Hey there, friend!
I hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits. And if you aren’t, trust your difficulties will pass.
I’m keeping this week’s edition short and sweet for you.
With that said, let’s jump right in.
The Burnout Pandemic
Burnout is at an all-time high.
Despite COVID mostly being in the rearview, many are still suffering from burnout at alarming rates.
A recent survey from Future Forum showed that 42% of participants felt burned out. This came from a sample size of 10,243 people across six countries, including the US and the UK.
That percentage rose from 38% when last surveyed in May 2021. Although it may seem like a small jump, there was a rise nonetheless.
So, how can you start to take note of when you might be burning out?
By looking for these three signs.
Sign 1: Irritability
Irritability comes from the word irritate.
Therefore, if you’re experiencing irritability, you have a shorter fuse than usual.
Perhaps your partner’s sarcasm is driving you up a wall. Maybe certain smells in the air make you mad. Or perhaps traffic seems extra frustrating.
Those are just a few examples, but perhaps other examples resonate more with your experience.
Sign 2: Constant Worry About Work
Worrying about work outside of work hours shouldn’t be normalized.
But it is in today’s society.
So if you’re making work to-do lists while falling asleep, fearful about what tomorrow’s work day will bring, or afraid to make mistakes while at work, those are signs you might be burning out.
Sign 3: Poor Nutrition
Poor nutrition is a sneaky sign of burnout.
Because the United States has normalized consuming highly processed foods and sugary sweets, you might not think twice about your eating habits.
But be honest, have you ever coped with work stress by eating something unhealthy? And then that slowly became a habit as the stress piled up?
I know I’ve been there.
So it’s okay if you have been too.
Now you can be more aware of it
And you can start taking some prevention steps today!
Prevention Step 1: Practice Mindfulness
You don’t have to meditate for 30 minutes a day.
I get it, no one has time for that!
But if you don’t prioritize making stress reduction a habit, you’re unconsciously prioritizing stress induction.
To start prioritizing stress reduction, here are a few micro-practices to try:
Take three deep breaths after turning your car off when you arrive at work.
Notice what gets you irritated at work, let it go completely.
Notice the absence of stress while you’re at work.
Each of these requires just seconds of your attention.
And the return on those seconds is infinite.
Prevention Step 2: Audit Your Worries
It’s easy to worry when you feel like you’re drowning in it.
So, break out a pen and paper and list them.
Every.
Single.
One.
This exercise will show you how many ideas occupy your mind and induce stress.
Chances are, there are numerous worries you don’t have to worry about at all.
And if that’s the case, let those bad larries go!
Prevention Step 3: Eat Whole Foods
Eating whole foods is medicine for the body.
Food is fuel.
So if you imagine yourself as a car, wouldn’t you want to put in premium gas?
You’d get great mileage, which means your physical body would have sustainable energy. Your engine would be more durable, which means you’re less likely to get sick.
Not to mention, whole foods are also more satiating than processed foods, so you’ll stay fuller for longer and less likely to cave to craving.
Final Thoughts
I know burnout prevention is a lot easier said than done.
But at the end of the day, you only get one journey.
You only have one body.
You only have one mind.
So be kind.
Be kind to yourself.
Be kind to your body.
Be kind to your mind.
You’ll be grateful you were.
P.S.
If you’re struggling with burnout, I’d love to help.
Here are two ways I can help you:
1.) Send me an email detailing your struggles, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
2.) Book a call so we can meet and greet and brainstorm some stress reduction strategies together.