“Self Care” trends are BS. the Real Secret to Avoid Burnout

Not all rest is created equal: Physical vs Mental

You don’t need just physical rest. No amount of “self care” consumerism-bubble baths, face masks, gua sha, or fancy gadgets will save you if you’re feeling overwhelmed by an endless to-do list and stuck in a comparison loop.
You need deep rest, mental rest.
It’s complicated, and it’s not easy, but here are 3 mental blocks that are affecting your rest and what to do about them.

“I didn’t do enough”

Celebrate your progress. Reflect and recover.

• give yourself a “quick win”: do a simple task (<5 minutes). For example, water a plant or make your bed.
• write down your strengths and past accomplishments (big or small!)
• swap your to-do list for a ta-da list: what progress have you made today?

“I’m worried”

Your thoughts are less scary when you can see them. Brain dump a worry list-set that timer and write down everything that’s on your mind.

 Then, circle what you *can* control, and cross out what you can’t control. You have limited time and energy. Focus on what matters.

“I’m stuck in my head and can’t be present”

I have the attention span of a caffeinated goldfish, so don’t worry, I won’t tell you to meditate for an hour.

3 Mindfulness activities for busy people

• 5-senses walk: look for 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste
• count the number of items of the same color or shape
• draw simple patterns on a post it.

Rest Sustains Progress

You don’t need to “earn” your rest. It’s a form of self-respect that gives you the capacity to help others and continue pursing your goals.