Last week, burnout hit me out of nowhere.
My house looked like a tornado had moved in and didn’t offer rent money, Tropical storm Debby came through causing leaks in the roof with no end in sight, the kids needed to start there shopping in preparation for school, and my to-do list at work … well, that’s a full-plate of never-ending with a side of drama.
The laundry pile had started to resemble a small mountain, the roofer couldn’t get on the roof until the rain stopped, the wifi had a mind of it’s own and my work projects were staging a protest; that was just the short list.
I tried to juggle it all though it wasn’t going well.
I kept getting distracted by everything else I wasn’t doing.
POV: Learning that context switching isn’t my thing, after decades on earth.
Nothing was getting done and I was sinking faster than a rock in a pool.
So I did something I usually don’t do … I decided to take a mental health day from work and everything else.
I eased my way on the couch, grabbed something to eat, ignored the mess, and binge-watched some of the Olympic games on tv.
The chores, lists and work was piling up but I told myself what’s the worst that can happen if I took some time for myself to regroup.
Thankfully, I started to feel human again.
I tackled the chores the next day with renewed energy.
Though maybe it was because I was getting inspired by the games.
And guess what? The world didn’t end because I took a break.
Here are my takeaways …
- Sometimes doing nothing is the best solution—Taking a break can recharge your batteries more effectively than pushing through exhaustion.
- Recognize the signs—When you’re burned out, it’s okay to step back and focus on self-care. Your to-do list can wait.
- Focus on one thing—Narrowing down to one task at a time can help reduce being overwhelmed.
Burnout can sneak up on you; it’s important to take breaks and prioritize yourself for staying balanced and effective.
What do you do when you feel burnout?
