Mindful Steps to Combat Burnout

What if the chaos of a technology-driven world is silently wearing you down, leading to burnout without you even knowing it? Join me on Leo's Liberation as I share personal stories and insights from my journey of navigating leadership and absorbing others' problems at the expense of my well-being. This episode took shape around the momentous events of a bustling Monday, marked by Martin Luther King Jr Day and the inauguration of Donald J. Trump. Yet, amid all this hustle, I've discovered the critical need for balance and the power of patience and focus in reclaiming control over our mental health. Unravel the layers of burnout, its gradual onset, and the necessary steps to steer towards recovery through self-awareness and conscious habit shifts.

The conversation extends into the realm of self-care and self-love, where I challenge you to prioritize yourself without guilt. Imagine the possibility of nurturing healthy relationships simply by taking time for personal reflection and care. The journey of self-love is a powerful one, and as the week begins, let’s embark on this achievable task together. Engage with me on this transformative path through social media platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram, and help foster this community of change by liking, rating, and commenting. I look forward to reconnecting on Friday for more enriching discussions that aim to inspire and empower your personal journey.

Mindfulness in Action: Strategies for Burnout Recovery | Psychology Today

https://leosliberation.buzzsprout.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563379214115&sk=about

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:06

Welcome to your Monday, everyone, and welcome to Leo's Liberation. I'm your host, dre, and it's been a busy Monday. We had Martin Luther King Jr Day and we had the presidential inauguration for the 45th and 47th President, donald J Trump, today. Now, I normally stir clear of politics on this podcast because so many people have so many deep-rooted feelings about their political standpoints. But you know, this is America, it is what it is. These are just the things that we talk about. So, for everyone who voted for him, congratulations.

Speaker 1 0:37

There is something to be said when you have that feeling that your vote has counted, I'm sure For those who voted against, keep your heads up. The beauty of America you can believe and put into practice, legally, of course, put into practice whatever makes you feel whole, spiritually, sexually, communally, and so on. A presidency should not determine who you are. Be you and still be proud. If no one accepts you for you, so be it. It doesn't stop the world from turning and it shouldn't stop yours.

Speaker 1 1:03

So now, my goal over the weekend was to record a podcast with a friend that I haven't visited with in a while, but, as you can imagine, when you reconnect with a buddy and booze is involved, well, we'll just say that we drank and caught up too much before turning on the microphones, so we'll be giving it another try without the alcohol. The topic for the podcast we were trying to produce involves population decline in today's world, with a segue into the effects of birth control when a female stops taking it and how it affects her relationship with her partner, male or female and, as you can expect, we were speaking about this from a male perspective, of course, with some female insight. So definitely a loaded topic and I can guarantee you it's definitely going to be longer than 10 minutes once we kind of get this thing up and running. But we will get it up and running to you guys, hopefully here within the next month. So this podcast that I'm actually talking on right now may be just a tad bit shorter, but we'll see. So I will say that the topic at hand today, especially for Monday, is basically combating exhaustion or burnout with patience and focus.

Speaker 1 2:03

Okay, why do I continue to talk about this, you may ask. Well, when you live in a 24-7 society filled with technological wonders that keep your attention from the time you open your eyes until you close them, and sometimes even when your eyes are closed, it's hard to turn things off. Or you know, we get caught up in a razzle-dazzle of life so quickly and we get sucked back into that hole of just busy chaos. I figured it'd be a good talk because I can guarantee there are some people who were stressed out about the presidency and all the events that happened today. But look at the bright side of this, guys. If you weren't for the president, you could still go celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day and or celebrate both. So you know you have options right. So a few episodes back.

Speaker 1 2:43

I recall talking about controlling what you expose yourself to and who or what you let into your bubble. We carry enough on our shoulders on a daily basis people just trying to live, so you know why add more. So if anything I've said applies to you, just sit back and keep listening for a quick second. So I recall a time when I worked in a leadership position and I found out, or I found it to be my duty, basically to absorb everyone's problems. I recall putting on that work face and changing my personality to make ends meet and be that friendly, dependable guy in the workplace. Honestly, this was mentally exhausting, being someone that I wasn't and then having to go home and basically deal with my own issues On top of that, you know, whether it be behavior, health, substance use or just marriage problems, whatever the case may be, you know, whether it be behavior, health, uh, substance use, or just marriage problems, whatever the case may be, you know, just having to go home and deal with that stuff and then going to work and actually putting on a face so you can deal with everything else, um, it's enough to drain anybody, I think. Um, so basically I kind of got to the point where it was no more. So now I kind of tell people how I feel, and I do do it professionally. You know, I'm not that a-hole walking around the workplace just saying the first thing that comes to mind, but I no longer carry people's weight on my back and about 99% of the cases it's usually me you're dealing with. So there is that 1%, obviously, where you got to have the professional meeting or something like that or that presentation. Yeah, you have to put on that face for those presentations, but in most cases it is just me you're talking to. So, uh, a lesson learned there. Um, I guess we're going to see how this all applies to what I'm talking about here today, cause I think I actually may have just kind of jumped off the railroad tracks for a second.

