Beatrice Schultz

When this year started it felt like I hit the ground running. 

I worked through December and I told myself I would take a break in January. 

When January arrived there was already a lot to do so I worked through as well promising myself a break. 

The months rolled I kept pushing. 

“I need to do this, I need to keep pushing.”

I would tell myself.

The to-do list never seemed to get shorter, the more I did, more things got added to it.

I was always busy but at the same time I felt like I was not doing enough.

I reached a point and I could clearly see that I could no longer keep on pushing. 

Society glorifies doing too much, somehow the harder and longer you work the more you are perceived to be an inspiration.

Adults greet one another by sharing how busy and stressed they are and how they don’t have time to meet up for a date or attend a birthday party.

Somehow life has become all about  how busy we are and how we don’t have time for anything else.

But at the same time we find ourselves dissatisfied with what once brought us passion.

The job we prayed for

Has now become a nightmare. 

The HelpGuide describes burn out 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. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.”

Breathe… you have reached burnout. 

Physical signs and symptoms of burnout include: 

• Feeling tired and drained most of the time.
• Lowered immunity, frequent illnesses.
• Frequent headaches or muscle pain.
• Change in appetite or sleep habits.

Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout include: 

• Sense of failure and self-doubt.
• Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated.
• Detachment, feeling alone in the world.
• Loss of motivation.
• Increasingly cynical and negative outlook.
• Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

Behavioral signs and symptoms of burnout include: 

• Withdrawing from responsibilities.
• Isolating yourself from others.
• Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done.
• Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope.
• Taking out your frustrations on others.
• Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early.

It’s ok to take a break when things get overwhelming. It doesn’t mean you have given up. It means you need time to reboot and pick yourself up again.

The best way to overcome burnout is to first identify and recognize what it is. 

Then call on your tribe for support, remember we were not meant to do life alone. 

Lastly put systems in place to build your resilience muscle towards stress.

Find ways to re calibrate during the day. 

As much as one wants to withdraw when things get overwhelming make it a habit to have deep meaningful connections.

Remind yourself about why you started, write it down and keep it close to your heart.

Boldly accept who you are and be honest with yourself regarding your limitations.

It’s ok to ask for help, really it is.

Life can be tough, sometimes it feels like it just keeps going even when you aren’t ready.

Learning to say no to the things that did not align with my purpose enabled me to start thriving and not just surviving.

A fulfilled life is created by learning to accept who you are, where you are in life and embracing the different seasons of life. 

We all bloom at different times so there is no reason to overwork yourself to catch up to someone’s spring when you are in winter. 

Remember to breathe as you grow to become the person you intend to be. 

“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60:22‬ ‭KJV