How to Deal With Spiritual Burnout
Updated: Oct 7, 2020
We're living in wild times.
On one hand I am thrilled to see so much meaningful change take place and flood my social media timelines. On another hand, I must admit that I am finding myself emotionally and Spiritually tired.
Mama's gonna need a second or she might burnout, you feel me?
Noticing Spiritual Burnout
How do you know you're reaching the end of your energy and emotional capacity? You might feel impatient and irritable with others and even yourself. Your ego might be playing certain narratives that dismiss your mental health and your own needs, like saying things like "I'm not entitled to a break" or "It would be careless for me to tune out of the conversation."
On a physical level, Spiritual burnout can also show up as fatigue or lethargy. A low drive to do things that you enjoy and lack of motivation to participate in activities and conversations you care about.
This is our body's way of going into "low power mode" before completely shutting off and burning out.
Listen to the signs that tell you to get rest.
If you've been feeling overwhelmed or on the edge of Spiritual Burnout, here are my top 5 self-care tips that have been making all the difference.
SLEEP HYGIENE Sleep hygiene is exactly as it sounds - keeping up with your physical and spiritual wellbeing is a hygiene issue. During sleep the brain falls into its deepest state of consciousness and rest. This means that it's able to process things, recollect memories, further learn, and rewire it's neural pathways (a fancy way of saying it is making DOPE connections) while we're snoozing away! Quality of sleep is usually the first thing to go when we're stressed. TIP: Try to be IN bed before you're tired. Don't wait until you're absolutely worn out to "crash." TRY THIS: Chamomile tea 1-2 hours before your desired bedtime. If you have access to supplements, try taking Melatonin 2 hours before bed for added natural aid.
PICK YOUR CORE CREW Making sure you have at least 2 - 3 people that you consider to be a part of your support system. These can be friends or family that you can call on to have heart-to-hearts and non-judgemental conversation. Even if it's for a rant or a good cry, it's important to recognize and release what we're going through with others. NOT SURE WHERE TO START? Try starting the conversation with something like, "Hey, with everything that's been going on I really need someone to talk to. If you have the space and time to chat it would mean a lot to me." Or start with checking in on others first, "These times have been really overwhelming, I wanted to make sure you're doing ok. I hope you know that I'm here to talk if you want to."
BUILD YOUR WELLNESS TEAM Healthcare is so more than your family doctor. Having at least 1-2 other specialists and practitioners that help you with your personal growth and wellbeing can be integral to combatting burnout. KEEPING IT ACCESSIBLE: Instagram is a great resource for when services and knowledge are otherwise too expensive or just not accessible at this time. Following accounts like @indigenius_mental health (for my QTBIPOC Folx!) and @the.holistic.psychologist are great accounts to help you with tips on psychology and finding out about resources.
MINDFUL REMINDERS Most of the time, we don't realize that we're burning ourselves out until we've hit the absolute bottom. Our intention is to be able to pick up on the signs of burnout happening and taking preventative steps to care for our wellbeing. ACTION STEP: Open a blank document or note and write out the things that are necessities for you to have a balanced day. Is it 8 hrs of sleep? More than the recommended amount of water? How many meals a day? How many breaks a day? Set gentle reminders for yourself at certain times to give yourself a little "nudge" when it's time to take a break or tune into your needs. (Important to note that these can get annoying. I try to only turn these on at times where I feel myself losing energy or momentum)
MAKE TIME FOR PLAY In North America we've managed to create a culture where productivity is the only equation for progress. This is not ok. Make time to schedule in moments for play. Your happiness is important. Having that video call with your friends is important. Watching that movie is important. Doing that meditation is important. Whatever it is that gets you feeling more refreshed and more aligned with yourself, is important. YOUR HAPPINESS is non-negotiable. So why do we think our hobbies and playful activities are secondary to our health? They're not.
For more resources check out:
21-day Meditation Series on Youtube
To say "hi" on a more personal level, feel free to connect with me on IG (@tjdailymagic)
Keep well and stay magical,
xo TJ