Keep on keepin’ on.
Motivation. Ambition. Determination.
These are all good traits to have, but just as with anything else, they can be taken to extremes.
I have a tendency to take too much on. Right now, I am essentially working 4 jobs. I try my hardest at all of them, but there isn’t enough time to do any one of them to its fullest. Over and over I find myself facing burnout. All too often, I don’t realize it’s coming until it’s too late. I think that recently, I’ve been becoming more aware of that feeling of overwhelm sooner than I used to. Enter realization one: with practice and awareness, we can prevent ourselves from becoming too engulfed in the things that overwhelm us.
breathe in, breathe out. practicing mindfulness can help put things into perspective.
This takes a lot of self reflection. When you are in too deep, how do you react? Sleepless nights? Stress dreams? Saying yes to too many tasks? Skipping meals? The following methods might be just what you need to get yourself back on track:
I find that journaling is a huge help in recognizing warning signs early on. Sleeping patterns, daily activities, recurring thoughts and feelings are all valid topics to track, and in turn, to discover patterns. When you find yourself over-stressed, take note of how you feel and what you’re doing. You can then look for those warning signs going forward, and hopefully take preventative measures to avoid burnout.
Writing lists can be another big help for some folks. Write down everything you have on your plate. You may realize that there are some things that can be put on hold in order to ease your current burden. A list might allow you to pick out your true priorities and better manage your time. I keep spreadsheets for everything! I realize that not everyone functions this way, but sometimes getting your thoughts out on paper can really aid in determining just what’s going on.
Calendars and to do list apps are also excellent tools for scheduling your tasks in a way that gives you space to breathe. I use an app called Todoist. It’s free and lets me organize all my tasks by project, priority, and date.
If you are always trying to improve, to do more, to be more successful, to try new things, you might find there is a fine line between managing everything well and being overwhelmed. Enter realization two: sometimes it’s okay just to maintain. You don’t always need to try new strategies, pick up more work, or get more followers. There are times when all you need to do is focus on what you already do well. I’m writing this from the lens of my photography business. Even though I want to expand my market, participate in more events, do more outreach, and keep growing, now is not the right time. It’s perfectly fine if you need to focus on the things you currently have on your plate. Growth will come with time. Whatever the endeavor is, you’re no good to it if you get burned out. While you’re maintaining your project, take some time for you, too. Don’t neglect self care in the spirit of your work ethic. Many things will take longer than we want or expect them to. That’s okay. In the end, it’s better to go slow and steady than to grow so quickly you implode. That’s my two cents, anyway.
