Welcome to Weekly Topic Saturdays!
Hello all, I pray that your week was filled with joy and love. Welcome back to those who have been with me here at A Golden Dream. For my first-timers, a great big hello there, if you haven't already please check out my previous posts when you get a chance.
Please don't hesitate to join the conversation, there are no right or wrong answers or questions. I'm not proclaiming to know everything, I am simply just discussing and picking topics on things that I personally have gone through and that I know would help someone.
Before starting my Self-Care Is A Must journey I didn’t know just how important taking a break really was. I get so wrapped up in working on my projects or transitioning from one project to another, or just life in general, that I forget to take a step back and allow myself time to rest.
What does it mean to take a break?
How do I know if I need a break?
Hold your horses, and keep reading. Physically, I usually know when I need a break. My body begins to whisper what it needs before it starts screaming to tell me for what it needs. I get headaches, my nerves are bad and my patience for anything is out the window. Ugh! I am a complete mess! Does this sound like you?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1: 2-4
Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34
Give Yourself A Break: Signs of Burnout!
If any of these things are happening to you or have happened to you then you need to take a well-deserved break.
1. Restlessness
Restlessness comes when you have too much on your plate and you don't have enough time or hours in the day. You may start to feel overworked and overwhelmed and because of all that added stress, you aren't taking breaks because you feel so behind in your work.
This happens to me a lot, in fact, I can't remember a time when I'm not restless. My mind has always been active; from my childhood till now. My mind is constantly on 1000 thinking of new ideas, projects I want to complete, or I am overthinking and over-analyzing things. The worst is when I'm supposed to be resting and I worry about other things I'm supposed to be resting about. Sleep is a huge part of your life. We need it. Staying up all hours of the night is not good. Not good for your body let alone your mood and how well you operate throughout the day.
2. Your Motivation Is GONE!
When you are juggling too much you will lose all kinds of motivation and inspiration to do ANYTHING! The passion and the drive for the things you used to love to do before like: hobbies are gone. It’s bad when you have to force yourself to do things despite how you feel.
Once I lose motivation it's a wrap. I'm not doing anything or going anywhere.
3. Energy Levels Are LOW!
Crippling stress can leave you with little to no energy. Getting out of bed is a pain and a huge task all in itself, and to mention not sleeping well from insomnia doesn't make matters worse.
4. Your Body Aches
Your body will tell you when something is off or when it is deprived of something. I usually don't get sick. It’s been years since I had a cold or have been completely under the weather that I missed work or something of great importance. So when my muscles are feeling tense or I have recurring headaches, I know what needs to be done.
5. Lower Immunity
Like we discussed in Managing Stress and Anxiety, constantly being stressed out, or being burnt out is not good for your health physically. Your immune system can become compromised because of all of the added stress. Think of it like a plant. If a plant is growing and it has a dead leaf on it it will convert all of its attention and energy into trying to revive the dying leaf. When what the plant needs to do is let it go because it is killing itself. This blew my mind because the plant is literally killing itself trying to save something that is already dead. We are just like plants. When we are stressed out all of our energy and attention moves to focusing on the issue not realizing that what it is doing is making us sick. Listen, IT IS NOT WORTH IT! Let it go, and give it over to God. People give themselves ulcers, headaches, stomach aches, and other illnesses because they are not stopping to cut out what is stressing them out.
Physical Signs of Burnout :
Depleted, drained or exhausted all the time
Your sleeping schedule is off
Changes in appetite
Headaches and muscle stiffness
Emotional Signs of Burnout:
Self-Doubt
Feeling Trapped
Negative Outlook
Feeling Alone/ Depressed
Emotional Outburst
Behavioral Signs of Burnout:
Disconnecting from friends and family for long periods of time
Procrastinating
Unpredictable Mood Swings
Substance Abuse
Listless
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
Take A Break: Rebuilding After Burnout
1. Turn To God and Others
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Proverb 1:22
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken
Above anything and everything, put God first. Always consult with our heavenly Father. It's hard to cast all your cares over to God when you're trying to handle them all yourself. you can't rely on people alone, they will fail you. God is the way the truth and the light and he is big enough to endure anything and never become weary.
2. Punch In Your Time Off Days
This was extremely difficult for me to accomplish. I don't like taking time off for missing work. I don't love my job but at times it can be tiresome and overwhelming. I work with kids so you know that can be.
Plan and take a vacation. Whether it be for a few days or weeks off. Do it! There’s nothing like enjoying yourself with family and friends or simply by yourself. This year I really zeroed in on taking time for myself and also away from my everyday life.
Last year, I started taking mini-vacations with close friends and some vacations I even explored by myself. Taking day trips to the beach or simply unplugging from the world is vacation enough for me.
3. Reframe Your Perspective
Look at things objectively rather than subjectively. Usually, when you're burnt out you are putting a lot of emotion into the things we do. Burnt out feeds off of emotions. To combat that, you must change your perspective. By taking a break you are giving yourself both the time and the permission to take a step back from the current issue or problems. Doing this will give you new insight and allow you to see new angles of handling the situation whether it be work, relationships,
Are You Taking Care of You?
Questions To Consider:
1. How do you know if you're stressed out or overwhelmed?
2. Does your body notify you if you're working too hard or pushing it too much?
3. What are some ways that you can relieve stress and anxiety?
4. What does your break consist of? Are you a vacation person? Do you take walks or hikes outside to relieve stress?
With Love, always remember to give yourself time and space to unwind and relax. We all go through a lot during a run of a day let alone a year. Be patient with yourself and remember to take time to breathe and step away for a moment to reflect, refocus and relieve. I remember my aunt gave me some sound wisdom years ago. She said, “you are the most important person in your life and in your world, so take care of yourself. Your future self depends on it.”
~Just Breathe...A Golden Dream~
Amen.
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