Find Time to Rest: How To Balance Burnout and Busyness

Stress & AnxietyChange

May 30

Written By Sharla Crowie

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Have you heard about the analogy that you can't pour from an empty cup?

I'm going to go one step further and say that you also can't pour from a broken cup or a cup with holes in it.

I remember last summer, I was playing with my daughter at a beach, and here in Alberta, the beaches are full of rocks. So she and I were playing with her sand toy that strains the sand out and leaves the rock up in the strainer.

As we were playing, she said "mommy, why does the moving part keep getting stuck?"

And sure enough, rocks that were small were getting through the strainer and jamming up the toy.

Now imagine your brain and body. You're trying to pour, and you keep seeing things get jammed, like your attention at work is low, you feel 'foggy' a lot of the time, or small things bring up big feelings like anxiety, anger, or fatigue. And if left unchecked, like the fan in the toy, our bodies too will reach a limit and will force the body to stop working optimally.

So let's talk about burnout and busyness.

Between work, family commitments, and social obligations, it seems like there is never enough time to get everything done. And when we finally have a few minutes to ourselves, we often spend that time working on something else. This cycle of constant busyness can lead to burnout. In this blog post, we will discuss how to find time to rest and balance burnout and busyness.

You see... you cannot go at 100% all the time.

Our bodies and brains need rest in order to maintain their function and effectiveness.

We have to stop and rest, or we'll never heal from our stress!

When we are constantly busy, we never have time to rest.

And this can lead to burnout.

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress and can make us feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with the demands of our lives.

It can lead to detachment from work, cynicism, and feelings of inadequacy.

Burnout affects people in all walks of life, but it is particularly common among those who feel responsible for others either personally or professionally. Professionally, it is particularly common among those who deal with others' problems day in and day out, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, police officers, firefighters, first responders, and teachers (to name a few).

Symptoms of burnout include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating. If left unchecked, burnout can lead to serious health problems.

I was entering the cusp of burning out recently.

Owning a business in the first few years of its conception has been challenging to say the least.

I noticed very recently that I was having a hard time ending the workday. It's like, I could stop the clinical work, but the operations were loud every other minute. And then the overwhelm started when I thought of all the other things (family time, laundry, house maintenance, cleaning, etc…).

So my mom and sister intervened and suggested a day trip to the mountains.

We used to do things like that years ago, so I thought, "hey, why not?"

And on the way, my mom and sister gave me an explicit instruction not to work on our way out to Banff for some much-needed relaxation.

It was hard because I have habitually been working either in my mind or physically, at Bloom's operations for a year straight.

But oh goodness...was the break heavenly.

In those moments where you have some downtime, your brain has a chance to make space again by releasing excess chemicals like cortisol (a hormone responsible for managing stress).

I think both my mom and sister noticed I was quieter than usual, as I certainly did.

It wasn't a bad thing though... I was actually just taking it all in.

In that quiet, it was so nice to just be in my body, using my senses to take in the experience.

I slept really well that night.

What Does Rest Actually Mean?

When we look at rest, I don't mean just having a bubble bath or reading a book.

In its essence, true rest is about disconnecting from the constant noise and stimulation of our daily lives and giving ourselves permission to slow down and simply be.

It's about taking the time to tune inwards and listen to what our bodies and minds are telling us.

When we do this, we can start to tap into a deep sense of peace and calm that is often hidden beneath the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

When we're truly rested, we come back to the world with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of energy and enthusiasm.

So find that one thing today that means "stop," and then take care of you.

7 Types of Rest

Physical rest: This is the most obvious form of rest and it involves taking time out to physically relax your body. This could involve taking a nap, going for a walk, taking a yoga class, getting a massage, or simply lying down and doing nothing.
Mental rest: This type of rest is about giving your mind a break from the constant chatter and stimulation of daily life. This could involve meditating, spending time in nature, reading a book, or doing anything that allows you to disconnect from the constant stream of information that your brain gets on a regular basis.
Emotional rest: This type of rest is about taking time out to process your emotions and release any built-up stress or tension. This could involve journaling, talking to a therapist, spending time with friends or family, or engaging in any activity that makes you feel good.
Creative rest: This type of rest is about tapping into your creative side and expressing yourself in new ways. This could involve painting, drawing, writing, singing, dancing, or anything else that allows you to express your creativity.
Social rest: This type of rest is about spending time with the people you love and who make you feel good. This could involve going out for coffee with a friend, attending a social event, or simply spending time with your family.
Spiritual rest: This type of rest is about reconnecting with your spiritual side and finding a sense of peace and calm. This could involve meditating, praying, spending time in nature, or doing anything else that helps you connect with something larger than yourself.
Sensory Rest: This type of rest is about taking time to really tune into your senses and experience the world around you. This could involve spending time in nature, eating a meal slowly, going for a walk, or doing anything else that allows you to really focus on your senses.

Key tip: If you can't find the time to rest, you may want to consider getting help from a mental health professional. They can help you identify the causes of your burnout and develop a plan to address them.

What are some things that you do to find time to rest? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our blog for more great tips on how to balance burnout and busyness.