People have become more aware of mental health and its importance over the past decade. One of the primary mental health complications that have become quite popular is burnout. It has been identified as a type of stress syndrome identifiable through a person’s emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, feeling of self-insufficiency, and inability to feel contentment and pleasure. According to Forbes, 53% of Millennials were already feeling burnt out even before the pandemic, and the numbers have only grown higher over the last couple of years.
And since burnout is not only exclusive for working adults, as the number of people affected by it gets higher, the need for ways to solve it gets bigger. And that’s where we come in. Here’s how to heal over the weekend so that you can avoid getting burnt out every week.
WORK ON YOUR MENTAL STRESS PHYSICALLY
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TREAT YOUR BODY RIGHT
Most nine to five jobs cause a sedentary lifestyle. You’d spend your days sitting down, staring at computers for hours, only to stand up to have a cigarette break. If it’s not nicotine, then caffeine is what keeps you going. But using coffee as your daily fuel can lead to a lot of health problems as well.
Treat your body right by exercising over the weekend. Go to the nearest park and jog for half an hour. Even simple sit-ups at home can help. The key is to remember that consistency outranks perfection. You don’t have to have a perfect 90-degree angle to get the benefits of push-ups. If your arms aren’t that strong yet, you can settle with kneeling push-ups as long as you do it consistently.
Keep in mind that working out doesn’t only help your body but also your mind. When you work out, your body releases chemicals like dopamine, which from the name itself sounds dope, and endorphin, which is known for relieving pain and boosting pleasure.
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LET PROFESSIONALS WORK ON YOUR BODY
Stress affects not only the mind but also the body. Stress-ridden people often feel muscle and back pains. This is due to tension held in their muscles. The pain can be relieved through chiropractic adjustments. By asking a chiropractor to adjust your spine, the pressure in your back muscles will be released, which would, in turn, help your body relax and increase the circulation of your blood.
Massage therapy also helps with releasing muscle tension by generally making you feel good and relaxed. Spending a fraction of your days off to have a foot spa, a mani-pedi, or a body scrub can also benefit your mind. Look at it as both a reward for your long tiring week and a preparation for the one ahead.
REST YOUR MIND
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DETOXIFY YOURSELF FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Sometimes, looking at a screen all day can be more tiring than going on a hike. With all that’s happening to the world, giving yourself at least a day away from everything is crucial to your mental state.
Stop living digitally and reconnect with the real world. Whether you spend time with your friends or spend the day with your dog, it would still be more rewarding than just staring at your phone the whole day.
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TREAT YOURSELF
It doesn’t matter what it is. Just do what makes you happy. If you’d rather stay in bed all day and binge-watch all your favorite shows, then take it up a notch and order your favorite food as well. If what your heart truly desires is a shopping spree, then order the item that’s been waiting in your Amazon cart all year long.
The idea is to reward yourself for all your hard work over the last few weeks and to have a reason to look forward to the following weekend.
FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE
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BUM OUT FOR ONE DAY
Sleep in and stay in the room for one day. Rest your mind and heart and relax. When you give yourself time to rest, you increase your concentration capabilities and memory for the following days. People who are well-rested showcase a higher productivity and efficiency rate compared to those who are restless.
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BE ACTIVE FOR ONE DAY
It’s also essential to spend a day actively. After having one day to rest, spend the next one accomplishing goals. Wake up early and do a few errands. Work out and hype yourself up. Think of it as a warm-up for the week ahead.
By finding the right balance between resting and being active, your weekend can be both relaxing and rewarding. By focusing on both your physical and mental health, you heal as a whole. But most importantly, remember that even though stress and burnout have similarities, they are entirely different problems. Stress can be relieved by taking a break. But if you’re suffering from burnout, it means there is something in your life that needs to be changed.
