From Burnout to Bliss

If you are like me, your December calendar looks more like a colorful digital puzzle rather than the usual organized highlight stacks of other months. If you are old school, your planner reads more like a doodle pad than Instagram worthy sharpie and sticker fest you are used to. While the extra to dos, gift giving, holiday parties and family gatherings may bring joy (or stress…cue crazy relative), the hustle and bustle can also leave us feeling worn down and depleted.

I don’t like to glorify busyness, so I won’t. It’s not healthy for us women who need to be anchored in our life, in our faith and to the world to feel truly alive. Truth be told, I’m wired for speed and action. While I love that about myself, it also means I have to be even more conscious of my health and signs I’m heading for burn out. It’s a point I don’t want to reach. I’ve been there before (cue building two businesses at once from home with a toddler and baby). Those lessons learned have led me to simplify my life and lessen my commitments when I can. Simplicity breeds space to rest and what comes into this for me are my non non-negotiable health tips for the burned out, stressed out, or just plain exhausted.

If you’re feeling even slightly one of these, then choosing to bring any of the below into your day is going to be beneficial to you.

1. JUST MOVE
I’m a firm believer that we all need to move our bodies. Exercise releases feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin that help us feel amazing (and even fight depression).
While I love pushing my body to the max (cue the collegiate athlete in me), when it’s already under pressure may this not be the best thing for you. Slow, restorative movement is key to resetting the body and changing your state. A relaxing morning yoga sesh, evening stretching routine or even a short walk outside is all you need to keep the body in balance and your mind right.

2. EAT YOUR VEGGIES AND HYDRATE
You’ve heard “eat the rainbow” and that phrase isn’t just to be cute but instead to help you enjoy the benefits Phytonutrients (unique substances that give your foods their brilliant colors) have on your health. Different colored veggies have different nutrients so to get as many in as possible make a colorful plate and eat that rainbow. The anti-oxidant quality is also a key reason to add more veggies to your diet. As oxidative stress causes aging it’s important we provide our bodies with anti-oxidants to fight free radical damage. Basically it’s like nature’s Botox, so why wouldn’t you eat your veggies?

Oh one more thing, drink your water. That’s all. You skin will thank you and your body will love you for it. It’s the simplest change to aid in flushing toxins, brightening that tired skin, decreasing bloat and releasing weight.

3. UNPLUG TO PLUG IN
Opening up Instagram and Facebook and absorbing all of that content is draining. Simply not opening my social media apps or checking my email first thing, is one of best ways for me to clear my mind and keep other’s agenda from creating mine. You design your life, don’t let others steal that power by influence or comparison.

I’ve made a promise to myself… pages before posts. Upon waking, I read first before ever opening my phone. So whether it’s a devotional, self-development book or just a fabulous fiction, I challenge you to plug into the present and feed your soul first before you let other’s “reel” life dictate your mood and mindset.

4. NIGHTY NIGHT
There’s a reason why sleep deprivation was used as torture back in the day (cue my new mamas out there with glazed eyes and what feels like missing brain cells). Ok but in all seriousness, the body recovers and repairs while we sleep which is why it’s so important we aim to get enough.

Sleep is the ultimate body reset tool. Here are my top tips for a restful night’s sleep:
-Aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep and avoid those digital screens before bed.
-Diffuse lavender essential oil or place a drop on your pillow. You nervous system and mind will take this aromatic reminder and help you drift off to sleep.
-Enjoy an evening bath with magnesium salts (you can even add your lavender essential oil too) to encourage better sleep but magnesium also draws out toxins from the skin too. Bonus!

6. JUST SAY NO
Saying no isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. Are you saying yes to another commitment out of guilt or obligation OR out of joy and excitement? Ask yourself that the next time you volunteer, say yes to being a room mom or host a gathering. Politely decline those extra commitments and make room in your calendar for YOU. After all you can pour into others if your cup is empty. By taking time for you and saying yes less, you will feel energized, calm and content. Go ahead, give it a try. Say no with love and see your energy shift and those around will notice and thank you for it.

6. DETOX TO RETOX
Build up of toxins in your gallbladder, liver and skin (your elimination organs) occur when you’ve pushed yourself too far and are feeling totally exhausted.
Here is an easy way you can do to support the release of toxic build-up: bring weed into your life. No not that kind of weed, Dandelion root, the miracle weed, that regenerates your body from the inside out. If you plan to use the root to give your liver a boost, a typical dose is 500 to 2,000 mg of dandelion root in capsule or tea form, taken daily for two weeks will be perfect.

Studies have shown that dandelion root can also reduce fatigue, boost immunity and acts as an incredible fat burner too. #winning When it comes to weight loss, dandelion is virtually unmatched, in large part due to its effects on the liver. Dandelion root boosts liver function and increases the rate of fat metabolism in two ways: first, it stimulates the liver to produce more bile to send to the gallbladder, which helps burn fat, and second, it causes the gallbladder to contract and release its stored bile, further increasing fat metabolism.

WANT TO UP YOUR DETOX GAME? Nutritional rebalancing is way to take your detox to another level by implementing cellular cleansing. The holistic supplementation I love provides nourishing herbs and botanicals to maximize that liver detox and blast visceral belly fat too. My inbox is always open to those who are ready to get back in balance so give me a shout if you need a reset.

IT'S TIME TO GO FROM BURNOUT TO BLISS. Don’t forget to bring these into your daily routine when you need healing from all the disruption or seek grounding again amidst chaos, Better yet, make them nonnegotiable and change your state while watching the stress fades away. Cheers to a happy, healthy holiday and a stress-free new year!

Find Heather on IG @heatherbarritt and visit her website http://www.heatherbarritt.com to connect directly!

Author: Heather Barritt