Y’all, I’m feelin’ the burn!
Not a sunburn, despite the intense heat this summer brought. Not the good kind of burn after a good work out. Not a Nascar race burnout. But real-life burnout. I am done. So done.
I am tired of the mundane tasks at work. I love my job. I really do. But so much of it is literally the same thing day in and day out. And I’m tired of it. Even the parts that normally break up the routine and excite me don’t bring the joy they used to.
I am overwhelmed at home. Both my husband and I work outside the home. But on opposite schedules, so someone is always home with the kids. Which means someone is always home. Which means every moment of everyday life is happening in this house. Which is great and all, but five people living life is messy. And try as hard as we might, we just can’t seem to keep up.
I am overwhelmed with everything else. I quite literally had zero desire to write a blog this month. I have a side business selling children’s books which has been pretty close to non-existent the last few months. I just can’t seem to muster up the energy to devote to either.
Because I am tired. So very tired. And so very burnt out.
But, the truth is. I’m not done. Not even close. I’m not giving up. The tired will not win. And for anyone else out there feelin’ the burn, you’re not done yet either!
Here’s how I intend to get through the burn:
Acknowledge it. I know it seems simple and clearly I have, but it took me a bit to get here. I seemed to just have a bad attitude in general lately and quite honestly, I was getting on my own nerves. One day sitting at work, I was contemplating my recent mood and it just dawned on me. I’m burnt out. And surprisingly, simply knowing and understanding that fact has taken part of the burden off. I understand now THAT is what’s wrong. It’s ok to feel this way. But it’s not ok to wallow in it. Will it change overnight? No, it won’t. Can I just “snap out of it”? No, I can’t. But I can work on it.
Small Steps. I’m trying to do little things here and there to help. I know it’s impossible to clean my whole house top to bottom RIGHT NOW. But I do know at the end of each day, our family can work together to clean up our main living space. I can go to bed more relaxed knowing I’m waking up and starting the day in a tidy room that doesn’t cause me to feel anxious. I’m doing small things here and there to get my book business up and running again. At work, I’m asking for projects and volunteering to help in ways I haven’t before. Simply being more involved. It does put more on my plate, but it’s new and different and breaks up the monotony.
Enjoyment. I’m going to more purposefully enjoy life. I’ve recently changed my work hours and the last few months I’ve been home for dinner and bedtime, which has been amazing. But also exhausting when for the last six years, that is not something I’ve done every night. I am getting more used to it and am enjoying it. I’m making myself be more present. Tonight, for example, my oldest was giving me hugs and tickled me and before I would have tickled back and sent her on her way. Tonight, I engaged. We had a tickle fight. Her sisters joined in and all four of us were giggling. Then I yelled out for my husband to rescue me and he played the roaring monster chasing them which made them run away in giggles. And my heart was happy. It didn’t solve a single problem. But we all felt better. Happier.
If you’re feeling burnt out, please know you’re not alone! If you’ve been there and are on the other side, please share what’s helped you out. And to be completely honest, I enjoyed writing this blog post!
