In the depths of burnout, it can feel like there is no way out, as if the road to recovery is uncertain, and you don’t even know where to start.
Trust me, I know that feeling very well. As I've mentioned before, I am an expert in being burned out; I know the dark places your mind can go, the daily rollercoaster of emotions that result in crashing and burning, the helplessness, the doubt, the fear, and that isn’t even getting started on the physical symptoms that are crippling on a daily basis. That is why I have become an expert in burnout recovery and prevention—I want to help you get back in control of your life and your health.
I want this article to be a comfort to you, a tight hug, and a whisper in your ear to let you know you can get through this. It might not feel like it right now, but believe me, there is hope! You might feel like no one could possibly understand the weight of the emotion and fatigue that you are carrying. That you are alone in this and don’t have any support to make the change in your life you know you badly need. Please know that there is a way, and I can help you get there.
First of all, know that the symptoms you are experiencing with burnout are likely common (believe it or not) when things in life get on top of you, and you feel like we are not in control (I do always advise speaking with your GP about any symptoms you may be experiencing). It is very likely that if you started a conversation with relatives, friends, or people in your community about burnout, many of them would admit to having felt those symptoms or to currently experiencing those symptoms.
Modern life, as we know it, throws a multitude of stressors and overwhelm at us at every opportunity, and it is bloody difficult to navigate!! We feel like we must be constantly connected to our phones, emails, social media, the news… this is a completely different type of stress that our bodies and minds were made to handle. One example is if you pick up your phone in the morning as soon as you open your eyes and start scrolling social media or the news in bed, it is likely that you are going to start your day off consuming something that is not going to make you feel good—whether that is an unsolicited brutal attack on a country or a group of people or if it is the perfect life of an influencer that makes you feel inadequate in your own life and self—it isn’t the start to the day you need.
I digress; the point I wanted to make is that you are not alone; there are many people who can relate to how you are feeling. And there are many people, places, resources, and communities that can support you in your burnout recovery journey. At the end of this article, I will list some resources that you can make use of right now to help you with this. Not forgetting my recently released FREE e-book—Revive, Recover, Renew—My 3B Approach to overcoming burnout. You can get that by subscribing to my mailing list on my homepage.
In this book, I dive into how having a realistic, straightforward approach to making change with your habits will transform how you think and feel. It will revitalize your health and your wellbeing and allow you to feel prepared to deal with the everyday stressors in your life.
But before we get into the nutrition and lifestyle habit change, you do have to start by taking some steps to shift your mindset to recover and re-energize:
1. Decide that you deserve to feel better than you currently do.
2. Slow down—put on the breaks and give yourself some space.
3. Do a life audit—evaluate what is bringing you joy and what is bringing you down.
4. Invite change—determine what is within your control to change. There will always be things that are out of our control; we want to take the focus off these things.
5. Rest & Recharge—where possible, take some time off.
6. Consider Therapy—Seeking therapy can be incredibly helpful in working through your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
I am not saying that doing any of these things is easy; it is bloody hard! These are normally the things that will keep you stuck in your burnout. Once you can make some progress with making change with these, then you will be in the right place to start making diet and lifestyle change to take you to the next level of recovery.
Make sure you are subscribed to my mailing list to keep up to date with all of my burnout recovery and prevention content. I will delve into my 3B Blueprint and the steps involved in my upcoming posts.
If you are feeling like you need immediate support please contact your doctor or use these resources-