Stepping back to gain momentum

In a fast paced world where being "busy" and "exhausted" are used as badges of honor it seems counter intuitive to step back. To slow down. To realign. Sometimes that is exactly what is needed to be able to move forward!

I don't know about you but I was someone who wore my busyness and work overload as the crown to say I'd made it! I was finally important enough to be overwhelmed and therefore valuable. Read that again......overwhelmed = valuable. How backwards is that?!? And yet that is how I interpreted my reality. Guess what come's shortly after overwhelm? Yup you guessed it BURNOUT! And Sis, burnout does not play around. It literally grounds you. Like an airplane with no engine. You are not going anywhere, doing anything and it's a deep, dark hole.

My burnout gave me a few hints early on but I, like any good people pleasing woman, shoved those hints down. I told myself I needed more coffee or more greens, maybe I'd go to bed a little earlier or jump into a workout in the mornings. We've heard the sentiment that when you don't listen to your body it will make you listen. Never were truer words spoken. I made is approx. 22 months into burnout and then I spiraled. My body was so out of balance that it took matters into it's own hands. Migraines, panic attacks, crippling anxiety, hair loss, weight gain, stomach issues, dizziness, muscle weakness, insomnia .....It took immense determination and willpower just to get out of bed every day. The final straw was going to my care provider and being told "if you do not figure out how to cut down your stress level you are going to end up in the hospital." WHAT!?!

I want to tell you that I immediately make huge life changes and am perfectly recovered now.....but that would be a load of BS. It took me another 3 to 4 months to pivot professionally to escape immense stress and crippling anxiety. And it worked for a bit but the thing is if you don't address the root cause you are only putting a bandaid on the issue. Turns out that my work hadn't been the only thing creating burn out and that pivoting without resting and healing just prolongs the struggle. So here I sit in March of 2024 STILL working through burnout. Daily choosing what matters most and what can wait. Learning to prioritize things like sleep, fuel and rest. And also remember to reignite joy by exploring new things and doing creative things that light me up.

Do I have it all figured out? No freaking way. Am I learning day by day to listen to my body and seek positivity and joy? Yes ma'am I most certainly am! Here's the thing is that when I was go go go, I missed out on a lot of the joy and fulfillment. Stepping back, slowing down and being intentional with where I'm headed is springing me forward to where I am supposed to be.....so the lesson in all of this? Get out of your own way, rest and seek joy, live your life instead of letting life pass you by... There is no prize at the end for who is the most stressed and accomplished but there will be a lot of missed opportunities and I don't want to get to the end and wonder "what if" ..... do you?

Sarah Griffin