Speaker 1 4:22

So, um, you know, why do I say use patience and focus to combat burnout? Well, burnout didn't happen overnight and it's not going to get fixed overnight. So getting to that point is, uh, you know, because you allow it to happen. So, yeah, go look in the mirror. It's not your employers and your employer's fault, um, it's not your spouse's or children's fault or the 10,000 other things going on in life, it's you. So I believe that you were looking, um, I believe that you are looking at eliminating a habit, basically, so a habit of taking on so much because you most likely get some type of positive results and to keep from disappointing yourself or anyone else, you continue to be that whipping boy or whipping girl, so you continue to take on a lot more than you have to. So, yeah, you'll need a patience to kind of get through this and hopefully shape and mold an improved version of yourself.

Speaker 1 5:11

Focus comes into place because you will need to redirect some of that energy, that mindful energy, that you've placed into work, family problems, your to do list items, et cetera. But you know, focus on the you that you want to become. Focus on what you're not tolerating anymore. Focus on you know, I do want to take that trip once a week and I think we've talked about this for a little deja vu just kicked in when I just said that. But yeah, focus on the you you want to become.

Speaker 1 5:38

Does this mean that you have to become a raging jerk and alienate everyone that threatens your success? No, I mean you can't tell your spouse and the kids to take a hike because you want to focus on a better you. Don't get me wrong. I'm pretty sure some people have done that in life, but let's try not to be that person. So you can't tell everyone just to, like, leave your life. I mean, yes, can you purge? Per one of our previous episodes, yes, I would say definitely purge the ones that are negative and toxic in your life and then actually serve no purpose to you know self-betterment, but it just means that basically, now you're setting those new boundaries, and another thing that we've discussed in the past is boundaries. So yet again, we're setting new boundaries for ourselves.

Speaker 1 6:15

Um, so I did look on the psychology today, um, and they do have a pretty decent strategical approach posted back in September of 24. And if you don't know where to start with the implementation of patients and focus, I would say check out the article. I will post the link in the description and on Facebook and whatever other sites I may be on here today and I actually came up or I do come up with a lot of these ideas on my own and then I try to find supporting evidence. So I guess all that writing college papers does kind of pay off, or at least the way they teach you does so yeah, kind of come up with that basic knowledge, uh, the way they teach you does so, yeah, you know, do the you know kind of come up with that basic knowledge that I had in my head already, or just my thoughts in the world, and I just kind of look for something to support that. So, anyhow, the article advised basically you want to start small, and I think this was pretty much the meat potatoes of it, um, because, like I say, it's going to require some patience and this stuff doesn't like get fixed overnight. So you start small, short little sessions in the morning, um, during lunch or in the evening to focus. Um, you know, remove the bad and keep the good is kind of what you're trying to do here and you want to kind of meditate often. You kind of want to make this part of your little short sessions here.

Speaker 1 7:24

And remember, meditation comes in many forms. Most people view this as a sitting cross-legged and humming or chanting, or laying on the ground or mat surrounded by candles, incense and bells. No, not necessarily. Meditation can be you taking a moment to pray. It could be a quick inspirational read. It can be as far fetched as this may sound. It can literally be, I don't know. It could be you enjoying yourself with your partner.

Speaker 1 7:53

Whoever the case may be, meditation comes in many forms. But if it allows you to focus, then so be it. If it's something that's actually bringing you joy, these things can be aimed towards your goal or what you're trying to focus on. Just keep in mind, just keep in mind it's not always sitting there on a mat and you know, trying to be, remain quiet and just enjoy the stillness. Sometimes it's actually, yeah, like I say, it's you praying, talking to your God and just, you know, trying to figure things out on your own.

Prioritizing Self-Care and Self-Love

Speaker 1 8:22

But you know, take it serious, you know, make that time yours. So basically, here's going to be the challenge Um, you know, set a timer on your phone or watch Um, and then you set that timer for about five minutes every day morning, noon or night, or you can do it for all three. So give yourself 15 minutes if you have that much time on your hands, and then the uh five minutes that you set aside for yourself, allow no one to take that from you. Put up that do not disturb sign and you better mean it Like when you put up that do not disturb sign, do not let anyone disturb you unless, obviously, there's something involving your safety or your children's safety or you have to go help someone. So focus on you and only you. Now will this be hard at first? Yes, we're working to teach ourselves to disconnect and as you continue this practice, though you know, increase the time, take back your time and love yourself.

Speaker 1 9:09

People. I've always been told you can't expect others to love you if you don't love yourself, and it starts with giving yourself time to breathe and think about you and what you want. And it's not being selfish. I think we've gotten to the habit of saying that people are selfish for taking out time for themselves or doing things for themselves. It's not being selfish. Take that moment for yourself. So there's your challenge for the week, a quick one for the Monday and, I think, pretty achievable one, obviously, to start with. So I'm Dre, I'm signing off another episode of Leo's Liberation. Take care of yourself and each other, and you can find me at leosliberationbuzzsproutcom or leoliberated on Facebook or leoliberate on X I'm sorry, leo underscore liberate on X, or leos underscore liberation on Instagram, and please follow me on whatever platform you're listening to this podcast on. Give me a like, rating or leave comments for me to grow on, and I'll be talking with you guys on Friday. So definitely do have a safe, warm and joyful week.