Burnout to Balance: Simple Steps to Reclaim Your Life
Hi Team,
We have all experienced the feeling of being overwork, overstressed, and completely drained. Burnout is something that can creep up slowly, but once it strikes, it can leave you feeling completely trapped. Thankfully there is a way to return to balance, even when things feel overwhelming.
Identifying the Signs Of Burnout
Burnout comes in both physical and mental forms, meaning that to find your way back to balance, you must first identify burnout. The below symptoms are the most common displays of burnout:
- Constantly exhausted, even after you have slept
- Lack of motivation for activities that normally bring you joy
- Feeling detached or cynical about your work
- Decreased productivity and/or creativity
With the fast-paced nature of the modern world, it is important to be aware of these symptoms and catch the problems as early as possible.
Shifting Your Mindset
Once you have identified that burnout applies to your situation, starting the journey back to a balanced position for yourself begins with a mindset shift. Abandon any feelings of guilt and understand that for a period of time, self-care is going to have to be your number one priority to get back to a balanced position. It is important to create the space for rest and reflection, which means that you are going to have to come first and look for the ways that you can make time for self-interests.
Practical Steps to Restore Balance
When it comes to the practical steps to take next, look to start small, whether that means targeting a 10-minute walk daily, a new boundary being set at work, or taking timed phone-breaks. Over time these small adjustments will become the foundation for a more consistently balanced lifestyle. The below steps are four areas that will aid your path to balance:
- Set Your Boundaries: Be prepared to say “no”, to reclaim control over your time.
- Implement Digital Detoxes: For more information on this subject, see here.
- Create or Adjust Your Routines for Rest: Build and adapt your morning and evening routines to emphasis relaxation, mindfulness and finding time for the activities that bring you joy.
- Rediscover What Brings You Joy: Keep persevering with activities that bring you joy, even when you don’t feel up to them. By taking the steps above in conjunction with continuing to persevere with these actions, eventually you will return to finding joy.
Track Your Progress
Make it a habit to reflect on your well-being and track where you would like to be in the future. On each of the practical steps to restore balance, look to set tangible targets that you can track your progress against. For example, if you recognise that you need to limit your screen time or increase your level of physical activity, use tools like habit trackers or journaling to note your improvements. Celebrate small wins along the way, as these are proof of your momentum.
Regularly check in with yourself, adjusting your goals as needed to stay aligned with your evolving needs. This consistent reflection ensures that you’re moving forward in a meaningful way while maintaining balance. Remember, progress isn’t always linear, and being flexible allows you to pivot when necessary without losing sight of your overall well-being.
Closing Remarks
Finding your way to balance is a journey and one which is a challenging road if your starting position is one of burnout. The good news is that with the right steps, you will find your way to balance, moving towards a healthier, more vibrant version of yourself.
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