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Navigating Burnout and Embracing Self-Care: A Reflective Journey into 2024
Hello, hello, hello! I am very excited to be back podcasting. You may not have noticed how long it has been since I last posted a podcast, but it's been a minute. And there are some reasons why. Today, I want to talk about burnout, stress, and taking care of yourself. Also, I'll share where I've been and what's been going on with me. So, that's what today's episode is all about. It's a new year, and with that often comes setting new goals and reflecting on what has happened leading up to the new year.
For me, personally, I was feeling out of whack, not my typical self. We had some time after Christmas between Christmas and New Year's to get away. I was so ready for it because I was really feeling this sense of being burned out, stretched to the max. Also, I wasn't really taking care of myself, making everything so much worse. I'm glad I had that break to be with my family and take a step away from work, our house, and daily kid activities, which, you know, just add to all the other stress going on in life.
Reflecting back, since I had time away from those things, I reflected on and found that I was stressed, really stressed. I was on the hamster wheel of trying to get things done, take care of the family, and keep my businesses going. I just felt like I needed a break, and thankfully, I got one. This past fall has been wonderful and also hard. In our interior design business, we started selling cabinets, adding another layer to the existing business. There were growing pains, a lot of learning, and excitement about new clients and projects. However, it ended up wearing on me personally.
Adding that to all the other things in my life, like serving my Crunchi clients, managing family needs, and being a good wife and pet owner, it became a lot. Taking time after Christmas allowed me to look back and realize that I was almost living with a very low-grade depression and burnout level. In reflecting, I could see it in certain ways. I felt less confident, didn't look good in pictures, and wasn't taking care of myself as I should.
I was still doing my yoga regularly, but not eating healthy. Going to bed late, not getting up early enough to make a healthy meal, and rushing to practices or games in the afternoon and evening. I wasn't prioritizing making a meal plan or grocery shopping for healthy meals. It became a vicious cycle where I wasn't eating healthy, not feeling good in my body, and having a negative impact on my self-esteem and self-confidence.
Another aspect was not seeing friends as often, feeling a bit down in the dumps. I'm grateful for some sunshine, a break in California, good family time, and readiness to reset for 2024.
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Another thing I was doing, which you might relate to, was reacting instead of planning. I had over 1000 unread emails in my inboxes, avoiding looking at them, avoiding focusing on tasks, and procrastinating. This feeling of burnout is common in the busy fourth quarter of the year.
If you're feeling this way or coming out of a fog, it's a good idea to take some time to reflect, whether through journaling or going for a walk. Give yourself time to think and plan for how you want to change. Another important step is to create new ways to take care of yourself. As busy moms and women, we often don't prioritize self-care enough, but it's crucial. Just like on an airplane, you need to put your own mask on first before helping others.
Reflecting back, I realized that prioritizing self-care is essential. Find what makes you feel better and schedule it into your daily life. Whether it's doing your hair and makeup, baking, spending time in nature, or any other activity that brings you joy and relaxation. Focusing on yourself will make you happier, and your family will benefit too.
My last tip is to create a plan. Carve out time on the weekend to plan your week. Get creative with how you organize your life. For example, using a family calendar to plan meals and even include recipes. Copying events in the calendar for future dates helps in staying organized and less reactive.
These are my three tips for avoiding burnout and stress management in 2024. I'm sure you have more tips, and I would love to hear about your strategies for maintaining calm and peace in the coming year.
