Burnout Recovery Tips: How to Create Space, Reset, and Reclaim Your Energy

Burnout is a word we hear quite a lot these days. Maybe you have had a friend who has talked about feeling it or maybe you are that friend. Today’s mindset of, work hard, play hard, hustle, push, just do it… it’s no wonder millions of people each year are feeling drained, scattered, lost and just over it.

So what is burnout exactly and what causes it?

Quite simply, burnout, a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. Anything that pushes you past your limits too consistently, for too long, can put you at risk for burnout. Signs of burnout can include extreme fatigue, detachment, cynicism, feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated. It can also cause headaches and disrupt sleeping patterns.

We often associate burnout with our jobs, and that is a very common culprit. This is because a demanding job can disrupt our work/life balance, have unrealistic deadlines for us to meet, heavy workloads, and other stressors.

But did you know that even in your personal life you can experience burnout?  

If you are like most, you wake up, check your phone or turn on the news, then rush off to work where you will be for 9 hours in reaction mode going from one task to another, doing what needs to be done.  You come home, hop on your phone, check in with all your socials just to “catch up”, then end up on a 2-hour doom scroll.

Or maybe you are a stay-at-home mom, entrepreneur or work from home. Same thing applies. You have a million tasks and a million open tabs in your head, always thinking of the next thing you have to do.

Your brain is always going. From the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to sleep, there is something occupying your time, thoughts, and energy. And that, my friend, is a recipe for burnout.

The solution? You must give your brain (and nervous system) time to chill. To relax. To reset. You need to create space.  

When you give yourself some space-some breathing room- your brain has a chance to finally slow down. To feel calm, aligned, and at ease. 

How to Recover from Burnout by Creating Space in Your Life

Digital Space

Limit social media and email interactions. Turn your notifications off and only check them at certain (pre-planned) times during the day. Unsubscribe to email lists that no longer serve you. Delete old apps-or those that are time suckers.  

Physical Space

When your surroundings are calm, you can be calm. Declutter your home and environment. It doesn’t have to all be done in one day. Start with one room, closet, or even a drawer, set a timer for 15 minutes and do what you can.

Set Boundaries

Gain more space by taking control of your time. If you find yourself saying yes to things out of guilt or obligation, stop. These activities are not serving you, they are draining you.

Mindfulness- Create space by giving yourself a break to just sit and be still. You could meditate, journal, have a nice hot bath, or simply take a walk. Create a time you can unplug and reconnect with you.

Do Something You Love

We get so caught up in doing thigs we have to do rather than things we want to do. Make sure to incorporate a hobby or passion into your weekly routine. This creates new pathways in your brain and helps create space by allowing you to be more open to overall joy.

Burnout is a very real thing (I know- I had it!).  With so much pressure to always “do”, and digital distractions around 24/7, it can be an easy thing to slip into. Just give yourself space and take the time to slow down, reset, and tune into you.

I’d love to know : what are you going to do today to give yourself some space? Leave a comment and share.