Burnout – Protect and Recover

  In my Toastmasters Club meeting last night, one of our speakers presented great tips on how we can prevent and recover from burnout. You know – the end-of-year, going crazy burnout we experience regardless of what we celebrate. Here are six of the tips that we will do well to follow:

• Stop denying. Listen to the wisdom of your body. Begin to freely admit the stresses and pressures which physically, emotionally, or mentally manifest themselves. Listen to your body.
  
• Avoid isolation. Don' t do everything alone. Develop or renew intimacies with friends and loved ones. Closeness not only brings new insights, but is also anathema to agitation and depression.
  
• Diminish intensity in your life. Pinpoint those areas or aspects which summon up the most concentrated intensity and work towards alleviating that pressure.
  
• Stop overnurturing. If you routinely take on other people's problems and responsibilities, learn to gracefully disengage. Try to get some nurturing for yourself.
  
• Take care of your body. Don't skip meals, abuse yourself with rigid diets, disregard your need for sleep, or break doctor appointments. Take care of yourself nutritionally.
  
• Keep your sense of humor. Integrate happy moments into your life. Few people suffer burnout when they have fun. Laugh, and stress levels go down.
  

Thanks to Kaushal, and Holy Cross Hospital, for these tips!
(Greater Olney Toastmasters, Club #1999)