Feeling burned out is pretty common nowadays, but healing from burnout takes practice. When you are completely burned out, the person who can help you heal is YOU only. There are some tips on how to heal from burnout by practicing the acts of self care.
My body was actively revolting against me. I had overdone it and now I was paying the price. I was physically exhausted, easily distracted, and mentally scattered. Even when I tried to work nothing substantial was getting done. It was time for me to admit that my motto ‘keep doing more no matter what was hurting me. I had to admit that I was completely burned out.
“Run the race of life at your own pace.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita
When you are in a state of burnout, it seems like your well of inspiration, creativity, and motivation have run dry. Progress comes to a standstill & focusing on a single task can feel monumental. Burn-out combines a sense of reduced personal accomplishment, with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. To put it plainly burnout is no joke.
Thankfully the first step to healing from burnout is acknowledging it. Once you have admitted to yourself that you are burned out you can start taking steps to intentionally replenish your well. Self care is an excellent way to help you heal from burnout.
3 Radical Acts of Self Care That Will Help You Heal After Burnout
Here are three (3) radical acts of self-care which cost nothing that is guaranteed to help you start recovering from burnout:
1. Embrace Nature
Spending time in Nature can be incredibly grounding. It has the uncanny ability to help you slow down & remind you of the temporal nature of all things. It also provides a radical change from the confines of your house or place of employment which can be the catalyst for a much-needed perspective shift.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”- Rachel Carson
Standing next to a tree always puts things into perspective for me. The grandeur & steadfastness of the organism is so awe-inspiring. When I am in nature I am able to bring all of my focus and awareness to the positive sensory experience of the environment.
Wondering how to dive in & experience nature? Try this: Take your shoes off and feel the ground under your feet. Look at the trees & animals. If you’re able to visit a body of water, listen to the sounds of it moving and give yourself permission to be present.
2. Meditate
Once you have burned out it’s important to reflect on what got you there so that you can avoid returning to the same patterns of behavior. Meditation creates space for judgment-free reflection that can help you find clarity around the behaviors that led to your burnout.
The intentional, compassionate self-study will reveal signs you may have missed that will help you as you work to avoid burnout moving forward.
“To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still.”– Jiddu Krishnamurti
Mantra Meditations have worked wonders for me. Doing something as simple as Putting my focus on an empowering statement can be extremely reinvigorating. Whether it’s a phrase in English of my own creation or an ancient Sanskrit mantra it can have powerful effects.
To learn more about Sanskrit mantras, what they mean and how to use them visit www.MantraChant.com. It’s an incredible resource with all the information you need to get started.
If you are interested in creating your own English mantra, then take some time and generate a few declarative sentences that really sum up your intentions. Once you have generated a few different statements say them out loud to yourself to see which one resonates the strongest. For example here is mine: I fearlessly succeed no matter the circumstances & I remain victoriously affluent.
Read 12 Ways To Improve Emotional Intelligence Through Self Care
3. Journal
Nurturing a healthy connection with yourself is essential to healing from avoiding future burnout. Sometimes the most radical act of self-care is the most obvious one. Giving yourself permission to journal creates a safe space for you to be with yourself. It allows you to create a record of your journey back to you.
Too often when people think of journaling the vision of a teenage girl writing in her diary pops into their heads. The truth is that the ‘dear diary’ style is just one of the many ways to journal. Two other common methods are Free form stream of consciousness writing & pointed reflection based on prompts.
“Writing in a journal reminds you of your goals and of your learning in life. It offers a place where you can hold a deliberate, thoughtful conversation with yourself.” – Robin Sharma
Stream of Consciousness writing has a free form of non-judgmental style. You just write whatever comes to your mind, without organizing or analyzing. The writing becomes a conduit to flush out the subconscious mind. It can be a truly liberating and eye-opening exercise.
Prompts are targeted questions or statements that are designed to bring your focus to a particular subject matter for intentional reflection. Here are some prompts I love:
- List 5 moments you have felt great Joy.
- Name 3 places you have visited that have touched your soul.
- If you could talk to yourself as a child, what would you say?
- List 3 wins you had this week.
- *What do you really want to accomplish in the next month?
Make a date with yourself to journal once this week and see what happens. What you write may surprise you. At a minimum what comes out will forewarn & forearm you against future burnout.
Read Benefits of Self-care and How it Affects Mental Wellness
Final Thoughts
Burnout can happen to anyone. Thankfully you are capable of coming back from it stronger than ever. You are now armed with three (3) FREE self-care methods that will help not only replenish your well but also to avoid getting burned out again! Want more tips like this in your inbox? Then click here to join my tribe!
Time and again, we have heard people say that life is a race and you need to win it. But, is it? Sure, it is important to be successful and financially stable in order to lead a comfortable life, but that is not everything there is to it.
Life is a beautiful thing and if you spend the whole of it working, you won’t be able to enjoy the beauty of it. Work hard, hustle, and fulfill your dreams, but do not burn yourself doing all that. Take a deep breath, focus on healing yourself, and get your mojo back. Keep in mind that you need to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Written By Awilda Rivera
Originally Published in Thriveglobal
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is self-care important for burnout?
Those who practice self-care are more positive in life. Taking care of yourself will help you to heal your mind and prevent burnout.
How does self-care prevent burnout?
Self-care practices include taking care of your sleeping habits, meditating, developing healthy eating habits, exercising regularly, and taking care of your emotional well-being which helps to prevent negative thoughts and helps you to be more productive thus preventing burnout.
How long does burnout take to recover?
Recovering from burnout takes days, months, or years. To reduce the common symptoms and begin the journey of healing from burnout, one needs to practice self-care.
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