This week’s blog covers something most of us probably complain about at the end of each day. Even worse, some might complain about it at the beginning of the day after a full 8 hours of sleep. You might ask, what is the commonality we complain about? The answer is exhaustion. Are you exhausted?
BADGE
One of my favorite inspirational and motivational speakers is Brenee Brown. A quote from a talk she gave recently said “I no longer wear exhaustion as a badge of honor.” How important is it that we report daily about how overly busy we are? It certainly doesn’t warrant a badge and it may actually be putting your health at risk. Note to self. Slow down!
THERE’S YOUR SIGN
Psychology today gives us indicia that might reveal if you are exhausted.
- Minor tasks feel overwhelming and trigger procrastination.
- Psyching yourself up works temporarily but leave you feeling depleted afterwards.
- You eat only pre-packaged, fast food, or microwavable foods.
- You keep doing tasks in an inefficient way because organizing yourself is beyond you.
- You wake up feeling tired.
- You don’t have mental space to deal with other’s needs.
- You waste unfulfilling time gaming or on social media because you don’t have the energy to break the habit and plan an alternative activity.
- You don’t have the energy to plan or set goals because you can’t muster the energy to organize it.
As Jeff Foxworthy would say “There’s your sign!”
WHAT TO DO?
What should you do if you find your plate is too full? Try hitting the reset button. Reorganize and prioritize. Get to bed a bit earlier a few nights a week. Check for any physical causes for the way you are feeling. Are you low on iron, vitamin D or B-12? Is your thyroid low or are you suffering from sleep apnea? There could be a physical cause for your low energy.
SELF-CARE
This may a foreign concept for some, but perhaps you can try some extreme self-care. Are you getting enough uninterrupted sleep? Yoga and exercise help along with healthy eating, prayer and meditation. Reading or listening to self-help or perhaps therapy can be immensely helpful. Learn strategies that will break the cycle of being a the proverbial “Hamster on a wheel.” Stop wearing your exhaustion as a badge of honor!
SPINNING IN PLACE
Next time you get those familiar feelings of exhaustion, ask yourself the question “Are you are spinning in place or are you inching forward?” Don’t let that perpetual spinning take a toll on your health. See your provider for a yearly physical, get tested and screened. Make sure your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health are all flowing in the same direction.
EISENHOWER MATRIX
Do you recall reading the “Eisenhower Matrix” blog? If not, perhaps you should visit our website and reread it or simply Google it. It is immensely helpful in prioritizing. If HDD can help with the physical aspects of your wellness, call us at 505-350-3397.