This month we’ve been focusing on motivation in our work in achieving success in a year. At the top of the month, we explored the visualization process as a useful tool in the goal process (which was our focus the previous month). Last week, we then looked at the people who motivate us, as we need both internal and external forces that will inspire and support us.

This week, I want you to take care of yourself big time! You might be saying that you don’t have the time…but it saves you time in the long run. Have you ever had a serious case of burnout? Sometimes it’s hard to get back on track after that. And I should know; I experienced burn-out first-hand.

Coming Back from Burn-out: My Story

If you use more resources and energy than you have, your physical resources and energy level will decline. Doing that, long enough over time, without any rest and relaxation for recovery, those available resources and energy will reduce so much that you become burned out.

I experienced burn-out in my job as a department manager in a corporate retail environment. I was in a situation where I was averaging 70+ hour work weeks consistently for months. Not only that, I was also doing my graduate coursework for my psychology degree (what was I thinking?). I experienced the energy drain most commonly associated with burn-out, but the most severe symptom of my burn-out experience was that it eroded my self-confidence. People around me were continually and constantly telling me that I was doing a great job, despite the challenges, but I couldn’t see it at all.

The burn-out woke me up, and set into motion my leaving that job and starting my own business. As I transitioned myself out, it became important for me to find ways to take care of myself, because I hadn’t leading up to that; I wasn’t eating right or getting enough sleep.  Studies have shown that it can take anywhere from six months to a couple of years to fully recover from burn-out; I’m sure my recovery process to at least six months. Now, I strive honor myself enough to practice, as coach Cheryl Richardson calls it, “the art of extreme self-care.” And, for this week, I’m asking you to do the same.

 

Your Exercise for the Week: Take Care of Yourself!

Honor yourself right now by taking care of yourself. Take a little time each day this week to do something you really enjoy. Try something you haven’t done before. You might find that you come back to your daily life with renewed zest and even some new ideas. The concept you’re concentrating on this week is that your friends, family, and even your business will survive without you for short periods of time and those short periods are important to your well being.

Of course, keeping track is important too!  List three things you did this week that helped you unwind or released tension.

Next week, I will present your next exercise to help you keep motivated. In the meantime, I invite you to share with me your progress throughout your program. Share your thoughts, insights, inspirations and results with me in the comments section below, or you can shoot me an e-mail and let me know what’s going on.

Your partner in self-care,

James