Ever have a bad day? LOL! Of course we have all been there…
Here are 7 simple yet effective things that really helped me and I really hope can help you to get you through a bad day.
Take a break and practice mindfulness and a moment of prayer. This can help you gain perspective and calm your mind. You can try activities like deep breathing, meditation, or even just taking a walk and paying attention to your surroundings. Even saying the simple OUR FATHER can bring so much peace.
Connect with someone. Reach out to a friend, family member, or a professional for support. Sometimes, just talking about what’s going on can help you feel better. Don’t be shy, send that WhatsApp.
Engage in physical activity. Exercise can help reduce stress and improve your mood. It can be as simple as going for a walk or doing some stretches. GO TO GYM!
Practice self-care. Make time for things that bring you joy, like taking a warm bath, reading a book, or listening to music. PLAY YOUR FAVORITE SONG AS LOUD AS YOU CAN!
Get some rest. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and try to relax before bedtime. Don’t afraid to sneak in a nap, a 15 minute power nap can change the world.
Eat well and stay hydrated. Fuel your body with nutritious foods and stay hydrated with water. Carry a bottle around with you and make sure you’re getting your 8 glasses.
Seek professional help if needed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for support. They can help you develop coping strategies and work through your challenges.
You will have noticed that each of these 7 tips are NUMBER 1, yes, because they are meant to be. They’ll all in there to help you! No number is better than the other and sometimes you should do all of them.
But why self care even? I can GO GO GO…
Self-care is important because it helps you take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help you manage stress, improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
When you engage in self-care activities, you’re taking the time to prioritize your own needs and well-being. This can help you feel more balanced and grounded, and better equipped to handle the challenges and demands of daily life.
Self-care can also help you feel more connected to yourself and your own needs, which can lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance. By taking care of yourself, you’re also setting a good example for others and modeling healthy habits and behaviors.
Overall, self-care is an important aspect of maintaining overall health and well-being, and it’s something that everyone should prioritize in their lives.
Ever wondered why we are all so tired all the time? Why it seems like we can’t ever get enough sleep, like a 4 hour nights sleeps makes us feel like the same as 10 hours.
Burn-out, a lot like field fires, isn’t exactly something I ever actively thought about never mind something I ever thought I would go through. Never in my life did I think I would be on medication and ANTI-DEPRESSANTS to name a few.
A few years back we had a wild fire spread across the Garden Route and Nelson Mandela Bay Area here in South Africa. Homes were lost, people lost everything and fire fighters did everything in their power to stop the speed at which the fire was moving, but sometimes, even when you can smell the fire a mile away, you just simply can’t do anything to stop what’s happening…
So what is burnout/stress/fatigue even and how does this stuff happen?
“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions:
feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
reduced professional efficacy.
Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”
For me, its was and is like a wild fire…
So on some windy days around here you can smell a fire miles off. There is a fire somewhere in the area and you can smell burning grass. Thats how it happened to me, that’s how I got really badly burnt.
When the wind blows in a particular direction you can smell the fire that’s a long way off, then when the wind dies down, the smell eventually subsides and you kinda carry on with your day. The air still kinda smells and your clothes might even be affected about you move on quite quickly.
There are moments in your week, that have an affect on you, you take a couple hits, things and people hurt you little, there is an argument or two, but you shrug it off, have a glass of wine with two Panado’s and you carry on. You body is still carrying some of the things from that week, still carrying some of the memories of those moments.
Then there are some days that although there may be a fire, you find yourself upwind, so you don’t actually smell anything, you don’t notice anything, you don’t actually take a moment to check if everything is ok, cause, well you’re ok, right? But a friend tells you a story about something that happened, you see something on YouTube or you bump into an ex or friend that has memory attached it.
It’s not that it’s JUST a place of work, people or a person, or even past experiences that sneak up and remind you of hurts or trauma’s. I am who I am, you are who you are. We are all human and we are actually all in this together. But on some days, some days the wind really blows and all the conditions for a raging uncontrollable fire line up.
So on some days, the wind blows, the wind really blows, it’s a hot day and everything begins to move the fire in your direction. You smell the smoke and eventually you start seeing the smoke and at that point, there is absolutely nothing you can do, AND there is nothing you could’ve done to prepare you for the moment and no amount of water in the world is going to slow this all down.
Recognizing the signs of burnout.
There are many potential warning signs of depression, and they can vary from person to person. Some common signs and symptoms of depression include:
Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Insomnia or oversleeping
Changes in appetite and/or weight
Loss of energy and fatigue
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Difficulty functioning at work, school, or in social situations
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicidal behavior
It’s important to note that experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that someone is depressed. However, if you are experiencing several of these symptoms and they are interfering with your daily life, it’s a good idea to speak with a mental health professional for an evaluation.
So stay with me on wild fires for a moment…
Wildfires can be dangerous for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is the intense heat and flames that can cause serious burns and injuries. Wildfires can also produce large amounts of smoke, which can be harmful to breathe and can cause respiratory issues. In addition, the smoke from a wildfire can reduce visibility, making it difficult to see and navigate. Have you been in a situation like this or have you met people like this?
Another danger of wildfires is that they can cause damage to homes and other structures. Wildfires can spread quickly and can destroy homes, buildings, and other infrastructure in their path. They can also disrupt utilities, such as electricity and water, and make it difficult for people to evacuate safely. Have you been in a situation like this or have you met people like this?
Finally, wildfires can have a major impact on the environment. They can destroy wildlife habitats and kill or injure wildlife. Wildfires can also release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Have you been in a situation like this or have you met people like this?
Overall, wildfires can be very dangerous and have a range of impacts on people, communities, and the environment. It is important to take steps to prevent wildfires and to follow evacuation orders and other safety guidelines if a wildfire does occur. Have you been in a situation like this or have you met people like this?
Where to from here?
Recovering from burnout or depression can be a challenging process, and it is important to prioritize your physical and mental health. Here are a few tips that may help:
Seek professional help: Consider seeing a mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor. They can help you identify the causes of your burnout or depression and develop a treatment plan.
Take care of your physical health: Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. These activities can help improve your mood and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Practice stress management techniques: There are many stress management techniques that can help you cope with burnout or depression, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Find what works best for you and make it a regular part of your routine.
Set boundaries: It’s important to set boundaries with your work and other commitments to ensure that you are not overextending yourself. Take breaks when you need them, and don’t be afraid to say no to tasks or activities that may be overwhelming.
Seek support: Talk to friends, family, or a support group about what you are going through. It can be helpful to have a strong support system to lean on during this time.
Remember, it’s okay to ask for help and to take the time you need to recover. It may be a long and difficult process, but with the right support and self-care, it is possible to overcome burnout and depression.
Do we need more space?
People who are suffering from mental or emotional health “issues” don’t need “space”. Thoughts can be dark places and it’s impossible to get through them alone. Isolation and loneliness is a killer. It’s haunting.Message your friends, tell them you love them, tell them you value them, tell them want and need them around in the world and that there presence matters. Tell them that when they are ready to try brave the world again and put pants on to leave the house, you’ll be there ready to hold their hand and take it one step at a time. Tell them you love them again and that you really really mean it.
