A Moment of Reflection on Burnout ???

Today, I find myself reflecting on a journey I never fully recognised until recently: the creeping sensation of burnout. It's a silent beast that many of us encounter at different stages in our lives, often catching us off guard. I’ve felt its presence acutely over the last five years, particularly during a time when I felt I had no choice but to shield myself within my home ??. That space, once a haven, morphed into a container for trauma—a place where I not only worked but where I often felt overwhelmed and irritated.

Transitioning from an in-person world to a virtual one, my home became a dual-purpose space. It held both my work and the weight of my trauma. There were weeks when I barely ventured outside for fresh air ???. How did it get to this point? It just crept up on me, as it often does.

Adding to this, the social unrest surrounding race has made me feel even more vulnerable and uncertain about the future ??. As a queer, brown, disabled person, navigating this world has been a complex and difficult experience. Recently, I had a hard conversation that made me confront the truth: I’m burnt out and in need of healing ??. It's daunting to even think about taking that first step toward recovery.

The wise words of bell hooks resonate with me during these times: “Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through the experiences of a loving, supportive community.” ?? These words remind me of the importance of nurturing our minds, bodies, and spirits, especially when we feel paralyzed by the weight of our experiences.

As I’ve grappled with this sense of dread and exhaustion, I’ve come to realise that it’s crucial to recognise the signs of emotional burnout. Here are three that have stood out to me:

1. Constant Fatigue: You feel tired all the time, even after a full night’s sleep. It's as though your energy has been drained, leaving you feeling depleted ??.
2. Irritability: Little things that usually wouldn’t bother you start to set you off. You might snap at colleagues or loved ones over trivial matters ??.
3. Detachment: You begin to feel disconnected from your work, your relationships, or even yourself. It’s like you’re going through the motions without any real engagement ??♀?.

I invite everyone to take a moment to think about how we can create psychological safety for ourselves and nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits while working in these challenging spaces ??. This journey is hard enough without the additional pressure of needing to ‘play the game’ within the systems we navigate.

Burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s a sign that something needs to change ??. Recognising these signs is the first step toward healing and creating a space where we can thrive, not just survive ??.

#Wellbeing #MentalHealth #BurnoutAwareness #SelfCare #HealingJourney #Mindfulness #MentalWellness #EmotionalHealth #PsychologicalSafety #CommunitySupport