Happy Monday!
Have you ever reached a point in your life when you just say “I’m done, I quit!” I know I have. Sometimes, life is just too much of everything. No matter where you turn, you are met head on with something else and you feel like you don’t want to turn again.
Burnout is a real thing. Let me say that again – burnout is a real thing! When you want to crawl into bed and just stay there, or crawl into a hole and hope no one finds you, there’s a good chance you have been there.
“Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.” If nothing changes, you may lose interest and any motivation that inspired you to take on a certain role in the first place. It steals your energy, your hope and your joy. Eventually, it can affect every aspect of your home life, work life and social life. When all of this takes place, you can pretty well bet that it will affect your health too, until finally, there is nothing left. You have a sense of being all dried up…
So, what do you do then?? If you try to push on through and continue as you have been, you are likely to cause more damage, both physically and emotionally. You may need to change your direction in order to feel healthy again. If you see the signs of burnout, you may need to look for support in managing the stress you are dealing with. Your physical and emotional health need to be revived.
Some of the things you can do include *Social contact. Talk to someone who will listen and care. *Limit your contact with negative people. When you are around constant negativity, you begin to feel negative. *Connect with a group of likeminded people. A support group, religious or social group where you can talk about how to deal with stress. *Take some time for yourself. Just sit and read a book, take a nap, or whatever relaxes you! *Spend some time with God. This is definitely a last, but not least. It is the single most important thing you can do. If we are to accomplish anything, we need God’s strength to help us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Pray Unceasingly!!
In His light,
Lois
Beating Burnout
The Daniel Plan
“I have had enough, Lord,” [Elijah] said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” —1 Kings 19:4
The prophet Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of all time. But at one point in his long labor of resisting Israel’s evil queen, he got burned out. He told the Lord, “I quit.”
The Lord knew what he needed. First, Elijah needed rest. The Lord gave him time to sleep, and then an angel woke him to offer some food, for he needed to eat, and water, for he needed to drink. Often the solution to burnout is as simple as that: rest, nourishment, and hydration.
Elijah needed more. He needed some alone time with God. He traveled forty days and nights to get there. He had to get far away from the place where he labored to a place where he could be still and at peace. And God met him there, in that alone place. They had a bluntly honest talk. God renewed Elijah’s soul. Then he honored God and went back to work filled up.
What do you need? Rest? Food? Water? Time with God? He is ready to meet you in whatever place you find yourself today.