Make no mistake. Burnout is real.

In these uncertain, chaotic, and constantly shifting times, if you find yourself feeling unmotivated, blah, unable to focus, frequently tired, or more uptight than usual, it’s wise to check in with yourself to see if you’re edging into burnout.

Never in my adult lifetime have I witnessed so much collective stressors in our society and world. Sometimes, I fear looking at the morning headlines! We’re jumping from crisis to crisis as a country and as an empath, I can feel a heavier weight on all our shoulders.

A new study shows many of us are working longer hours but are actually less productive than pre-pandemic. Working from home has its perks but a huge downside is the blurry line of when to “officially” unplug. The tension of navigating all the shifting paradigms is exhausting, isn’t it?

One of the upsides of quarantining is that women have had more margin to ask themselves, 'Is this really what I want to be doing?'" In response, some decided to work fewer hours or with more flexibility to work from home, so they could create more time for family or hobbies.

Some women have made the drastic decision to leave their jobs, so much that there is a trend dubbed, “The Great Resignation” that started during the pandemic.

Whether it is the stress from pandemic or the desire to have greater career satisfaction, burnout was the main reason that a study found that 3 out of 4 women in senior-level positions thought about downshifting or leaving their careers. If you’re feeling burned out, you likely are.

Many of my clients are so purpose-driven, they can be oblivious to the fact that they are grinding at work way more than is healthy. When you start feeling increased tension in your neck/shoulders, have poorer quality sleep, or are just tired and irritable, it can be so easy to dismiss these and keep moving. But this is how it all starts.

Make a habit of checking in with yourself every month to take a pulse on your mental state. Schedule self-care activities into your calendar to pour back into yourself. Yes, as women we tend to want to give, give, give, but at some point we have to figure ourselves back into this equation too.  

Ideas for self-care activities include relaxation, meditation, massage, dance class, yoga, walking, picking up a new hobby, spending time reading or writing, etc. For me walking is one of those things I actually put in my calendar in the evenings because it is a way for me to refresh, recharge, unwind, process my day, get my exercise in, be outdoors, and listen to music. Yeah, I bundled all kind of perks in my walking so even on days when I’m tired, I’m motivated to do it. See how you can use that hack for yourself too!

Today, consider what changes you need to make to get back to a place of stability—at least the kind you can actually control. To start, what does a healthier balance of food, exercise, sleep, play, family, work, look like for you? What steps can you take this week to nourish your body, mind, spirit?