I have come to learn that we all go through stages of burnout. No matter how advanced you are, if you aren’t setting boundaries and caring for yourself then life starts to feel like much more of a struggle. I recently came across a video by Julie Santiago, one of my favorite coaches, who provided three simple steps for combatting burn out.
1. Fill your cup first. If you give to everyone else before caring for yourself, then you will deplete your energy and end up resentful. If you instead fill yourself first, you can be of service from a place of wholeness, and are able to keep your own energy.
2. Be a renegade. You may work at an office where everyone eats lunch at your desk, but that doesn’t mean that you have to. Find little ways to fill more joy in your day.
3. Remember who you are outside of work. This was my favorite piece of advice. When we were younger, being a student didn’t define us. We had hobbies, we had friendships, we filled our time with more wonder. As adults, this doesn’t have to change. Your self worth is not your job and you can find activities that you still enjoy. For example, waking up 20 minutes early to write each day allows me to think of myself as more than just the roles I play.