Preventing Burnout by doing - NOTHING
There are so many amazing things we can do to be healthy and to create wonderful lives - playing, exercising, eating healthy foods, sleeping, being with family and friends, and so on.
One thing we don’t often talk about in our “do more” culture is the idea that doing nothing at all can also be healthy and prevent burnout.
For a variety of reasons, many of my conversations these days (this is Carey) involve the words “burnout” and “exhaustion.”
One solution? Giving ourselves permission to do nothing. This can be challenging for us, because we may:
define ourselves by how much we accomplish
want to feel relevant and important
feel like we’ll miss something when we opt out
worry about looking/being lazy
get the message from our culture that we need to always be “doing something” to be of value
But when we don’t take breaks and rejuvenate ourselves we get exhausted and that can lead to burnout.
Burnout happens when we get used to that stress of always being behind on things, and always trying to get it all done. We tell ourselves - and others - that we don’t have the time for fun or play, that there’s too much to do.
The writer Brene Brown has said that there is inherent vulnerability in doing nothing, as we have to trust that we are lovable for who we are, not for what we do.
So go ahead - give doing nothing a chance!
Action Steps: These ideas are modified from Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly:
Dare to be honest about what burnout looks like for you so you can notice when it’s happening. What do your loved ones say changes when you are nearing the burnout point? I get resentful that other people aren’t working as hard as I am (who says I have to work so hard?) and it leaks out in how I talk to them. And I get sick - which essentially forces me to take that break.
Dare to set boundaries - practice saying no to the things that don’t really matter, so you can say yes to the things that do (which may mean a nap). If you find yourself saying yes out of obligation rather than really wanting to do it - try to say no! (Or at least say “let me think about it” and then say no).
Dare to identify when and where you get rejuvenated and schedule that into your life. Make time for the things that heal you, and that make you feel good about yourself. Daily practices such as walking, meditating, exercising, talking with friends, and so on are all great!
