The Key To Preventing Burnout
It’s easy to think of self-care as something “extra” that we can put off until our schedule allows.
You might think, “Who has time for reading in the bath when there is laundry to do and emails to answer?”
That seems reasonable. But when we think of it that way, we completely miss the point of self-care.
Self-care is what we do behind the scenes so we can show up great in our lives.
People who take care of themselves make their lives easier, no matter how busy they are.
They are more calm, grounded, clear-minded and content.
From that place, life becomes much less chaotic.
But when we are frazzled on the inside, our life is going to keep mirroring that on the outside. It’s a hopeless cycle.
Self-care is not something silly or frivolous, it’s the answer to the problems we all confront, including stress, anxiety and burnout.
I like to think of self-care as giving me the mental, physical and emotional stability to stay center-stream in my life.
I am able to stay in the flow of the day and maintain positive thoughts about myself, rather than feeling like I’m swimming upstream and getting lost in self-doubt.
It’s the Law of Least Resistance.
The more we push the more resistance pushes back. That’s exactly what burnout is. Pushing until we can’t push anymore.
When we flow, we are like water. Instead of trying to charge through a boulder in the riverbed, we just flow around it.
We flow toward the life we envision, rather than continuously pushing up against a stressful life that pushes back.
The way we develop this quality is through self-care.
Self-Care Checklist
This is a list of self-care practices that are highly effective in helping to relax and rejuvenate your physical body, mind and emotions. I recommend starting with the one that feels like it would really make a difference for you, then add more as you go along:
Meditation - The “Headspace” or “Calm” apps can be helpful in providing reminders and structure for beginners
Physical movement - This includes walking, stretching, yoga, dance and exercise of any kind.
Release clutter - Clutter can be mentally taxing, so clearing out a space in your office, home or car can free up your mental space, too.
Unplug from technology before bed - Having a couple of tech free hours at night can aid sleep and the ability to relax.
Unfollow negative people on social media and refrain from negative news Filter your information to only include what is supportive to your life and vision.
Spend time outdoors and connect with nature - Being in nature relaxes the human nervous system. Physically being in nature is ideal, but holding a pet or observing nature through your window can be beneficial, too.
Start the day with an intention and gratitude - Decide the tone of your day before you get out of bed, by making a mental list of 10 things you are grateful for and setting an intention for how your day is going to be.
Notice what you're noticing and breathe to create calm and empowered thinking - Notice when you are tense, and change your physical and mental state by taking 3 to 4 relaxed deep breaths which will help you to have greater clarity and access a more empowered way of thinking.
Give yourself kind loving talk throughout the day - Most of us have negative self talk that is so ingrained that we aren't even aware we’re doing it. Pause when you realize this, then talk to yourself the way you would talk to your best friend.
Eat whole nutritious foods - Processed food stresses the system and brings down your energy and mood. Choose foods in their natural state to give your body balanced, stable energy.
September is Self-Care Awareness Month and I encourage you to invest this time in turning up the dial on being more kind, loving and good to you, knowing that this will not only benefit you, but it will also make a powerful, positive difference in all the lives you touch as well.