Tips for Avoiding Burnout as Restrictions Ease

Do you remember December 2019 when life was normal?

Christmas parties, theatre trips, school plays, shopping, family gatherings and eating out without a care in the world?

Our diaries were full and very busy, as we all balanced work, family life and social activities. At times lots of us would perhaps say too full – as sometimes we struggled to balance everything as our diaries were continually full.

Fast forward to April 2021.

Life is very different.

Life has changed so much, we have lived for over a year with some form of restrictions; we have all had a slower pace of life with no social engagements apart from Zoom parties and quizzes, and let’s face it even they started to get tiresome, as we all got fed up with being online so much.

Our world became more insular and quieter.

Yesterday (Monday, 12 April), more restrictions began to ease in England, and you can now visit your favourite shops, go to the gym and meet a limited number of people in a beer garden. This is what most of us have wanted for months, to have the freedom to go out and see people again.

Real people and not ones on a screen.

It is exciting, and there will be a tendency to cram your diaries full of commitments, but remember to take it steady, pace yourself. This is new territory, and it’s important not to overwhelm yourself and burnout.

So how can you do this?

Enjoy my tips to ease yourself back into socialising:

(1) Don’t over commit

It is exciting that life is starting to return to normality, and it will be very tempting to commit to lots of things all at once.

But try to pace yourself, and plan a couple of things each week with days in between where you can recharge.

To go from zero commitments to a week packed with appointments could be too much, and leave you feeling drained.

(2) It is okay to say ‘no‘

Remember, as you start to be invited to coffee meet-ups or drinks in the local beer garden, remember you don’t have to say ‘yes’ to everything.

Be honest about what you want to do, and know that it is okay to say ‘no’; there will be lots of time in the weeks ahead to say ‘yes’ to more invites.

(3) Enjoy a new chapter

Spending time at home has provided you with the time to re-evaluate your lifestyle and the things that make you happy and unhappy; this will include friendships and relationships.

You will have also discovered new hobbies, and enjoyed activities that make you feel great. Just because the restrictions are easing it does not mean you have to go back to how life was back in December 2019.

Use this new chapter to do the things you love, continue those hobbies, see the people you want to and nurture those relationships with the people that make you happy.

Feel empowered to enjoy this new chapter in your social life and say ‘yes’ to creating a lifestyle that makes your heart sing.

(4) Schedule time to recharge

As life becomes busier again, schedule time to recharge to take care of your well-being.

This may include enjoying a quieter evening at home with a long relaxing bath with your favourite natural products, and some beautiful candles. I adore the bath time range from Neal’s Yard Remedies, which you can view on my shop.

If I need some time to unwind and recharge, you will definitely find me in the bathroom.

You may also want to schedule in your diary ‘hobby night’, and make a commitment to enjoy time with your newly discovered pastime. Don’t feel you cannot continue this as restrictions ease.

Making time to recharge will then give you the energy both mentally and physically to say ‘yes’ to the events and appointments you want to.

How do you feel about the restrictions easing?

Photograph credit: Sixteen Miles Out