5 Ways to Manage Burnout

 Let's talk about chronic illness and surviving burnout

Living with a chronic or mental illness can feel like a never-ending battle. It's a constant struggle to manage symptoms, appointments, and treatments, while trying to live your life to the fullest. And let's be real, that can wear you down over time. Let alone trying to work and live in this world right now.

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. For those with chronic illness, burnout can be especially challenging, as it can worsen symptoms, affect quality of life, and increase the risk of depression and anxiety. If I’ve learned one thing about our community it’s that we don't give up easily. Burnout might be knocking at our door, but with some tools, we can kick it to the curb.

Here’s five things that may help you to manage and survive burn out. Now these may sound like no brainers, but sometimes reflecting on them can help! 

1. Acknowledge your burnout is real. Life’s tough, and it's normal to feel exhausted and irritable. Don't beat yourself up for it.
2. Prioritize self-care. Take time for yourself, do what makes you happy, and chill out when you need to. Eat good food, get some sleep, and stay hydrated. It might sound basic, but it's crucial. 
3. Give yourself healthy distractions. Fall into a hobby, play that video game you’ve been waiting for. Anything that is a soft distraction to not push your burnout further, is A-okay in our book.
4. Connect with others. (*if you have the energy to*). talk to friends and family, or seek out professional support. It's important to know others that do understand what you're going through.
5. Set realistic goals. Don't push yourself too hard, and break big tasks down into smaller ones. Celebrate every win, no matter how small, and don't sweat the stuff you can't do right now.

So, there you have it, friends. Chronic illness and burnout might be tough, but we're tougher. By acknowledging your burnout, prioritizing self-care, creating healthy distractions, connecting with others, & setting realistic goals, you can begin to manage your burnout effectively and regain control of your life. Remember that it's okay to ask for help when you need it, and that taking care of yourself is essential to managing chronic illness and burnout.

So what do you do to cope? 

Much love - Jame