Burnout and Recovery {Week in Review}

Hi loves! I wasn’t feeling a Moments of Magic + workout recap post today because I felt like that wouldn’t do justice to the past week I had. It was a week I really needed, I think, so let me just take you through a couple key thoughts I came away with.

In the beginning of the week, I was really close to burnout. I was working machine-like on a bunch of different things, doing exactly what I KNOW isn’t great for me because I’m just trying to grind before finals season arrives with a bang.

I knew I was in trouble when I started feeling…nothing. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I just felt numb. I tried tuning in, taking a few breaks to breathe…nothing worked. There would be these moments of feeling when I would laugh with a friend or have a good conversation, but they were quick to fade. And then I started getting all these negative thoughts, random fears about the future, things that were lurking in my brain just waiting for my weakest moment to come out and strike. But through it all, it was like there was some wall within me that I couldn’t penetrate, and I felt genuinely lost to how I was actually feeling inside. Which scared me. Because normally I’m pretty good at tuning in.

I knew I couldn’t go on this way, and honestly if it wasn’t for the various things that I did or that happened this week, I probably would have had a breakdown. Thankfully, though, there were a few things that got me out of the funk.

It was…

Going for a solo long walk to get [minimal] work done in a coffeeshop by myself

This was the day that I reached my breaking point and just needed to get the heck OFF campus. It’s been a pretty long time since I’ve gone so far off campus by myself, but it’s exactly what I needed. Plus the 40 minute walk took me through a part of Georgetown I’d never seen and I saw some cute dogs in a dog park, so I’d say it was quite the successful outing. I also intentionally didn’t listen to a podcast or music because I realized I tend to turn to those when I get into machine-mode so that I never have to listen to my thoughts. Here I just walked and tried to notice what I was feeling, and then I hung out in one of my favorite DC coffee shops Emissary and did some work until it got dark. The outing helped a bit, though I still felt weird, but what helped even more was what happened later that evening.

A reflection with my retreat group

We do these once a month where we come together and reflect on whatever is on our minds. I was honest about the way I was feeling, or well, not feeling, and their kind words of advice and comfort and pure “we get exactly what you’re going through, and you’ll be just fine. You just gotta keep on keeping on” made me feel so much less alone. After the reflection, we all just talked and caught up for a bit, and somewhere in the midst of laughing over something silly I said and talking about a romantic development between two retreat friends, I suddenly felt…better. I started to feel like me again.

Some amazing deep conversations with close friends

Talking to friends always always helps.

Letting loose and laughing crazy and talking until 3am with Roomie and Roomie’s bf

Snapchat filter videos. That’s all I have to say about that. 😀

Lying on the hammock for a little while in the sun because it felt DAMN GOOD, and realizing that I never do this

I never just do nothing and chill because I always feel like there’s something I should be getting done. And I realized that this is something I really do need to work on.

Trying a new coffeeshop with Georgetown Bestie

We went to Politics and Prose on Saturday, and I actually really liked the vibe. It felt almost suburban out there with all the big houses and acres of land around, but the coffeehouse (and bookstore) still had distinct city vibes. It was different than anything else I’ve come across in DC, and you guys know I love trying new coffee shops.

Choosing to work out formally only 3 times this week

My body was craving movement, but the gentleness of yoga, Pilates, and long walks over weight lifting and HIIT, so I trusted it and gave it what it needed. It’s truly incredible how smart our bodies are; mine knew that the last thing I needed in my life was stress on my body in the form of an intense workout when I was already so burnt out. So yes, this week was about rest, repair, and…chocolate.

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After getting this necessary R&R, I honestly feel like a different person going into this new week. Just goes to show self-care isn’t necessarily doing absolutely nothing, or taking a fancy bath. Sometimes it’s going for a walk, or lying on your floor listening to music, or staying up until 3am making silly Snapchat videos with your friends.

But I also know just how easy it is to slip back into that dark hole that is burnout, and I want to do my absolute best to prevent that from happening for the rest of this semester.

I’ve got a few fun things happening this week that I’m really looking forward to, which will hopefully keep me going and excited.

But I also just want to make more of a conscious effort to slow down. To stop plugging every free moment with tasks or distractions. Not every free minute needs to be spent looking at my phone or listening to a podcast or working on an assignment. I’m really going to try to remember that. And I hope you do too.

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So that’s all for me today, and here’s a gentle reminder to slow down when you need to and remember that you are enough and are exactly where you need to be. And if you need some tips on managing stress and increasing productivity, head on over to this post for some gentle advice.

Love you guys so much. Wish me luck in practicing what I preach and ending this semester with my wits and optimism intact. 🙂

Linking up with Meg for Week in Review

 

Ever experienced burnout? How do you cope?

Best thing that happened this week?

Do you ever find your body craving movement instead of formal exercise?

What are some things that get you out of a funk?