With Amy
We live in a ‘hustle’ culture where we are expected to do so much and be productive and frankly, it is downright exhausting. This is not how humans are intended to function and it can lead to a wide variety of physical, emotional, and psychological challenges, including burnout. So what is burnout? Burnout refers to the physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by persistent stress – work stress, relationship stress, school stress, or general life stress. And yes, it is possible to experience burnout from doing things you love and enjoy, such as parenting, being a partner, or even being a good listener. It is important to remember that stress is subjective, and what may not be stressful to one may be stressful to another. This is a great reminder to always be kind and compassionate to those experiencing stress, especially ourselves. Symptoms of burnout include apathy, not finding joy in things you used to enjoy, irritability, poor sleep, inability to cope, feelings of overwhelm, headaches, fatigue, depression, isolation, difficulty focusing, etc. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please know that awareness is the first step. Making yourself the priority and practicing self-care is the next step. Self-care isn’t all bubble baths and pedicures (although it certainly can be part of it!) it is also setting boundaries around work, making (and keeping) small promises to yourself, having time for yourself, learning how to say “no” without feeling guilty or doing the things that make you smile. Reducing stress and regulating your nervous system through breathwork or meditation, going for a daily nature walk, moving your body in a way that feels good, or leaning on your supports, such as family members, friends, and/or a counsellor. You might be thinking, well that’s all well and good but taking care of myself sounds overwhelming! With that, I encourage you to start small and make it fit for your lifestyle. Choose one thing you can do for yourself and try it on for size. Maybe you’re interested in learning how to set boundaries and would like a counsellor to help support you with that, or maybe you would like to go for a 10-minute walk each day after dinner, or just putting on some music you love. Whatever it is, prioritize yourself for the next few weeks and see how you feel. You will be amazed at how small changes lead to great progress. Every step you take towards taking better care of yourself is a step in a positive direction. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup! Amy