Burnout

Feeling drained? Having trouble concentrating? Work, parenting, caring for aging parents, homeschooling, housework, grocery shopping and meal planning is overwhelming. When do you get a break from it all? It’s normal to feel emotionally depleted and tired. Feelings of worry about letting people down, at work and home can be stressful. When these feelings hit, you may have little interest in pursuing activities that bring you pleasure, but this is when you need it the most.

The lines between work and home for many have been blurred by changing circumstances which lead to higher levels of stress. The good news is that there are ways to cope and move through these feelings, to recharge, so you don’t feel like you are paddling against the current in rough waters. When it seems like you don’t have the time, that is when it is the most important time to prioritize yourself:

  • Take a meditation break. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, whatever you can muster to walk away from it all and just focus on your breath to calm your mind and shift to the present moment. There are great apps to download with guided meditation exercises, but it can be as simple as sitting outside and watching the squirrels.
  • Draw the line between work and home life. Whether you work remotely from home or go to a job each day, build and maintain boundaries between your personal and professional life. If working from home, replace a morning commute with a walk before sitting down to work.
  • Talk about it. If you are struggling to balance work, home and child care responsibilities, talk about it with your boss and your household members. Sometimes there are avenues of leeway and flexibility that aren’t apparent to us when demands are closing in. If your company provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), utilize the mental health resources provided.

There is no shame in not being able to do it all! Openly asking for help, prioritizing and not being perfect can lighten your load and lower your stress.