Blog Archives

4 Ways to Avoid Burnout in Lock Down

25/8/2021

Paying Yourself First.

I was working with a client this past week, helping her comeback from burnout. An amazing Mum of 2 who works in a big corporate role - exhausted from years of juggling it all (who can relate?!!).

In a couple short weeks of 1:1 coaching together she started to see and feel shifts happening in her life.

Like each of my private clients we began with a 7-Day Mindset Detox.

A method I use to pattern interrupt and break old habits no long working, to bring in new fresh ideas that recharge your energy. Packaged in an easy-to-follow step by step morning and evening routine.

We chatted about what the real turning point was for her, and she realised that…

"When I wake up and 'Pay Myself First' then I don't feel so depleted".

I loved this analogy so much because I know that how you begin your day actually has a flow on effect to the rest of your day!

Q: Are you paying yourself FIRST?

Or are you waking up reacting and responding to everyone and everything around you? WORK, emails and notifications, the KIDS, the DOG – do all of their needs come first?

What about your needs? Are you giving all day, and not replenishing?

You see, when you pay yourself FIRST you create a magical buffer of time in the morning just for YOU (and only YOU!).

And a few amazing things happen:

You immediately shift to the top of your priority list
You are less likely to walk around feeling irritated, frustrated, and resentful
You stop feeling like you are paying out your ENERGY TAX all day long! (insert GIF of Kanye palming $ bills… lol)

Committing to pay yourself first is about filling your energy tank BEFORE anything else.

It is one of the key ways of preventing burnout in lock down. Here are the rest of my golden rules, learnt the hard way, through 6 lock downs )and 2 border lock outs)!

1. Pay yourself first

Set your alarm (no hitting snooze)
Get up out of bed before the rest of the house wakes
Grab a cuppa and do something just for you 10-30mins
I recommend a short guided meditation, morning journal, yoga flow, listening to a podcast that makes you smile, or reading/listening to a good book

2. Nourish your body

Coffee is NOT a food group!
You will be less likely to keep your cool during home school, or 8 hours of zoom meetings if you have not eaten something with protein, nutrients, and some carbs (true story!)
Stop feeding yourself last – YOU MATTER.

3. Stop overworking

Rest is 100% essential for productivity
Read that again!

4. Get outside
I did a poll last week on my Instagram checking in with my beautiful community in lock down. A staggering 72% of women who replied said they were NOT getting outside EVER DAY!

Fresh air, looking up at the sky, seeing other people, or buildings or trees outside your 4 walls is ESSENTIAL
It is the only way to zoom out and get perspective…

Take care out there, be kind to yourself (and others!).
We are all just doing the best we can.
~ JB

If you would like to know more about my morning and evening routines...

Watch me talk about my morning routine here.
Or, read more on this topic here!