Do you feel like you’re constantly on the run from one responsibility to the next? Do you find yourself compromising in some important areas of your life because you have to spend more time on others? It’s unfortunately not uncommon for free time to take a backseat in modern life, but it can only go on for so long.
Burnout can pull the emergency brakes on everything, being hugely disruptive and negatively affecting your mental health. Here, we’re going to look at what you can do to prevent burnout and ensure that you have the time you need for you, your family, and the things you care about.
Beware The Temptress Overtime
While it may seem financially necessary at times, or simply more productive, to take on extra hours, chronic overtime can start stealing more of your life than you can even recognize. If you’re starting to feel the lines between personal time and work time blur, then it’s time to step back. Talk to your manager about workload adjustments and the real cause of the extra work, whether it’s understaffing, a lack of boundaries, or otherwise. Long-term success requires sustainability, not just hustle.
Outsource What Drains You
When you get home from work or drop the kids off at school, does your entire day seem to disappear into chores? Then, everyone gets back home, and it’s time to do it all over again with homework, dinner, dishes, and then bed? If so, a little outsourcing, like hiring Extreme Maids, even just once or twice a month, can free up a ton of time. Maintaining a higher level of baseline cleanliness is a lot easier. Don’t feel guilty about having someone else do your chores; think of it as buying time, and it’s easier to see how important it can be.
Make Self-Care Non-Negotiable
It’s not an indulgence. Spending some time on self-care and looking after yourself is essential if you want to keep going. However, rarely do we spontaneously decide to do it, so you should start scheduling it in your calendar. Set weekly non-negotiables for yourself: a quiet morning walk, a screen-free hour, or just 30 minutes of doing nothing, as well as more occasional big treats, like a spa day, lunch out with a friend (or yourself), and the like.
Learn To Say “No”
It’s very easy to take on more commitments because we feel guilty, want to please the people in our lives, or simply have a habit of saying “yes” before we really consider what we’re saying yes to. However, starting to really audit your calendar and knowing which events and occasions are going to drain you, versus those that are going to really help you connect with others, is important. Give space for the things you value, like a gathering with cherished friends, but feel more comfortable saying “no” to the things you don’t have the mental energy to attend.
You can’t willpower or mindset your way through burnout. At some point, something has to give. The tips above can help you find the wiggle room you need before everything falls victim to a crash of fatigue.
