How To Avoid Hitting That Wall of Exhaustion

Have you hit your wall yet?

You know the one you’ve been banging your head against for the last few weeks, or is that months?

No wonder you’ve got a nasty bruise on your forehead.

That metaphorical wall is the one that’s finally caused us to stop and call time out, because we’re exhausted, mentally, physically and cognitively, and it’s putting us at risk of burnout.

Living with the global pandemic for much of this year has led to many of us running out of gas, unable to give any more, because we’re running on empty. Is this true for you?

It’s worse at this time of year when we’re tying up all those loose ends, trying to think about Christmas, who to send cards to, wondering how come others have managed to put up their Christmas tree lights already and wishing the global pandemic would just hurry up and go away.?

If you’re holding on for that One Powerball to get you out of all this stress, well, maybe don’t hold your breath. There are a few on back order although Amazon have indicated they’re getting new stock in shortly.

Instead of worrying about your stress and that never-ending, ever-expanding to-do list, why not start a to-not-do and a to-do-when-I’m good-and-ready-to list instead and keep your stress levels down that way?

Here are my lists from last year:

My to-not-do list included the following:

1. To not feel guilty when I’m feeling too tired to go for my afternoon walk and rest instead.
2. To not feel inadequate for choosing not to do all the cooking for the 17-folk coming to join us for Christmas supper (we’re hosting this year) and to delegate as much as possible.
3. To not work over the Christmas period on the public holidays and to limit any other work in between to less than two hours a day. Yes, I know, why am I doing any, I hear you say? As a recovering workaholic, this will be a good outcome for me.
4. To not feel obliged to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve.
5. To not feel obliged to attend every pre-Christmas work-related function. Yes, it’s great to catch up, but I don’t have to see EVERYONE over the next couple of weeks, let’s spread the love into the New Year.

My to-do-when-I’m-good-and-ready list included:

1. To listen to all the accumulated hitherto unlistened to podcasts, replays of webinars, conferences and courses that have been accumulating in my inbox for the last six-nine months.
2. To read all those fabulous books ordered and unread over the last 12 months including ‘The Overstory’ I bought last January!
3. To join a new form of exercise class. Will it be Yoga, Extend Barre or golf?
4. To have a major chucking out session of all the accumulated paperwork in the office that is sufficient to account for at least half of one tree plantation and then plant a tree in the back yard as compensation.
5. To give myself permission to do none of the above without guilt or embarrassment.

What are you doing to avoid hitting that wall of exhaustion?

Have you got a plan on how to keep your stress and fatigue under control at all times over the festive period?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Hi, I'm Dr Jenny Brockis. I'm a medical practitioner and board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, keynote speaker and best-selling author.

I help people who are over-busy, overstretched and exhausted find the calm, clarity and confidence needed to enjoy a successful career AND live a fulfilled and rich life.

Check out:

• My new book,?Thriving Mind: How to Cultivate a Good Life?or?download your free chapter here.
• Thriving by Design?– The six-month wellbeing program for business leaders, teams, enterprises and organisations seeking to create mentally fit, high performing teams and make work, work better.
• Thrive by Design Keynote?– Discover the number one skillset for every workplace of the future, learn what really drives high employee engagement and performance (HINT:?it’s not yoga classes or good coffee) and find out why it’s important?we all need our daily DOSE of energy and enthusiasm. Let me show you what really motivates us to do our best work, feel fulfilled and want to spend time at this place we call work.
• Thriving with Sarah & Jenny?– Our new podcast, where we discuss life & work and how to be happier in both.
• *NEW*?Thriving Mind Summer School?– Are you ready to THRIVE in 2022? Join me in an experiential 4-week journey of self-discovery and leadership for Thriving Mind Summer School this January.