Everyone experiences burnout in one way or another.
Whether it’s emotionally, physically, or mentally—we will all come to a breaking point where we just can’t move forward if we don’t take proper care of our health and well-being.
Anxiety, stress, and depression are at an all-time high among Americans with our oversaturated, social and digital lifestyles. We are walking around exhausted, worn-out, unhealthy, sleep deprived, and addicted (to more than just our phones).
“Stress is a silent killer. According to the American Heart Association, one in every five deaths are due to stress-related heart attacks.”
So, how are YOU taking care of YOUR emotional health?
Let’s take a short quiz to find out by honestly answering the questions below:
- When someone asks you how you are doing, do you often respond saying, “I’m so tired,” or “I’m so busy!”?
- Do you get less than 7 hours of sleep each night? (Or crash into your recliner as soon as you get home from work?)
- Do you wish you could have more time to simply be present? To be a listening ear—not a fixer, a saver, a creator, or a dependence for someone else?
- Have you become easily irritated in the last two weeks (i.e. experienced mood swings, became angry in traffic, or allowed what should have been an anthill turn into an avalanche)?
- Do you keep burning the midnight oil when you should be unplugging, unwinding, relaxing, and enjoying?
If you answered yes to 3 or more of the questions above, you need to take your emotional health into serious consideration.
As a clinical psychologist, I am constantly studying human behavior. I’ve tested my theories of our overworked, stressed-out society through my clinical practice and in every day life. What I have found is that there is constant pressure to measure up and to do better. The expectation shows up in our schools, our sports, our families, and even in our spirituality.
But the simple truth is this: We will never actually meet the unrealistic mark of success we’ve set for ourselves.
So WHY are we trying so hard?
Let me challenge you to shift your focus from striving to a mindset of emotional wholeness. Emotional wholeness assists in facilitating increased productivity, personal and organizational satisfaction, and a more balanced, meaningful life. Sounds good right?
Emotional health is a journey, but here are a few things you can start doing today to get going in the right direction:
- Increase your self-worth by valuing who you are and what you bring to the table.
- Focus on your strengths instead of spending so much time worrying about your weaknesses.
- Have accountability by accepting responsibility for your actions and decisions.
- Seek support from healthy relationships or a trusted counselor.
- Schedule a “worry time” designated to release your stress.
If you want to learn more about how you can live in emotional wholeness, sign up for our “Emotional Wholeness in the Midst of Stress, Fatigue, & Burnout” workshop, and you will soon be on your way to a more productive, organized, balanced, and meaningful life!
#Ianticipatejoy