HOW I AVOID LIFESTYLE BURNOUT WITH 3 UNREGRETTABLE THINGS
Recently, I’ve been writing to you about burnout. We talked about this concept I invented called “lifestyle burnout” and last week I gave you 44 indicators you might be experiencing lifestyle burnout.
Today, I’m sharing with you how I personally avoid lifestyle burnout…with 3 unregrettable things. And I put together a PDF of things people tend to regret in life so you can figure out what your regrets might be and then focus on replacing them with your own unregrettable things.
Where Burnout Comes From
A couple of weeks ago, we chatted about how burnout comes from chronic stress that isn’t managed well and results in emotional exhaustion, pessismism, and a decrease in efficiency and productivity. So combating burnout comes down to managing stress well and protecting ourselves emotionally.
Over the years, I’ve recognized there are 3 things I’ve never regretted. And these 3 things reduce stress and anxiety, keep me well emotionally, and prevent burnout.
Bonus: They take zero expertise!
BONUS Bonus: They’re free!
Let’s do it.
The 3 Unregrettable Things I Do To Avoid Lifestyle Burnout
1. Exercise
Think about it. How many times have you pounded it out at the gym, sweated your butt off, and then thought, “Man, that was a total waste of my life. I should have vegged with Below Deck instead.” I’m betting zero times. Even though Below Deck is awesome. You already know exercise is proven to reduce stress. Something about exercise affects neurotransmitters and hormones (remember: cortisol is a hormone), and that helps manage our mood and behavior. People report feeling calmer after 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, and that calmness can last for several hours. There’s also some evidence that exercise “works” because it gives us a break from our stressors (Pro tip for students: Studying while you exercise diminishes the calming effect of exercise, so maybe try to split up those activities?). Research recommends 2½ hours of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity (or just 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise!) per week. To do the math for you, that’s about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week or 20 minutes a day, 7 days a week. It can feel like a big investment when you’re already feeling like you’re drowning. But remember — exercise is unregrettable.2. Spending time with my family
Not just watching television together or going to the grocery store together. But actual…face-to-face…heart-to-heart…time. No cell phones. No social media. No Netflix. Like, take it back to the ‘90s and imagine what quality time with family was like then…and do that. Let me give you some examples: floating in the pool, going for walks around the block, playing cards, riding bikes, eating together, playing CDs (I know you’ve still got yours somewhere….pull them out, folks). Real, basic stuff. I mean, how many games of Sorry! have you regretted in your life? I’m pretty sure it’s impossible. Life is really about relationships, not responsibilities. So taking time to nurture those relationships feeds our souls and our lives. It reinvigorates our purpose. You’ll get the other stuff done… in fact, you’ll get it done more quickly and better when you’re not burnt out. It’s kind of like spending $5 today to get $8 back tomorrow…spend time today with your family and you’ll get extra time (in the form of motivation and energy) back tomorrow to do your chores.3. Taking a day off work
If someone put together a petition to have every weekend be a 3-day weekend, I would unhesitatingly sign it. Americans are notoriously bad at taking our vacation days, often because of the competitive culture we live in. We know that mentally detaching from work is important in protecting ourselves from burnout at work. But beyond that, taking a day off work allows us to mentally reengage with our lives. Our actual lives. The stuff that gives us meaning and purpose and fulfillment. When we take a day off work, we don’t have to spend that day doing chores — those get done on the other days as usual. So that means we can do something special, something fun, something reinvigorating. It gives us time for relaxation and hobbies and helps us feel more energized the next day. Sprinkle a few of those throughout the year and you can help yourself fight lifestyle burnout. Plus, have you ever regretted a 3-day weekend? Nope.Where I Went Wrong in the Past and Created Lifestyle Burnout
In the past, I put a bunch of other things in the place of these three things.
Specifically, I put things in that space that I regret and things that contribute to lifestyle burnout. Things like taking on too much work, working on the weekends, answering emails during family time, skipping the gym, eating my stress, etc. etc.
I’m sure you can relate to regretting those choices. No only are they regrettable, they contribute to burnout. And we do it all.the.time.
Take Action: Figure Out What You Regret
In the spirit of replacing regrettable things with unregrettable things, I’ve created a PDF that lists common things people regret. Download it, check the ones you regret, and see if you can replace them with things you’ve never regretted. That’s one step toward avoiding lifestyle burnout.
So it’s not all about me…and not everything I do will work for you. So next week, I’m bringing you 7 ways to fix lifestyle burnout now. Don’t miss it.
-Dr. Finch
P.S. If you skimmed the headlines and skipped to the end, here’s the summary: I outlined 3 things I’ve never regretted and how they help me avoid lifestyle burnout. And I put together a PDF to help you figure out what you do regret so you can replace those things with activities you never regret. Check back next week for 7 ways to fix lifestyle burnout now.
P.P.S. Remember, this is education, not treatment. Always consult with a psychologist or therapist about your mental health to determine what information and interventions are best for you. See the disclaimer for more details.
