Employee burn out is on the rise. According to a survey of almost 7,500 full-time employees, approximately 23 percent feel like they’re burnt out most or all of the time. Last year was particularly challenging to working class folk. You may be thankful that you still have a job despite the many businesses that have closed due to the pandemic. But you may still feel like you’re working yourself ragged.
Another survey revealed that 57 percent of people believe that self-care mean taking a mental break whereas 74 percent think it means taking care of the body.
No matter what you believe, here are 9 effective steps you can take to relax and rejuvenate yourself, so you don’t burn out.
Relax with Some Tunes
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can try soothing yourself by putting on some nice tunes. Slip on your headphones or ear pods and listen to your favorite albums. Whether you prefer to jam out to the latest pop songs, brood to some smooth jazz or jump around to rock albums. No matter your music preference, listening to your favorite songs can make you feel less stressed.
Stay Hydrated
When you’re busy working or doing other things, you could be so focused on your task you forget to take a sip of water. Medical professionals have research that proves dehydration can make you feel more stressed as your body pumps up cortisol. Occasionally, get a glass of water and take a long drink. You can make things more interesting by drinking water infused with fruits or have a handy jug with sliced up lemons in it.
Have a Sit-Down Meal
How many times do you eat while working in front of a computer or do scarf down a sandwich while walking from appointment to appointment? Not only is eating in a hurry or on the move or while working more stressful, it won’t give you the time to appreciation your meal. Bust out the flatware, set up the table and have a nice sit-down meal instead of rushing your food. You’d be surprised at how more delicious the food can be when you take time to appreciate it.
Go Outdoors
Nature can be more revitalizing than you realize. When you’ve been cooped up for most of the year, maybe you should take some time to chill outside. Drag out a lawn chair or a bench and just hang out in your garden. Feel the sun on your skin, the wind in your hair and listen to the refreshing sounds of nature.
Binge Watch
Sometimes, all you need to do is to put something delightful on the computer and watch movies until your worries melt away. Maybe you can marathon your favorite sitcoms or watch all the Disney princess movies in order. Fix plenty of snacks, turn off your phone and curl up while watching whatever you want for hours on end.
Take a Long Bath
When you’re busy focusing on homework or just plain old work, you may have no time for anything but a quick five-minute shower. However, you deserve to feel clean and relax at the same time. Rather than hop in a shower, why not take some time to fill up a tub and drop some bath bombs. Luxuriate in your bath or really hot shower and melt your stress away.
Read
One of the best ways to de-stress is by exploring other worlds. Ask yourself when was the last time you cracked open a book and buy one. It could be a secret sinful pleasure like a trashy young-adult romance. Or it could be a serious treatise on historical events. Or it could be a gripping thriller. You could be amazed by how relaxed you feel after a few hours of flipping through pages.
Hang Out with Friends
Reconnecting physically with loved ones and close friends during this time is inadvisable, but there are plenty of technologically empowered ways for you to do so. You can have video conferencing get-togethers or online chats. Thanks to computer technology, you can meet with all your friends and feel the years melt away so long as you have an internet connection.
Try Something New
Instead of falling into old patterns, why not go off the beaten path and explore something new? Try out a new hobby you’ve always meant to explore, read a book in a different genre, prepare a meal you’ve never tried. Exploration can be refreshing not just to you body but for your mind.
Self-care can be explored in any number of ways. The methods listed above can prevent you from losing track of who you are and getting buried beneath stress. So take some time to dig yourself out and take care of your mind and body.
