Have you been experiencing feeling rundown? Have you considered what might be the underlying cause for your exhaustion?
Whenever you are feeling rundown, I encourage you to take an honest look at how you have been thinking, feeling, and acting. Pause and reflect on your inner dialogues. You might uncover a belief, behavior pattern, or a relationship that is out of alignment with who you are or who you want to be. Perhaps you believe you must be perfect at everything, or you have been making a lot of effort people-pleasing? Maybe you have overloaded your plate, over-committed and for what purpose? Are there people in your life that are draining your energy? Are there commitments that are too much or too draining, or just no longer fitting into your current life? Once you get clear on the root cause of feeling rundown, you can begin to re-prioritize, de-clutter your schedule, let go and better direct your flow of energy in ways that add value and meaning to your life.
And, maybe the reasons you feel rundown have less to do with how much you are doing and more to do with the fact that, in your heart, you would rather be doing something else entirely.
Can you make it a priority, a necessity, to listen to what your heart really wants? Carve out some time for meditation or moments of silence so that you can gain the clarity you need, and it will be well worth the effort. When you know what you truly want to do and honor that in all situations, you will find that getting rundown is a thing of the past.
Practical advice for when your are feeling run down:
1. Rest – Prioritize sleep. Try a yoga Nidra class.
2. Slow Down – Cancel non-essential plans. Give yourself permission to say “no” and conserve energy. Try more being and less doing.
3. Nourish Your Body – Hydrate-drink lots of water. Eat nourishing meals and avoid sugar.
4. Move Gently – Do some stretching, take a gentle yoga class or a short walk.
5. Take a Mental Break – Try a digital detox by reducing screen time and staying off social media. Mental breaks can also include pausing your podcasts, not reading non-essential emails and avoiding information overload.
6. Grab Your Journal – Make a gratitude list, write, or sketch/draw.
7. Mindful Breathing – Try a few minutes of deep box breathing (4 count inhale, 4 count retention, 4 count exhale, 4 count suspension). It is simple, but powerful.
8. Check In – Ask “Why?” Am I rundown from overcommitment, lack of boundaries, emotional stress? Awareness is the first step to creating change.
9. Seek Support – Talk to someone you trust. Sometimes just being heard helps.
-MaryBeth