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What early warning signs of burnout have you noticed in yourself or others?
I experience what I call “feeling my edges”. I will get to the point where I can feel the end of my energy, time, words, and strength and just need to rest. When I start “feeling my edges”, I take a mental health day to rest. Typically, I will sleep all day and not do anything unless I absolutely have to. I realized years ago that I can ignore this feeling, but I’d probably be making up for it by getting sick and then using a sick day. For me, it’s been better to take a mental health day before I push myself over the edge and then have to take time off to recover anyway. -
What tools or techniques do you use to stay balanced and prevent burnout?
It may sound dumb (or not?) but being very aware of what I say yes to throughout the week. I have a family, good friends, a job I enjoy, and two dogs. This means there is a lot of opportunities and responsibilities I have to be aware of. When our schedules get very busy, I set aside time each week and look at my calendar. Sundays are blocked for rest. Always. It takes a very unique event for me to be willing to put it on the calendar. Throughout the week, I plan time for writing, family night, date night, and maybe hanging out with friends. I try to keep two nights a week open for free time. If my calendar gets over-stuffed, I start feeling it. Planning in open nights gives me time to breathe and do fun stuff like watching tv or going to bed early
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