How to get to the end of the year without burning out

Many of us are feeling quite mentally and emotionally strained right now, not having much in reserve to handle whatever surprises us. We have been experiencing increasing social, political, financial and environmental uncertainty for many years – which is a lot to manage.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us feel extremely tired and we may tend to view Christmas as a goal to keep slowly running toward. It’s exactly this time of year that we risk being overwhelmed and inundated with tasks, jobs, and work – and, ironically, it’s usually when we’re at our lowest levels of motivation and motivation. energy reserve.

As we go through such a time of change and challenge, we need to take certain steps to stay grounded and replenish our energy stocks.

Support

We must recognize that we cannot be all things to all people. We all need support. In fact, asking for help means our relationships become stronger and more authentic. Determine what type of support you need at this time. Is it practical advice and knowledge, another perspective and thought, or emotion with a hug or conversation? When we’re under pressure, it’s easy to feel alone – but it doesn’t have to be.

Conserve your energy

One life skill that is so important to master is knowing how and when to spend, and how and when to conserve our energy. This includes physical, mental and emotional energy. What issue absolutely needs your attention right now? Which questions can wait a while, which can be delegated to someone else, and which are not yours? Each day we wake up, we can only produce a certain level of energy before we need to be recharged. Respect your limits and recognize that each day has different starting energy levels for you, and that’s okay.

Consistency, habits and routine

Habits are our friends when they contribute to our well-being, and vice versa when they do not. Which habits are you adopting in a robotic and automated way and which ones are exhausting you? Why do you still do them? Often we get a “secondary gain” from them, or it’s fear or lack of self-awareness that motivates them. Choose differently and change things. A sense of routine and consistency can help us feel grounded and secure in a time when things are going topsy-turvy – what are your touchstones in your week and how can you maintain them?

Kindness and compassion

Frustration, fear, anxiety and fatigue can lead to a change in our behaviors towards others. At a time when we need even more kindness and compassion in our lives, we can feel like the opposite is happening in the world around us. First, you can be kinder to yourself – stop blaming yourself, let go of self-criticism and start taking care of yourself more. Then, as you go out into the world, think about others: what can you do and how can you help? Being kind to others also benefits our own health and well-being. A few acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Action

There are some things we can’t do anything about, but there are others we can. Identify what can be improved or action taken on – avoid denial. Anxiety and stress decrease when we solve problems and actually do something. Take small steps toward your goals and see how you feel.

While we can’t change the world overnight, we can decide to work on some things that will help us feel better prepared to meet its challenges.

These are the five things that can help you find hope for the future.