“My husband and I would like to know: How do you and your husband prevent physical, emotional and mental burnout, when high emotions, lack of sleep and nutrition is neglected due to the high activity?”
The truth is that you can’t prevent burnout without taking care of yourself. You just can’t.
That’s why we get burnt out in the first place, because we’re neglecting critical needs and treating ourselves like rubber balls that can bounce and bounce and bounce and never break.
Well, it’s not like that. Sometimes when you drop a ball you find out it was made of glass, and not taking care of yourself will show you that the ball of self-care is a glass ball covered with a layer or two of rubber – it will bounce a bit and then as the rubber wears away, everything cracks into pieces.
Taking care of yourself is a process. Sometimes you do better and sometimes not as well. There are three things that I’m going to suggest you start with, to keep yourself on an even keel:
1) Get enough rest. Everything is harder when you’re tired, and it seems more overwhelming. I’m a much more flexible and kind person when I’m rested – to myself and those around me!
2) Regular, nourishing meals – What can I say, skipping meals leads to low blood sugar and irritation. You have to eat! And once you’re eating, include foods that your body recognizes as food – not stuff that’s so processed than even a prehistoric wouldn’t have a long enough memory to remember where it came from!
3) Make time to do something that you love, something that renews your inner self. It doesn’t have to be every day, it doesn’t have to take a long time – but make some space for this to happen in your life.
Now, I know you’re wondering, “but how can I take care of myself when there are so many more important things that need to be done?”
Nothing is more important than lovingly taking care of yourself. Really. Read that again and again, say it out loud until you start to believe it.
And then make the commitment to yourself to put first things first, recognizing where you belong on your to-do list: at the very top.
Avivah
