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Happy Monday, pretties!
I hope you all had an amazing Easter weekend! We had a really nice weekend relaxing and hanging out with family. Anddd since it’s the first Monday of the month, that means it’s time for another Motivation Monday post! This one has been a long time coming and something that I have been struggling with personally for the past six months or so. Below I’m sharing a bit of my story and five ways for preventing burn out.
Sweater c/o | Levi’s Jeans (old – similar here) | Heels c/o | Futon c/o | Ottoman (on sale!) | Tassel Garland c/o | Mug c/o | Necklace | Target and Pier1 Pillows (old – similar here)
5 WAYS FOR PREVENTING BURN OUT
Time to be honest…my life has been completely insane lately and it’s totally because of me. I made the decision for it to be that way because I have a hard time saying NO. I like to please people and help them out, but in exchange I am left exhausted and burnt out. Last week was spring break and it was a revelation for me. I said no to everyone but myself and it felt good and was exactly what I needed after a rough few months. I like my blog to be a positive and encouraging place and it certainly evokes that through my colorful, cheerful photos. But what you don’t see is what goes on behind the scenes. You don’t see the girl that is working 16-20 hours a day between two businesses that demand her attention… the girl that falls asleep every chance she gets and is in tears because she is so exhausted all the time… the girl that is constantly stressed out from a seemingly never ending to do list. How did it get to this point? When you work for yourself, things can get out of control. You can work all day and not realize it, especially if you love the work you do. With that being said, I knew that I was taking on too much not only in my professional life but in my personal life as well. I was putting in SO much time, yet I wasn’t seeing anything come out of it. My epiphany came when I started to get bags under my eyes (something I’ve never had before), was frequently nodding off during work and realized that my hair was falling out more than usual. I saw that I cannot successfully run a business (or two) without, first and foremost, taking care of myself and this is when I decided that changes need to be made.
I know that now that spring break has passed, real life will be creeping back in. I’m going to be overworked, overwhelmed and exhausted…but only if I choose to be. I cannot be everything to everyone, I can’t learn, evolve and grow my business if I’m busy doing day-to-day tasks and I certainly can’t go after the dream I’ve worked so hard for if I’m feeling unmotivated and exhausted from taking on too much. I’ve realized that there will never be “enough time” and that I have been incredibly hard on myself these last few months and for what reason?
Last week, I really sat down and thought about what was happening: I thought about my future and made realistic goals, I thought about my past and gave myself permission to let go, and most importantly, I thought about right now…this moment… and promised myself that I would make the necessary changes for my health, wellness and sanity. I do feel like when you get to this point, you have to actively make a decision to change things, otherwise, even though you’re well-intentioned, things eventually tend to go back to the way they were without any real structure. This is why it’s important to take preventative measures initially and I’ve listed five of what I feel are the most important ones below:
Preventing Burn Out – Say NO
I know this is hard for a lot of people and honestly, this is probably my biggest fault. I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings. But you have to remember that YOU come before everyone else and if you already have too much going on (or even if you don’t), then it is completely fine to decline and not feel awful about it. Last week, I declined a handful of meetings, a ton of extra work, and the steady income of my second business…. and you know what? It felt really good. With the extra time, I felt like I actually accomplished MORE by doing less. While I still technically worked full time hours last week for the blog, I actually ended up finishing ALL of my tasks early leaving me time for personal tasks that I wasn’t able to accomplish before and more importantly, time for myself including the time to start and complete an art project I’ve been dying to do (something I haven’t made time for in YEARS). The lesson here is that you don’t have to be everything to everyone. You can still accomplish things and have time for yourself and you should NEVER feel bad about saying no because when you say no to someone else, you are saying yes to yourself.
Preventing Burn Out – Make Time for Yourself
Carving time out for yourself daily is so so important! It can’t be all work all the time and no play. I understand that this is easier said than done, especially for entrepreneurs, but that’s why it should be even more of a priority. You absolutely have to give yourself a break and make time for simple things that you love to do and that help you decompress and if that means that you need to create blocks of time in your daily schedule and set an alarm, then do it. Things as simple as taking a nap, going for a walk, reading a book, listening to music or just getting away from your phone are simple things that you can do to not only de-stress, but to improve your overall quality of life.
Preventing Burn Out – Take Care of Yourself
Sometimes when you become to immersed in your work, self-care can suffer. Staying hydrated, eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, and meditating can make a big difference in your overall appearance and the way that you feel. Making time for these things is crucial in being balanced, healthy and productive. Isn’t it ironic that you would more productive by doing less work? I’ve also found that taking the time to get ready everyday is also helpful. Taking a shower, putting on actual clothing and making yourself look presentable make a big difference in the way you feel, thus making a difference in the way you work. Lastly, take a vacation and actually be present during the vacation. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and motivated.
Preventing Burn Out – Switch Up Your Location
I know that many of you may not work from home, but if you do, I feel like switching your surroundings every once in a while is important. Things can get redundant and boring, if you are stuck in the same place day in and day out. Make it a point to take your work elsewhere every now and then. Head to the park, the beach, a cute coffee shop, a new city or even your own backyard and I promise you that you will come back feeling even more inspired.
Preventing Burn Out – Find a Hobby
Your whole life isn’t meant to be about work. Make time for yourself by learning a new skill or finding a hobby to look forward to in your off hours. Maybe it’s learning how to play an instrument, creating something fun in art class, learning some new dance moves, or reviving an old hobby that you previously didn’t make time for. Chances are that you will perform better professionally because you are making time to do things that you are interested in and excited about if you have a hobby to look forward to each day or each week.
Do you have any other tips to add for preventing burn out?
xo
Also, you have a chance to win this adorable futon! Check out my Instagram for more details <3
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Check out my other Motivation Monday Posts below:
7 Tips for Knowing Your Self Worth
Why Perfectionism is Ruining Your Life
