Are you feeling burnt out? Do this...

If you’ve been feeling burnt out - try this - it worked for me…

Lots of people are feeling unmotivated, worn-down, uninspired, tired out, whatever you want to call it, we’re feeling it!

It's been a hell of a few years, and with the cost of living crisis, the threat of the nuclear apocalypse and a recession things aren’t getting easier. Do these steps and I promise you’ll feel better…

Give yourself permission to slow down

top athletes know they need to give themselves time to rest to perform at their best - you do to. You’ll perform better.

Focus on sleep

Having a regular bedtime and wake-up time will help your quality of sleep improve.

Learn to do what combat soldiers do and fall asleep quickly and easily. Start by relaxing your face muscles, then relax your shoulders, work your way down your body ending on your feet.?

Then spend 10 seconds trying to clear your mind before thinking about one of the three following images:

• ?You're lying in a canoe on a calm lake with nothing but a clear blue sky above you;
• You're lying in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room; or
• ?You say "don't think, don't think, don't think" to yourself over and over for about 10 seconds.

Don’t Skip Exercise

Exercise improves your brain function from the first session. It releases endorphins that raise your mood it improves your focus and resilience. It reduces stress. Stress physically shrinks your brain.

That should be all the motivation you need right? But if you are feeling burnout it's hard to get going - use this simple trick. When you don't feel like exercise just promise yourself you’ll take one tiny step towards the goal - for example that you’ll put your trainers and gym clothes on. Then do it.

Once you’ve got them on tell yourself I’ll just walk to the corner. Once there I’ll just jog to that lampost and so on. By tricking your brain into tiny achievable little steps, one by one, you’ll gain traction. It doesn't matter how far you get, just keep improving.

Take more breaks and/or longer breaks.

One thing thats been working for me is now taking a two-hour lunch. If you have flexi-time allow yourself to finish an hour later. Enjoy that time in the middle of your day, watch a film, exercise, have a nap. Whatever you feel like.

If you can't do that make sure you are taking regular short breaks, try every hour, see what works for you but take more than makes you feel comfortable. It will improve your productivity. This ties in nicely with the next step .

Eat healthier.

Allowing longer breaks means you have time to prepare your own food - think about trying a Paleo diet plan, it's simple quick, and extremely healthy.

This feels doubly good combined with the exercise because who wants to work hard in the gym and then negate that with a crap diet.

After you’ve done the above for two months:

Feed your sole

re-engage with your passion.?

Do something new that you always wanted to try or go and do an activity that has brought you a lot of pleasure in the past.?

For me, that was going to my first design conference. It was amazing to see and interact with some of the best talent in my industry at OFF.MX it reignited my passion and ambition and I feel motivated again.

But this only happened after investing in my physical well-being. You can’t skip the hard work.

Let me know if you can relate to this? Have you been on a similar journey or is this the kick in your ass you need to get started?