Burn out is something many of us go through. Last week we looked at what causes our bodies and minds to reach this severe level of exhaustion in the blog, ‘How do I know if I am burnt out?’. This week, Colleen tells us how to overcome burn out and find healing.
Listening to our bodies and acting to alleviate stress in the here and now becomes our priority when we are burn out. Engaging with a counsellor or mentor will provide some perspective on the load you carry and allow you to explore how to bring a healthy balance to your life. Where there are some self-sabotaging behaviours such as the need to over achieve or perfectionist tendencies, these also can be explored and understood.
Irrespective, it is important that you address those aspects of your life that have created pressure including unrealistic expectations that you have been performing under for so long. Change is always uncomfortable, discouraging us from sustaining new practices, and the support of a counsellor, good friend or work colleague who brings support, encouragement and accountability to your change process.
What are ways we can handle the effects of burnout?
When a person experiences burn out it is likely that they are no longer functioning well and feel desperate for help. Self-care practices are an essential; just as a burnt-out house will take time to restore, so our bodies and mind need time out to rest and repair. An oft quoted verse in the Bible says ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46.10). Where our minds and bodies have been ‘mistreated’ by constant pressure and external ‘doing’, the Psalmist invites us to stillness. Stillness will feel foreign and uncomfortable but at the same time this practice allows us to connect with our inner-self and God who lives within us all.
How you find stillness is a personal journey; going to a church service and engaging in a prayer practice may be helpful and/or you may consider investing in some counselling which provides a safe space for self-reflection and awareness as to the particular practices that will bring you back to good health and well-being.
Why is it important to deal with burnout?
Burnout is a devastating and crippling state. Just as a burn out house will remain a lifeless, blackened shell now overgrown with weeds if left abandoned, our physical and mental health will continue to deteriorate further, taking on more serious physical and mental conditions that will negatively impact your quality of life and may well shorten your life span left unaddressed.
Are you becoming burnt out? Do you struggle to rest? Here’s what you need to do: Contact Colleen on 0434 337 245 or Duncan on 0434 331 243 for a FREE 10 minute consultation on how we can best help you or book online .
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