Be mindful to avoid burnout in your every day life
"The Ravens brought him bread and meat ... and he drank from the brook"
- 1 Kings 17:6 (NIV)
When I was a young nurse, I was cautioned about "burnout." I'd never heard the term before. It was referring to the mental and emotional fatigue many medical caregivers experience.
I've learned a lot about burnout since those early days. It can affect anyone, and can encompass any area of our life. We can get burned out in relationships or our jobs. We can even become burned out spiritually. This happens when we think our relationship with God is based on performing perfectly.
A simple explanation of burnout is when we become stressed out to the point of being exhausted physically, emotionally or both. This even happened in Bible days.
The prophet Elijah was so mentally and physically exhausted after a battle he fought, he was unable to fight his next battle, which was only a single opponent. To recover, God had him rest under a tree and fed him.
In our busy culture, I think most people have experienced feeling burned out at some level.
New relationships, jobs, or working toward our lives' passions make our souls soar. But, day after day, too much activity or not enough rest can make us tend to fizzle out. When we start finding ourselves too tired to continue or seriously frustrated all the time, it may be a time to take a step back and look at what's happening.
Burnout can be severe and, in those cases, may require medical attention from a physician or other therapy. Most burnout can be remedied through simple changes or striving for some balance in our lives.
If you start feeling this way, start by looking where your expectations are too great or you are doing too much. Observe if you are over obligated because you are saying "yes" too often. You could be your own worst enemy. Many times you can rearrange your unrealistic schedule.
Work on your attitude. Make a mental list of the positives. Search for things to be grateful for and focus on those.
You might have to change jobs if the stress is severe. I've done that in the past. If you can't, work on your attitude.
Cut corners. Reading books on how you can simplify your lifestyle or downsize could help.
Try to laugh. Watch a funny movie, laugh with a friend or read some jokes a few minutes each day. It can lift the stress.
Take some space for a while. A vacation may do some good. Or a rest from constant texting or talking with your friends. Taking a break from complaining may work wonders. Complaining steals our joy and peace.
Eat a balanced diet. God made sure Elijah had some protein and carbohydrates in his diet to strengthen him.
Pray and ask God to show you any changes you need to make. He showed a friend of mine to take daily walks. She initiated walking into her schedule and, over time, it revived her energy.
Burnout can happen when we tend to neglect our own needs. Don't be self-centered, but remain mindful to take control and put the energy back in your own life.
• Annettee Budzban is an author, speaker, life coach, nurse and Bible teacher. Contact her for information on her Writing for Fun or Profit conference in February. Annettee is available to speak to your church group, business, civic organization or be your personal life coach. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.