I'm Concerned About You
I’m concerned about you.
No, really I am. The data is in and it does not look good: CNBC is reporting that nearly 70% of Americans are showing signs of burnout while the CDC recently concluded that two thirds of adults currently have symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Many of us are hitting—or have already hit—our limits. I know because I personally hit a wall of physical exhaustion about 12 weeks ago: in the span of five days I dozed off at the wheel—thankfully, avoiding an accident—and then sprained my ACL in a separate incident a few days later, which landed me literally on the bench for nearly two months. While sometimes hitting our limits is obvious in a pandemic world—like it was for me back in June—many of us have also learned how sneaky those feelings of “overwhelm” can be in our new normal.
So, yes, as the quarantine drags on, election day draws nearer, the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, I’m concerned about you.
If you’re feeling tired, stressed, or just in a “funk” you are not alone. Some days are easier than others and a few “others” in a row can feel crushing. Here are five simple ideas for renewing your energy this fall:
Seriously, take some time off. I have a rule that nobody is allowed to tell me they’re burned out until they’ve taken a week of true vacation (that means no inbox monitoring). Many of us are working longer days than ever before and almost all of us could really use a break. So, open up your calendar and book yourself a “staycation” in the weeks ahead. If you can’t swing a week, can you at least try for a long weekend?
(Pot meet kettle) get more sleep. I know how important sleep is these days because, like many of you, I am not getting enough of it. The days and weeks that I do, I honestly feel amazing. Likewise, if you’re struggling to sleep like me, we are part of a new wave of “coronasomnia.” Psychologists attribute this to the mashup of increased stress levels and decreased accessibility to our normal routines. Try building new sleep routines like committing to turn-off-times for your computer, TV, and phone. Or try journaling before bed to get all the ideas that race through your head in the dark onto a piece of paper. This one has been a game-changer for me: in fact, the first draft of this article was written on the scratch pad that now lives on my nightstand.
Turn off your phone. We need our devices to work and stay connected, but they also connect us to all the things that are stressing us out like social media, news, and work email. One thing I personally started over the summer (the day of my almost-car-wreck, in fact) was taking a weekly tech Shabbat: turning my computer and phone off for half the weekend, every Friday night into Saturday night. Don’t get me wrong, my weekly screen time average still horrifies me, but the once-weekly digital detox has become something I truly crave by Thursday afternoon.
Get “social” in different ways. Many of us have felt like we’re in a social “funk” and, according to new research, we’re getting more socially awkward as the pandemic continues. Try going old school and picking up the phone to call a friend. Not a zoom, not a text, and not an email—a good old-fashioned call. Bonus points if it’s somebody you’ve thought about but haven’t reached out to in a while. For my introverts: consider writing a letter to somebody, sharing a memory, saying thank you, or just letting them know you care about them. These gestures can help get you out of your own funk and also be a lifeline to the recipient.
Make like RBG and get a passion project. Some of you will protest that you’re too busy, while others will protest that you “tried the sourdough thing” back in May and are over it. It was RBG who famously implored us, “if you want to be a true professional, do something outside of yourself.” For her, that passion was opera, and if she could keep up with Marty’s law school work while he was ill, raise Jane, and also make the Harvard Law Review you can find time to get a passion project too. Passion projects invite us to get creative, spark joy, and recharge in a way that vegging out with Netflix just can’t.
That’s why I challenge you to either revisit a passion project you once loved but got “too busy” for, to try something totally new and totally out of your comfort zone, or try revisiting something you once “hated” that may feel different these days. Simplicity is key here: just try something. If it feels fun, keep going, and if it doesn’t just move onto the next thing. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some passion projects I’ve seen friends, family members, and clients take on recently: playing an instrument, running, playing tennis, training a new puppy, woodworking, writing, and cooking (that one is mine, something I “hated” for years and am now enjoying for the first time ever).
So, yes, I’m concerned about you, which is why I put together this list. As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, I’m holding myself to this list and I want to hear what’s working for you. Take care of yourself and, per #4, keep in touch with me.
Randi Braun is a coach, consultant, speaker, and the Founder of Something Major. Get in touch with Randi via email or social (below). Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.