Hi Reader,
As a professional baddie, I'm sure you've evolved to live much of your life making moves. By making moves I mean getting promoted, growing a family, starting a business or moving up that sweet career ladder. Honey, you're booked and you're busy.
However, how often do you...simply stop?
Stop to listen,
Stop to feel,
Stop to notice?
Recently I was watching a new episode of Grey's Anatomy. Like many an episode-I was drying tears over my chicken salad. I often like to take a break by having lunch and simultaneously watch TV (I love TV and I watch anything from shark documentaries to Love Island) You may judge.
For a while, I've known that watching Grey's means I will probably feel exhausted after, especially if I'm catching up and watching more than 2 episodes in a row.
This makes sense because Grey's Anatomy loves to pull at our heartstrings. It's an emotional show, full of heart-wrenching scenarios and someone is always at risk of dying, with of course the hard-earned lesson that the show tends to beat us over the head with.
So I now know not to overwhelm myself with too many Grey episodes and watch when I have the mental capacity for a good cry.
However, the only reason I know this is because I took time to stop and notice. I have literally told myself while I'm looking for something to watch during my lunch -"I don't have the mental bandwidth to watch Grey's right now."
This got me thinking. Emotional exhaustion feels like how I feel after watching too much Grey's Anatomy.
I thought about other times I felt that way and it reminded me of a hard break-up in my early twenties and also a really long argument I had with my partner years ago.
Can you think of a similar time you felt like this? I'll wait....
Now imagine feeling like this every day after work, before work, and during work.
Imagine feeling like this for weeks, months, sometimes years!
This is what emotional exhaustion feels like and it can be simmering inside you without you even knowing it.
We often talk about the symptoms of emotional exhaustion at the point where it's already boiling over.
This is when:
- You don't have the mental energy to engage
- You feel drained as if you've been running without the opportunity to take a quick breath.
- You find it hard to cope with your daily demands
- You experience the Sunday Scaries or dread going back to work
- You're easily irritable
- You wake up tired
- You have difficulty concentrating
While it's advisable to know what the boiling point symptoms look like. It's also a good idea to know what your simmering emotional exhaustion looks like.
And this is because I want you to take on a preventative strategy.
Emotional exhaustion is a compounding effect that grows steadily over time. And like many other chronic conditions and illnesses, it is much easier to treat when it is caught early.
Recovering from burnout at the boiling level of emotional exhaustion is harder and much more difficult to address.
How might you begin to take on this preventative strategy? Simple.
You stop to listen. To feel. To notice.
Listen to your internal dialogue when you're tired. What do you say to yourself?
Feel your emotions, describe them, pinpoint them out.
And then notice where in your body these feelings show up. Do you carry them in your shoulders, your neck, your lower back, hips or temples? These are just a few areas in your body where emotions can show up.
This practice is the perfect way to begin to tune to yourself in a way that is preventative. On top of that, it is a strategy for you to begin to honor yourself more. When you begin to connect to yourself in this way you begin to heal in ways that only journeying inward can offer.
As a baddie whose always in constant motion, you owe it to yourself to stop and honor your well-being.
And if you need support practicing this, join my burnout support group starting July 6th at 5:30 PM PST.
For 6 weeks, one hour a week, you'll get the chance to stop, feel, and notice in community.
I'm excited to see you there!
Until next time,
STARTING JULY 6TH AT 5:30 PM PST
6-Week Burnout Support Group
A professionally facilitated group designed for folks navigating burnout who want to learn to rest, reflect and reconnect alongside others.
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JUST FOR YOU: FREE EVENT
My good friend Erika Dox-Martinez-Financial Wellness Coach, Speaker and Founder of Blissful Vida is hosting a free event and now is your lucky chance to connect and learn from her.
Tuesday June 30th join her to learn more about money, and how your relationship with money is impacting your financial goals.
Earning More, Stressing Less: Understanding Your Relationship with Money with Erika Dox-Martinez
WANT TO CONNECT IN PERSON?
Upcoming Events and Support Groups:
JUL 06 - Burnout Support Group
5:30-6:30 PM PST
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Webinars and Offerings
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Raices y Recuerdos | Roots and Memories - Webinar - $5
Somewhere between who we are and who our grandparents were, there are several stories and most of us never got to hear them. This webinar is an invitation to change that.
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When Fear Becomes Reality - $115
Using Intersectional DBT for Immigration Status Fear
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Unlocking Opportunities: The benefits of Healers Offering Online Digital Courses - $75
1.5 hour webinar about online course creation for healers
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Reflective question of the week
What part of my body needs care and attention? What is that part of my body holding?
