Are You Over Feeling Burnt Out?

Mindset

Are You Over Feeling Burnt Out?

If you are feeling burnt out right now, you are not alone. A lot of people are feeling burnt out after the last couple of years. It has been a lot. You may be finding yourself burnt out with your work, having little patience and energy for your family, and loved ones. The time you do set aside for yourself is usually the first to go. Even if you do keep the time for yourself, sometimes it’s hard to take because you feel guilty or even selfish taking it.

I know sometimes it’s so much easier to focus on other people than sitting with yourself and checking in on how you are really feeling.

This can turn into feeling like you are running in a hamster wheel, and you just can’t get out.

I understand. This is exactly where I was 23 years ago. I was exhausted, burned out and had no idea what to do about it. Although I knew I wanted something more, I just wasn’t sure what that was. Until one day when I felt this seed of happiness in my gut. It was quiet, barely there but I felt happy in that moment. Was this Joy? I wasn’t completely sure, but I knew I wanted more of this feeling. I wanted my life to be light, to have more space, to be happier and be able to play more.

I had spent so much time with my head down powering through that I had lost sight of what I wanted, what I enjoyed and even who I was and who I wanted to become.

The answer I found has been a journey. I call this journey Joyful Play. Joyful Play is a journey, a practice, and a state of being.

Believe it or not, the one thing you want to do to eliminate burnout is to play more. I know it seems counter intuitive, and I can tell you it works!

I can hear what you may be thinking “who has time for play?”  I hear you and you may be surprised by what joyful play can look like for you. It will energize and revitalize you. It is not just selfcare, it is Radical Selfcare.

Just taking time for yourself doesn’t eliminate burnout. It may temporarily work but then you find yourself back in burnout. It may feel like a never-ending cycle. What matters most is HOW you spend the time you take for yourself.

Here are 3 things you can do to get started:

  1. Make sure the time you take fills your cup up. It brings joy. You’ll know the time has filled your cup up when you feel energized and excited.
  2. Experiment with different things. What brings you Joy will be unique to you. Do you enjoy more quiet things such as reading, meditating, sitting in stillness, taking a nap? This may be your Joyful Play. You may also love nature and being outside hiking, biking, walking, skiing, etc. Or it may be socializing with your favorite people. Meeting for a cup of coffee, a phone call, dinner with friends, etc. These are just a few examples. Be curious and experiment. See what recharges your battery, fills your cup up and revitalizes you.
  3. Stay curious and open. Play with things you have discovered fill your cup up and experiment with seeing if you can fit them into 5-, 10-, or 30-minute increments.

As you begin to experiment with taking time for yourself and exploring if things bring you Joy or not, keep an awareness around how you feel. When you begin to take time for yourself and put yourself as a priority a lot can pop up for you.

We think Play and finding Joy should be easy but it’s not always. Sometimes it can get a little sticky and messy as patterns come up that are ready for you to clear. If it becomes sticky and messy for you it doesn’t mean working through it is absent of JOY.

This is how I began to free myself 23 years ago. I invite you to join me on this most wonderful journey of Joyful Play.

It’s time to remember how amazing and worthy YOU are!

We Can Only Be the Perfection from Which We Come! ~Lauri Rubinstein

Here are a few resources if you would like to take this a step further:

As always, I would love any questions or feedback.

Much Love,

Lauri

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