It seems like everyone needs a break right now. But, sitting in quiet or sitting still can feel like torture sometimes, right? For many of us, “doing too much,” is an irrelevant and impermissible concept.
All day long across the world, you can feel the energetic echoes of ambitious go-getters chanting, I’ve got things to do!
Sometimes, however, your body has other plans.
That’s where I found myself this week. I was exhausted. The kind of exhausted where you don’t just feel tired, you don’t just feel sluggish, you don’t just feel like a zombie, you feel completely and totally wiped out and void of any and all energy and motivation.
I felt like one of those memes, “I literally can’t even.”
I knew it was coming. It had been a good couple of weeks since I felt chill. I had been spending my days bouncing between energetic and depleted, but never really relaxed.
There was constant outer and inner chatter, fueled by the adrenaline of work goals as well as both personal and societal happenings. I have to finish this project. I wonder what’s going to happen with the election. Why is everyone fighting? What’s my opinion on all of this? I can’t forget to read what so-and-so sent me. Did I respond to that email? You get the picture.
I was completely entrenched in this energy—as well as the energy of other individuals and the collective universe at large—that even in my sleep, I couldn’t quite turn off all that adrenaline. To-do lists be damned. I was full throttle.
The thing is that I know myself well enough to know that even I feel okay to keep pushing, if I don’t get mental quiet downtime to really reach a state of relaxation, there’s going to come a point where the momentum is going to sway, very quickly, from productivity to burn out in a flame of heavy mood swinging glory. And, it did.
As I sat at my computer at 3:30 pm on a Wednesday, staring at my emails, it happened. By this time, I had changed into pajama pants and wiped the makeup off of my face. I had managed to go to the gym, finish one live interview, record a video for social media, and successfully lead two meetings earlier in the day, and was now working on catching up with emails and other work. I really wanted to close out the day strong. My brain and my body were in cahoots, however, and had other plans.
As I clicked open and close on the same email pondering how to respond to a simple request, my throat was hurting, and my eyes were fluttering shut. A wave of emotion came over me, “I don’t feel well at all. I literally can’t do one more thing.” And so I didn’t.
Old me, would have kept pushing until I cried with anger from exhaustion, but evolved me knew it was simple: I needed a break and I needed it now. I warmed up a quick lunch of leftovers and headed straight to my room to Netflix and chill. I didn’t look at the computer the rest of the day.
But, it’s not just me. This week alone:
- A colleague took a mental health day to help clear the fog in her head.
- An associate canceled a meeting because he was overdoing it and starting to feel ill because of that.
- My friend at the gym walked in and told me she was there only to stretch and to yell at her if I saw her doing anything else.
- Another friend took a mental health day and canceled all his appointments because he was in a place of such extreme exhaustion and emotional overwhelm that he felt like he couldn’t do one more thing for anyone else until he was able to rest and reset.
- A different friend at the gym took two days off from his own fitness training schedule because his body was as so sore and worn out that the only thing it would let him do was sleep.
What are two things all of these people have in common? They were overdoing it and so their bodies made them listen or at least warned them to listen.
Signs that you might be overdoing it
People tend to think that “overdoing it” is exclusive to exercise and physical activity. However, mental and emotional exhaustion are just as big of a threat. It’s all related to energy, after all.
Your body, mind, and soul (and even emotions) work in energetic sync feeding off one another. If for example, you’re working a ton of hours but your job is at a desk, you could very well fall into mental fatigue which could then put you in a bad mood, mess with your sleep, and make you feel tired and disconnected among other things.
If you’re a highly sensitive person, the repercussions from being energetically overstimulated by people and events can significantly add to fatigue and ill feelings.
Being highly sensitive adds another significant layer to the discussion of “overdoing it.” This is because you not only pick up on energy but can easily absorb it as your own. (Learn more about why mindfulness is critical when you’re a sensitive person.)
“When overstimulation and emotional exhaustion combine, the result is a tidal wave that can knock you out for a day or more.”
– Rebekah Waters
Signs of overdoing it (including energetic overload) can include:
• You’re so tired you feel ill.
• You’re so tired you feel like literally can’t function until you get some rest.
• Your body is sore and fatigued.
• Your nerves are shot or you feel on edge.
• You can’t give any energy to other people or tasks.
• You have no motivation, which is unusual and typically not an issue.
• You’re having trouble concentrating or remembering things.
• You’re not sleeping because you can’t turn your mind off.
Of course, it should go without saying that these could be signs of other things going on and so it’s always smart to consult a physician or medical professional about your specific situation.
What can you do about it?
The most obvious remedy is to get some rest and disconnect from the things that are stressing you out or causing you to go on overdrive. Just like your body needs rest to recover, so too, does your mind.
- Take a nap (for as long as you need)
- Go to bed early
- Watch silly TV shows (try to stay away from shows that are too dramatic or anything that will get your brain going)
- Listen to music
- Take a mental health day or take the afternoon off
- Play video games
- Read
- Meditate or practice conscious breathing
- Yoga
- (Insert whatever else helps you turn off your mind and relax)
The key is to listen to your body and respect what it’s telling you it needs. If this type of burnout is a routine, consult a professional, and be prepared to become disciplined about a new wellness routine that includes setting boundaries.
Want to chat more about self-care? Contact me about setting up a coaching session.