When You Are Weary
Each morning I do a quick review of what needs to be done for the day. One day last week, as I was doing this routine, I realized I was physically and mentally tired! Just plain worn out. It doesn’t really matter what got me there. It happens. And, I know I am not alone.
A recent survey from SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management) found:
Nearly 1 in 4 employees report feeling down, depressed or hopeless often;
41 percent feel burnt out, drained, or exhausted from their work; and
Over 1 in 3 employees reported having done nothing to cope with these feelings and only (7 percent) have reached out to a mental health professional.
I could tell you what led me there and you’d probably understand. But will it help me or you? Probably not.
Instead, I did what I tell all my clients. I am my own advocate, step back and …
Schedule breaks into my days. They don’t have to be long, but they do need to be scheduled. Last week, I scheduled a few 15-minute breaks to stretch, and yesterday, I took a 20-minute nap … well … maybe a 60-minute nap .
Focus on the work I enjoy. It doesn’t mean I don’t have to do the hard stuff or the less enjoyable stuff, but it doesn’t need to be my only focus. I have been working on a hard project recently, so I double checked it was balanced with the work I love and what energizes me.
Find efficient rewards. Meaning, when I got that hard project done, I allowed myself a reward. I finished a movie I’d started the night before (I only had 30 minutes left) and it didn’t derail my day.
Take a day (or two) off. In my case, I did NOTHING this weekend. I mean NOTHING. No tying up loose ends from work, no housework, and NOTHING productive. It was GLORIOUS!
How do I feel today? Better and still improving. I didn’t get to the point of being physically and mentally tired overnight. I won’t get to the point of feeling physically and mentally rejuvenated overnight. Thankfully, because of a few small adjustments, I’m getting there.
You can too! It’s worth it.