Mental Health Break: For the burned out friend

Friends, something has been on my heart lately that I've been wanting to share! A couple of weeks ago, I met up with an old friend for the first time in a long time and the first thing she said was..."HEY! Tell me about your awesome, wonderful life!! It looks incredible." And I thought to myself... well goodness! it sure doesn't feel that way! I mean yes, I have so much to be thankful for and each day is such a blessing!! I have wonderful friends, I have a part-time job that I love, and work with the most incredible people. But friends, I am tired. Burned out. Exhausted. And I have just been pushing through these past couple of months. With endless school work and a list of to-do's, I just have not been feeling myself. 

I feel often times, social media only shows the highlight reel of our lives and a form of unattainable perfect happiness. I have chosen social media to be a happy place. And I post what makes me happy and little positive "wins" of my days. But what I don't post is the not-so-cheery, overwhelmed, rush-here-rush-there, sometimes ugly-crying on the living room carpet floor (ya feel me?), I'm-not-perfect posts. 

Busyness, school, work, relationships, homework, sleep, family, bills, projects, studying, laundry, friends, email, texts, life... we have a lot to keep up with and play a lot of roles! And friends, moms, sisters, if you are in a place of burn out- I'm praying for you and your heart! 

I've made a little list of tips for those days when you are feeling tired, stuck in a monotonous schedule, or are just looking for a little break. 

1. Take a ten: 

My roommates actually forced this one upon me and I'm so thankful for it. I came home one day on the verge of tears and they made me set an alarm for ten minutes. and just sit. no phone, no music, no technology, no homework. Just sit. Pray. Listen. Be Still.

2. Start a life-giving basket: 

^^This has been my favorite new addition to my room. Fill a basket with simple things that make you happy and give you life. Keep it simple. Your life is probably not so simple if you have reached this point and you don't want to have a complicated life-giving basket. That would defeat its purpose. I've filled mine with my bible, the current book I'm reading (For the Love by Jen Hatmaker...so good. so life-giving.), some thank you notes and a coloring book. (coloring is life-giving and makes me happy.) I keep my life-giving basket by my bed so it is the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see before going to bed. (not my phone) Do something life-giving so you can be life-giving!

3. Create something: we were made to create! 

"We create because we were made to create, having been made in the image of God, whose first role was Creator. He was and is a million different things, but in the beginning, He was a creator. That means something for us, I think. We were made to be the things that He is: forgivers, redeemers, second-chance givers, truth-tellers, hope-bringers. And we were certainly, absolutely, made to be creators." ~Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

^^fave quote. fave author too. 

Create something. bake some brownies. send a card. design a new system of organization. write a thank you note. construct a pinterest project you've been eyeing. make a package. send it to someone who needs a smile. create smiles. create!

4. Mix things up:

I'm a BIG fan of change and sometimes the mundane and monotonous can wear me out. Out of laundry detergent? Get a new kind. Put your toothbrush on the opposite side of your sink. Take an alternate route to work. Place your pillows differently. Switch up your room. Eat something new for breakfast. Work those parts of your mind to keep your brain guessing and excited about what's new to come. 

5. Make yourself, or purchase yourself, a warm drink:

To me, there is nothing more comforting than coffee or cocoa. All that coffee you see on my instagram feed? all thanks to birthday and surprise giftcards. (Thank YOU friends and family) Yes, that may look like the perfect cup of coffee in a red cup (!! It's Christmas!) from Starbucks, but I'm chugging it down because life is not perfect and I'm stressed and need a warm hug in the form of a latte. 

5. Exercise: 

A good friend and I have been doing Kayla Itsine's workouts and we are almost done with week 4!! They are 28-minute workouts and have changed me in the best of ways. My room may be a mess, and homework might not be done- but I checked off a 28-minute workout and now I can do anything. (or that's how you feel when I’m done. and sweaty. I feel sweaty.) Walk it out. Do some squats. Take a yoga class. Make time for yourself and check it off!  

6. Burn a candle: Burn off the burned out feelings. I looove candles. My roommate Kelsie and I can keep you updated with current Bath and Body Works candle sales. They make you feel comfy and cozy and relaxed. All the feels.

7. Sleep! 

I love the leadership roles I’m in but if I am tired, snappy, angry... I can not pour into others. Others don't want to be lead by leaders who don't lead themselves. Lead your self to your bed. Turn off your phone. Grab something in your life-giving basket to read for a few minutes. Then shut off the lights and sleep! 

8. And finally...take a mental health break! (even if it means a day off to do nothing!!) This is hard. And it may mean skipping classes or putting in a sick day. But sometimes you need a mental health break because you are brain sick. It's called burn-out. And there's grace and rest. :) 

Praying for you, friend! and for rest and energy and joy in the days to come. Happy weekend!