people are zinc deficient. A healthy zinc level is important for the function of the immune system because it is essential for immune-cell development.
Melatonin: take ยฝ lozenge at bedtime. Melatonin is best known, and most commonly used, to boost sleep and reduce anxiety, both of which improve the immune system.
What do you need?
How are you feeling?
Are you taking care of yourself?
Are you setting needed boundaries?
Do you need a break?
Burnout can lead to a lack of motivation, which can lead to a withdrawal from the world in an avoidant way. Itโs important to sort out where that avoidance is rooted.
And, on that note …
Self care doesnโt just mean throw on a facemask, light a candle, and ease into a hot bath.
I mean, it CAN mean that, but that isnโt all it means.
Self care has been defined as, “a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being.” Self care is vital for building resilience toward those stressors in life that you can’t eliminate.
Unfortunately many people view self-care as a luxury, rather than a priority.
Self care isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy. Your self care plan will need to be customized to your needs. Assess which areas of your life need some more attention and self care. And reassess your life often. As your situation changes, your self-care needs are likely to shift too.
Physical Self Care
You need to take care of your body if you want it to run efficiently. Keep in mind that there’s a strong connection between your body and your mind. When you’re caring for your body, you’ll think and feel better too.
โต Are you getting adequate sleep?
โต Is your diet fueling your body well?
โต Are you taking charge of your health?
โต Are you getting enough exercise?
Social Self Care
Socialization is key to self care, because close connections are important to your well-being.
โต Are you getting enough face-to-face time with your friends?
โต What are you doing to nurture your relationships with friends and family?
Mental Self Care
Mental self care involves doing things that help you stay mentally healthy – like practicing self-compassion and acceptance,to help you maintain a healthier inner dialogue.
โต Are you making enough time for activities that mentally stimulate you?
โต Are you doing productive things to help you stay mentally healthy?
Spiritual Self Care
Nurturing your spirit can involve anything that helps you develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the universe.
โต What questions do you ask yourself about your life and experience?
โต Are you engaging in spiritual practices that you find fulfilling?
Emotional Self Care
It’s important to have healthy coping skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness. Emotional self-care may include activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings on a regular basis.
โต Do you have healthy ways to process your emotions?
โต Do you incorporate activities into your life that help you feel recharged?
This one is a tough one.
But, I encourage you to make a list of things that need to get one.
Not, a to-do list per se, but an ongoing list of tasks that you need or WANT to be completed at some point.
Now go through that list and see what you can delegate to someone else.
Get that off your plate, and move onto the next task.
Asking for help is HARD. But, the reality is, you canโt go through life doing everything on your own. Release control, tuck your pride away for just a moment, and ask for help.
And, while weโre asking for help, letโs get a support system together.
It can be a friend, partner, colleague, even a therapist. Have someone that youโre comfortable checking in with, talking to, and make sure itโs someone who helps you feel good.
1, Burnout is a beast. While burnout can be experienced in multiple facets of our lives, when it strikes, it often presents the same way: it feels like we are unable to give any more of ourselves.
2. If you’ve been feeling burnt out, go easy on yourself. I have a toolbox of tips and tricks to help you combat burnout.
3. Self care is more than just bubble baths and facemasks – it encompasses all aspects of your life and you have the power to pick and choose where you need to practice self care.
I want to hear from you โ leave me a comment below and we can continue the conversation!
Are you feeling burnt out?
What do you do to help yourself feel good?
Looking to have a one-on-one conversation about burnout and how it affects you? Find a time that works for you, and letโs get a date on the calendar!
Curious about your fertility health? Take this simple quiz to find out what factors may be harming your fertility, and learn what you can do about it!
