Our Thoughts on Mid-Year Burnout
So it’s August, and the summer is full in motion. That means lots of plans, lots of patios, wedding season, everyone posting their travels and the motivation to accomplish your 2024 year goals is slowly dwindling.
We are here to remind you that goals are in fact just goals, it’s nice to accomplish them but we are not all super human beings and it’s okay for life to get in the way, change or railroad your plans. The most important thing you need to be doing around this time is checking in with yourself.
It can be easy to get lost in all the plans and to feel like you have to take advantage of the good weather. However, it is important that you check in with yourself and slow down, it’s okay to say no to things, it’s okay that on a beautiful sunny day to stay in and do some selfcare; there will be another beautiful sunny day.
We challenge our readers to take a moment in their day, to sit down with their 2024 goals and do some checking and editing. Be realistic about what you can achieve in the next few months and don’t be hard on yourself that you had to let things go. At the beginning of the year it can feel so exciting to have all these plans and believe you’ll accomplish them easily, but in reality time moves so fast that not checking every box doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
If you had 5 things left to complete by the end of this year, give yourself a break and just focus on accomplishing one. That puts less stress on yourself and you’ll feel way better about resting and less likely to burnout.
Why you shouldn’t let yourself burnout
This may be an easy statement on it’s own, but sometimes we get lost in the pressures and deadlines that we forget to advocate for ourselves and end up being burnt out in our jobs, relationships and friendships, ultimately neglecting our personal goals and mental health. Unsure of what burnout may look like? Here are the symptoms:
Signs of burnout at work:
Chronic Fatigue: Constantly feeling tired and drained of physical or emotional energy.
Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, despite being exhausted.
Forgetfulness and Impaired Concentration: Trouble focusing, memory lapses, and decreased productivity.
Physical Symptoms: Headaches, muscle pain, gastrointestinal problems, or other unexplained health issues.
Increased Illness: Getting sick more frequently due to a weakened immune system.
Loss of Appetite: Changes in eating habits, either eating too much or too little.
Anxiety: Feeling on edge, restless, or overly worried about work-related issues.
Depression: Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
Irritability and Mood Swings: Becoming easily frustrated, impatient, or experiencing dramatic mood changes.
Detachment: Feeling disconnected from work, colleagues, or having a sense of numbness about your job.
Decreased Performance: Not meeting job expectations, making mistakes, or feeling less competent.
Signs of burnout in relationships:
Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling drained by interactions and lacking the energy to engage.
Avoidance: Deliberately avoiding spending time with partners, friends, or family members.
Detachment: Feeling emotionally distant or disconnected from loved ones.
Irritability: Increased frustration, impatience, and getting easily annoyed by others.
Decreased Interest: A significant drop in interest in activities and conversations that were once enjoyable.
Negative Outlook: Viewing relationships pessimistically or feeling hopeless about their future.
Blaming: Frequently blaming others for problems or feeling resentful towards them.
Reduced Communication: Less frequent and less meaningful conversations, leading to misunderstandings.
Withdrawal: Spending more time alone or with different people, avoiding quality time with partners, friends, or family.
Physical Symptoms: Experiencing stress-related health issues, such as headaches or stomach problems, triggered by relationship conflicts.
Loss of Support: Feeling unsupported or that your relationships are no longer mutually beneficial
If you are feeling any of these symptoms or recognize where they are coming from, this is your sign to reflect. Check in with yourself and possibly seek some professional guidance or therapy to help. When it comes to work, we may not have much room or control to make changes but if your job provides any benefits -take advantage them!!!
If your relationships are causing stress, sit back and analyze who and where they come from and see how you can make that situation better for yourself by removing yourself or putting up boundaries.
Our Personal Self Care Tips
Being active - Taking a Spin class or going for a long walk
Be in nature - Being on our screens all day can feel overwhelming and stressful, if you have a balcony/porch/park spend a few minutes just taking in the fresh air when you can
Relaxing - Cozying up with our favourite show/game/new book and lighting a candle
Taking a break from alcohol - Not every weekend needs a drink, opt for a mocktail night every so often
Saying no - Fomo is real, but saying no for some extra rest is very important sometimes
Journaling - Writing out your feelings is a great way to reflect and understand where you are
It’s human nature to want peace but in our society for a long time mental health and selfcare was frowned upon - a normalization that is very much changing. Advocating for yourself, getting help and support, putting up boundaries and taking care of yourself are things we have to remind ourselves when these symptoms start happening - and us Across the Board Branding girlies are here to remind you to love and be kind to yourself when burnout starts happening 🤎
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Let us know your thoughts on this topic, we’d love to hear from you. 🤎
