People use the word burnout lightly. The real thing is not light. It can wreck health, relationships, and careers.
When you feel like charred toast, it's hard to find the energy to change anything.
So what are the common signs of burnout?
Here are some:
Physical and emotional exhaustion
Struggling to get out of bed
Sunday-night dread
Procrastination and low motivation
Cynicism and detachment
Irritability and difficulty concentrating
Losing positive emotions (joy, awe, gratitude, etc.)
Trouble sleeping and anxiety dreams
Getting sick a lot (having a compromised immune system)
We could keep going, but you get the idea!
So what can we do for burnout?
Burnout simply means the body hasn't been getting enough airtime. We need to fill the tank again. This can mean scheduling more "me"-time or getting back into your exercise or yoga routine. It can also mean bringing in an outside practitioner such as a bodyworker or somatic therapist to help support connected and restorative states.
If you want many decades of productivity out of your body then you will need to invest in it. Nothing is more valuable than your health.
This is what your body can feel like!!
Practice: Tap, shake, sway (8 mins)
Eight minutes of movement to shake loose what's been sitting in the body. Good for days when you want to invite more life and energy.
To understand how stress builds up in the body and turns into burnout, read resolved vs. accumulated stress. And if you’d like more support, you could join a breathwork class or schedule a free consultation.