<\/span><\/p>\n

“The reason why people lives get so complicated is because you’re trying to live it for someone else other than yourself. That is the key. make it simple. When you just start doing it for yourself. And that is not a selfish thing, that is an honorable thing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

-Oprah<\/span><\/p>\n

I started writing this post 4 weeks ago, and I’m just now posting it today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps it’s the crippling anxiety, and the feeling that I’m not performing well at my job. Perhaps it’s the lack of creative energy and motivation. The simplest tasks feel impossible to complete and the items on my to do lists have grown fangs and are threatening to swallow me whole. I dream about work non-stop and literally can’t leave the house without checking my email every 5 minutes for fear I might miss an important message.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is burnout.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All the way out. And I’ve been feeling this way for several months. I hear that when you get to this point, your body is telling you to REST.<\/span><\/p>\n

It turns out that I’m not very good at resting. When I try, my mind races about the things I could be doing. When I sit down to unwind and watch a movie I open my laptop because I feel unproductive JUST watching a movie. And so, I end up missing out on the movie AND work.<\/span><\/p>\n

The guilt sets in, and the vicious cycle of feeling worthless takes another lap around the track. I don’t go anywhere other than work, I don’t cook. Instead I use Doordash to deliver Vietnamese food for the third time this week. I tell friends that I’m busy when in reality I’m busy hiding underneath the blankets because it feels impossible to hold a conversation for longer than 5 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

I know this is just a temporary season in my life, but I feel the need to be transparent about every season, not just the good ones. The truth is I feel stuck and I\u2019m not quite sure how to fight it but I do know that the things I\u2019ve listed below have helped me. I hope these help you if you\u2019re experiencing \u201cthe stuck\u201d right now:<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn how to say no<\/h3>\n

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work or in your personal life, chances are you may need to say no a little more than you say yes. This has taken me a lifetime to figure out. I just started saying “no” last year. It’s okay, the world won’t implode.<\/span><\/p>\n

I watch really, REALLY bad movies.<\/h3>\n

For me, watching a really bad movie with terrible dialogue and a laughable plot makes the world seem a little less difficult and a little more simplistic. \u00a0Someone please watch <\/span>First Kill<\/span><\/a> so we can talk about how unrealistic that ending (and beginning and middle) was!<\/span><\/p>\n

Unplug<\/h3>\n

I do social media for my day job, so I have to do a little more in order to unplug from my phone and other tech devices. One way I do that is by scheduling my posts ahead of time.\u00a0<\/span>If I know there’s nothing pressing that weekend with work, I’ll turn off the notifications for email as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Write it out<\/h3>\n

In college, I used to journal daily, but that was 7 years ago. When I brought it up to my therapist, she recommended that I start bullet journaling. I purchased a blank notebook on my 28th birthday this year and haven’t missed a day. It’s mind-blowing to me how relaxing and satisfying it us to have your whole day laid out before you on paper. It truly is grounding. And fun!<\/span><\/p>\n

Build community<\/h3>\n

If you’re anything like me this can be one of the hardest things to do. But it’s so important not to isolate yourself from the people that love and care about you the most. When I\u2019m feeling burned out, I find that the best solution is calling a trusted family member or friend. Sometimes it helps to have someone to listen to you, even if it\u2019s only for 10 minutes. It helps, and it makes you feel seen. <\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t force it <\/span><\/h3>\n

When\u2019s the last time you let yourself just \u201cbe\u201d? As a creative person, I tend to feel empty when I\u2019m not in the process of creating something. So I attempt to force myself. I sit at the computer screen and stare. I scroll through the images and blogs I created months ago, longing for the spark that I had, wondering when it will find its way back to me. This longing brings even more frustration. Instead of continuing to do this, I\u2019m trying to learn how to be patient with myself. I\u2019m trying to give myself permission to just \u201cbe\u201d. To sit in silence while God orchestrates what I cannot see (and to be okay with that).<\/span><\/p>\n

To let my mind wander where it wants, and go where it needs to go. <\/span><\/p>\n

To breathe in, and out.<\/span><\/p>\n

To remember that it will pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

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