6 Hacks To Manage Burnout and Overwhelm

Burnout.

I think this is a great time to talk about this — during Blogtober! This is when you can’t think of any more posts and you PROMISED yourself and the Internet that you would see this through. You get frustrated with yourself and your inability to do it…

Add that to the stress of the upcoming holidays, running your business or working at your job, dealing with family, health, etc, it’s easy to hit a wall.

Read on for some tips for dealing!

What Is Burnout and Overwhelm?

Dealing with burnout or being overwhelmed are both consequences of high amounts of stress. With overwhelm, you might experience stress for a long time, which causes you to become overwhelmed with everything you are thinking and dealing with at the same time.

Burnout is similar. Specifically, this occurs when you become absolutely exhausted mentally and physically. Then, it can affect your work, motivation, and energy.

Six Hacks and Tips to Help You with Burnout and Overwhelm

1. A Healthy Body Means a Healthy Mind

Getting past your burnout, stress, and overwhelm always starts with your physical health. Not only because stress can affect you physically and actually make you ill, but also because when you eat right and exercise, it has a long list of benefits for you.

If you want a healthy mind, you need to start with a healthy body. This means eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with lots of fruits, veggies, lean protein, and whole grains. Get regular exercise and don’t forget to drink your water each day.

These small changes can make a big difference in your physical health, which can, in turn, help your mental health as well.

2. Stop Focusing on Time

Everything is always about time. Making time for your family, making time for work, looking at the clock every few minutes during your workday, trying to get out of the house with enough time to spare. All of this focus on time, whether it is time you feel you wasted, time to get stuff done, and feeling like your time is running out, causes a lot of unnecessary stress.

There are certain aspects of life where time is relevant, such as getting to an appointment or meeting on time but don’t make your entire life revolve around time. It can be very overwhelming.

3. Stay Mindful of Positive Changes and a Better Outlook

When you have full-on burnout, it can be hard to use standard stress relief methods. By this point, you are having trouble just getting the bare minimum done, especially when you add in stress and overwhelm at the same time.

Start Slow

Instead of putting too much pressure on yourself, just start slow. One excellent “hack” to use is to be mindful for one moment every day. During that moment, give yourself a few minutes to re-focus your energy from a negative thing to a positive thing.

Maybe you’re in your office after a meeting that caused you a lot of stress and tension. One way to deal is to sit in your office for 5 minutes and be mindful of something positive.

This positive thing could be gratitude for this job you worked so hard for, happiness for your family and friends, or just understanding that the stressful situation is over and now you can appreciate you got through it.

4. Don’t Work Through Lunch

Stop working non-stop! Working more is NOT going to help you overcome burnout. You need a break. Your body and mind need rest. If you work too much, your mind and body will break down.

One small thing you can start doing right now is taking proper lunch breaks. Stop eating lunch at your desk, and stop talking to people on your phone when you’re eating lunch out of the office. Turn off your phone, enjoy this time, be mindful of your meal, and just relax. Work will be there waiting for you when your break is over.

5. Find What Gives You Positive Energy

Look for that thing each day that makes you feel positive and happy. This encourages more positive energy, which can then help to relieve some of the stress and tension.

Again, this will be unique to you and your situation. It can be related to your home, your job, people in your life, achieving your goals, having accomplished something you put your mind to, being more physically healthy, losing weight, just about anything. Sky’s the limit on this one.

6. Start Saying No

Even if you have always been the person other people can count on to help them, you don’t have to be everything to everyone. You have every right to say no to hosting a party, declining an offer to go out on your only night off this week, to doing an extra project at work.

Finally, you have to learn how to say no when you’re already overwhelmed with all your own responsibilities.

Blogtober Day 17

As for Blogtober, if you miss a day (or more!), don’t beat yourself up over it. Extend that philosophy to other areas of your life. Do what you can…

Loving Life — The Reboot!

Dominique

This article provides general information and discussion about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this article, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.