13 Dec 6 Tips to Move Through Emotional Exhaustion

Are you feeling exhausted lately?

To be totally honest I am writing to you Sunday at 3am because I could not sleep.
I am a Great sleeper usually and have actually been sleeping so much more lately – but for whatever reason my brain was going this morning … this evening … whatever time/day it is!

My husband works in the restaurant industry and a server’s mom tested positive for COVID, so of course that ripples through the rest of the staff having to get tested, quarantine, etc. The restaurant he works at decided to close for the upcoming weeks to be safe. We have been staying with my parents and he decided it was safest to stay with a coworker quarantining and waiting for the long acting test results (he’s fine, no symptoms). It’s hard not to see him and probably part of the reason I am up at 3am!

I love knowing each of you personally and want to be a human with you also 🙂 We’ve All got a story!!

Please don’t discount what you are struggling with or compare yourself to others situations.

Your feelings and emotional state is valid.

Emotional exhaustion is real and a sure fire way to burnout. When we hit burnout we fail to see things rationally and easily neglect taking care of our selves and the things that make us feel our best.

Everyone is experiencing this in different ways right now. Through many conversations I am seeing the mental aspects of the pandemic significantly out way the illness & death risks.

I just want you to know you are not alone in feeling this way (straight up exhausted!) and I wanted to share some tips with you!

What do you normally do when you feel exhausted?

Admit to yourself that You’re Exhausted

Just like with our nutrition, water intake and activity – we need to recognize where we are at first. Take a step back and assess.

Rather than putting your head down and grinding, even though you are running on “E,” acknowledge that this is not a sustainable way of working and living.

It’s exactly the opposite. You know when you’re pushing through exhaustion –

You’re not creative
You’re not doing your best work

You overlook things

You need to create space and stillness in your life and check in with yourself.

This is a super power we can All adopt if we choose to.

It can look so many different ways – but writing tends to be most effective for this.
Start making a list, write in a journal
Talk it out

What’s working well and what’s not?

What adjustments can you start to make?

This can be journaling in the morning or in the evening before bed. Whatever time of day makes sense for you.

Get Things off Your List

Go through your Calendar and Reassess

What items can be postponed, dropped or cancelled?

What’s on your list right now that’s a nice to do, but not a have to do?

If you are exhausted – you will enjoy these moments so much more when you feel better.

Switch Up Your Input

To change what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, you need to feed your brain different input.
Changing up the input changes your thinking, which changes your actions.

You can easily spend every moment obsessing over your personal and professional never ending to do list.

This is exhausting – be intentional with giving your brain fresh input.
For example, get lost in reading a story, or listening to an audio book while cleaning around the house. What you listen and read directly affects your food and energy. Change your environment, get out for walks and listen to music you love!

Do Things that are Fun and Bring you Joy

Are you taking time for fun? This may look different than what you previously do for enjoyment, but is still so important to incorporate in your life.

What does this mean to you?
Wrapping presents, connecting with friends or family, decorating Christmas cookies, baking, cooking, knitting, learning a new skill, playing an instrument, designing an addition you’ve always wanted to add.

I would love for you to share in Slack what is helpful in bringing you joy right now <3

Start With Things You Can Finish Quickly and Easily
Part of the exhaustion can come from feeling hopeless and like it’s never going to end.

Remember EVERYTHING is temporary – the rainbows and the rainstorms.

To counter act the feeling of never ending ness, choose things to start with that are quicker tasks.

This is literally the concept we go through with watching a whole Netflix series or finishing a book.

It is satisfying to finish something! This helps to give you a break from, when am I going to find time to finish this? And then just adding to that list.

Eat, Sleep, Move –

Routine and structure can easily fall short when we’re exhausted. But as we know, this is the foundation of how we show up to do anything else.

Water intake slides, food is sporadic and mindless and bedtimes get later.

The Golden Rule: Don’t try to change all these things at once, and don’t try to be perfect.

Start small, choose one thing and keep doing it. 

XO

Jennie