Have you ever felt like you’ve been running on fumes? Work, #momlife, and everything in between compete for your attention day in and day out. Burnout is the term used when someone has been driving on empty in their every day life. He or she has given too much of themselves without refilling. You’re drinking from an empty cup, girl.
The first burnout I remember as a mom was when my son Chris underwent his liver transplant 10 years ago. For 18 months, he was in and out of the hospital, lab draws, clinic appointments, etc. The toll of this stress was mounting and when he finally received his liver transplant and we spent weeks in the hospital for complication after complication, I was defeated. And I tell you it takes a lot for me to get to that point.
It is safe to say, I am burnt out…particularly working as a nurse. In nursing school, burnout is a mere one lecture but an important one. As nurses, we give so much of ourselves that when we come home, we don’t want to do/feel anymore. We’ve spent 12 hours nonstop and all we want to do is not do anything. As an oncology nurse, I’m more emotionally drained than the average person. Cancer diagnoses and toxic chemotherapy and relapses and death are part of my every day routine at work. I’ve learned to create an emotional boundary but once in awhile, it creeps up on you and you can’t control it. Burnout is sad. It is paralyzing. It is real.
The last few months have been rough on my unit and I’ve carried this dark, unlucky cloud over me. In this time span, I had a new patient unexpectedly die after my shift and the following weeks, I transferred someone to ICU. As a nurse, you feel so guilty. You wrack your brain of what you did or didn’t do. Or, you go back in time to see if you missed something. You play that dreaded replay in your head all day and night wondering if you could have done something differently. You take the emotional baggage of the shift home with you week after week and you realize you’re on the verge of burnout.
What are the signs of burnout?
- Lack of interest or apathy.
- Depression.
- Physical pain.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Short fuse.
- Insomnia or too much sleep.
- Poor performance.
How to Manage Burnout
I’ve been working a little harder to manage this burnout as I know it will soon pass. It always does. It is a cathartic process but so necessary.
- Recognize it. First thing’s first, know the signs of burnout. Maybe you’re a teeny bit more impatient with your children. Maybe you are too tired and make an excuse to sleep excessively. Maybe you don’t care that you’ve missed girl’s night out. Be cognizant of your feelings and own it.
- Find enjoyable interests/hobbies. You don’t have to wallow in your burnout at home – go out and do something! Go on that shopping splurge. Bake that cake. Write that journal entry. Find and do things that you enjoy that make you happy.
- Surround yourself with your people. We are social beings so find your tribe and do something good for the soul. Meet over dinner or happy hour, do some laundry together, meet up for dessert, take that car ride to the highest peak in the city. We rise by lifting others so surround yourself with uplifting people and they will take you with them.
- Take a vacation. Book the impromptu trip to somewhere hopefully with sand, Mai tais, and scantily-clad bodies who serve you. Get away from the ins and outs of daily life and create a new reality in a distant location. Sleep in, eat lots, take in the culture. It may be temporary but stepping away is just the reset you might need.
- Talk to someone. Sometimes, your BFF just can’t understand your burnout so seek the company of a professional. There are apps which connect you to counselors who can help you. At work, we have breakdown sessions when sad/bad things happen. We all get on the same page and just talk. You don’t have to do anything alone.Â
- Exercise. Some people get the most done in a sweat session so go get your sweat on! A brisk run to clear the mind, a fruitful yoga session, a heavy set of weights to conquer, a fast-paced dance class to distract you might be just what you need. Feel good endorphins are linked to exercise so make it flow!
- Positive thinking. It may sound cheesy but positive thinking can be very powerful against burnout. Seek out quotes that are uplifting and helpful. Print them out, save them to your social media, memorize them. Thinking positive exudes positive vibes that are good for you and the next person.
Burnout is an ugly beast that rears its head every so often but you don’t have to suffer through it. Take time to yourself to refill your soul with good vibes, good people, and good thoughts.
