Monday, May 3, 2010

Burnout Day

Ah, that was it...the unknown reason for those sad and aimless feelings I was going through yesterday.  I was totally burned out.  It's so hard everyday taking in everyone else's issues while trying to deal with my own, feeling others' pain, day in and day out.I have learned to separate work from home once I leave the job, but how do you separate work when you are at work?  Sooner or later is sneaks up on you, catches you...and your body simply forbids you to go to work. There is a tired feeling in your bones, a sadness that comes from within, a general sense of melancholy.  My problem is I usually ignore the clues and push myself to go ever further, but not on this day.

Perhaps it was because the rain was coming down in buckets, I don't know, but I knew the moment my alarm went off at 5:30 am that I was not going to work today.  Oh, I got up and went through the motions.  It's hard for me to give in, so I sat and sipped my coffee...all the while debating..."should I or shouldn't I?"  Well, the shouldn't I finally won out today.  I got hubby up for work and climbed back into bed for a much needed day of rest.  Believe it or not, I just got up about 30 minutes ago.  That is really odd for me, and you know that life has finally caught up with me. 

Our bodies know what we need, but we rarely listen.  We push ourselves and push and push until we collapse.  We have to learn to listen. Yeah, right, that coming from ME who pushes herself beyond endurance.  But I'm going to make myself a promise to listen more...Will you make that promise to yourself?

9 comments:

  1. I'm a firm believer in listening to your body but have a hard time always following through (I sometimes just "suck it up" although I hate that term and never use it on anyone else!)

    I'm glad you've taken a day to yourself. Rest well. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sometimes expectations are not met and we get a bit melancholy because of it...It'll pass if you get some rest and let your body recuperate from all your endeavors...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've made that very same promise to myself many a time. Making the promise is the easy part, keeping it....well that's where it really counts.

    Good for you for going back to bed and taking a mental health day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. As I've gotten older I have noticed that I don't bounce back as quickly as I used to. Every once in a while I'll have to stop and recharge my battery. Then I'm off an runnin again. X.

    ReplyDelete
  5. good for you Mary!
    [I did a whole lovely comment, but it got lost somewhere.. hate when blogger does that!]

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good for you Mary, we really ought listen to our bodys they know best, hope your feeling much rested now and repleated XXX

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so glad that you took the day to yourself! You really need to keep that promise to yourself. You truly do so much for so many, they count on you, but you have to count on you to take care of you. When I start feeling burnout, I announce that tomorrow I will be off, it is a "me" day. Believe it or not, they do survive without me.

    (((HUGS)))

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wish I could say I came to the conclusion of needing to pay attention to my own self-care gracefully but I did not. My self-awareness came out of crisis, but I did listen, and now I do pay attention. I may be stubborn but I really don't need that many brick walls to fall on me before I pay attention.
    Glad you are paying attention today.

    ReplyDelete