5 Tips to avoid Burnout during the Silly Season & Work Trips

Well here we go! It has been a blissful three weeks - catching up with colleagues/friends, family time with mum, sisters. Nieces and nephew, parties, good food and time on a boat! So what am I talking about? Am I complaining? 

No, by no means no but hear me out…about halfway through I don't know what happens to me but I always fall into a deep state of regret, shame and guilt for not having a to-do list, for not completing certain tasks that I know or tell myself that I should be doing to optimise my down time!

Internally I know when I am a home I am this organised, disciplined, routined person annnnd when I go to interstate for a work trip or visiting family it all falls by the wayside. I’m socialising more, yes, I'm having a few drinks, yes, I'm working more intensely, especially if it's a work trip or I'm just busy being aunty,, sister, daughter or friend that my self-care practises really do fall away. 

Understandably, retrospectively, I recognise now that it is because my basic self-care practises fell away that the chatter in my head could really get to me so hear are my tips to really enjoy your time off instead of going in 120% and then meeting that wall!

1. Maintain a smaller version of Self Care Practices

So if this one isn't as obvious to some, thats ok! Think to those *deep sigh* moments that give you a sense of spaciousness whether its a deep sigh, a check in moment with yourself, a long shower or just stepping outdoors for 5mins! 

I personally rely on a few tools at home buuut this was challenging to say the least! I found the best practice to maintain whilst away was a meditation practice. If you practice at home, it's obviously going to be easier to maintain it as you wake up before the day starts and you get too busy! When I am at home I dedicate a leisurely amount of time to this part of my morning but when I was away I would even just do 5 to 10 minutes in the morning and yes, for the first time in a few year, this actually dropped off too for me during my last trip but as soon as I noticed how tangled up In the web of my head I was getting I quickly resume the practise and it's amazing the amount of spaciousness that I can get between my thoughts and my being.

2. Balance out Movement, Eating and Drinking

For me, when I am at home I love my routine of having a smoothie in the morning, having dinner planned and I work out 4 days a week and go for a walk on the other days. During work tripsI have the luxury of living with a friend/colleague for most of my trip and eating healthy was not an issue although, lets me honest, there was a constant drink being poured! I find this desire to engage with the people that I was surrounded with and that included drinking amounts that I just don't normally do.

It has been an interesting internal conversation with myself as to whether I am doing it to people please or if there are just parts of me that, in having certain walls or restraints come down, really bring forth this other part of me that is normally too regulated. Either way, Ii found myself in conjunction with the above I was not training as much as I normally would (I opted for a pack of reformer pilates classes instead of joining a local gym).

Personally, not moving my body really impact me mentally and I was aware of this it was no surprise when little voices start showing up. 

From this, my number one tip is try and find the balance of enjoying yourself but also recognise what your boundaries are. This means telling yourself that you're not drinking today or it that you are going to work out X days a week ahead of time instead of going YOLO - living day by day is amazing and all of that buuuut maybe just maybe sticking to some core boundaries gives you a bit of ease and direction when lets me honest, the silly season is not about direction!.

3. Saying Yes and No (am I talking about Boundaries??)

I'm very grateful to say that I've no longer put myself in a position where my needs or wants are questioned, its, well…more personal for me (internal boundaries) and my friends and family don't put me in a position where  there is an expectation to say yes to something when I want to say no. I believe that that is the groundwork that I've done over the last few years as well as directly with my family over the last 1-2 years. In saying that I understand that it's not always that easy but to acknowledge that we are actually entitled to hold our own space is still a big deal to some!

I am not directly speaking to confronting people with newly implemented boundaries, start with internal boundaries - this looks like keeping small daily promises to yourself (eg. I am drinking a glass of water upon waking, I am going for a 30mins walk on my own each day, I am making my bed each morning, I will pause daily for 1min at 2pm to check in with my body).

Once you are accustomed to this, you can move to internal boundaries that involve others but not directly impact them eg. I will not drink alcohol at tomorrow’s get together, I will take my lunch break even if others will not. Practicing these make it easier (Surprise!)

Lastly, we have external boundaries. These are boundaries that relate to other people but ultimately, it is you who is the key piece to the puzzle so whilst they involve others, they are still about YOU. Just to reiterate - boundaries are about what action YOU will take should X situation occur not about the other person(s) altering their behaviour. The change in others (side note: if it happens) is a by-product of your boundary - magical!

A piece of advice I received was that whilst you can vocalise any boundary that you have implemented with a particular person or group of people to allow them to understand any changes in your behaviour, you don't actually need to provide this, you can just set your boundary internally and remain consistent with that newly aligned action.

We start building trust and sense of self-worth and efficacy by keeping these small promises that we've made for ourselves - powerful!

4. Me Time

Ha you say! Again this is another tricky one as I myself move through this and testing how to implement it for my sake as I maneuver through conflicting wants.  

The commentary in my head is that I'm only visiting for a short period of time (even though…3 weeks!) I want to enjoy my colleagues who are great friends and my family as much as I can because, very soon I'm going to be back home and I will have my routine again. I’m saying all of this because it could be, in the moment, hard to juggle and understand what is people pleasing behaviour and what our authentic self wants your needs in the given moment.

I know for a fact that I felt torn at times because I just wanted to hang out yet there was a true part of me that needed to spend some time alone, whether journaling, reading or anything that filled my cup. I found that because I didn't, by the time I went to bed, even if it was slightly earlier and I could have done some of these things, I was burned out and all I wanted to do was either sleep or I found myself scrolling on my phone and the next thing I knew it was time for sleep! 

I just want to acknowledge that it's hard for all of us sometimes and making a list of little ‘Me Time’ activities is definitely easier but I'm hoping that this can help you be prepared next time as I'm sure it will for me.

5. Have FUN

This one I write very coyly  as I have had to remind myself to embrace the pure joy and fun -  it's ok to just let go of your normal daily routine (no matter how great!), have a break and simply just be in the moment! Enjoy what you’re doing, the company that you’re with and be with the opportunities that are arising around you from stepping out of your norm!

Personally, I can put myself in toooo square of a box “ to get all of the things done” and I'm used to that now and there is a part of me that quite likes it! 

When I do take the lid off this “box”, the other part of me just comes out and full swing. I've spoken to this before (hello to my personal therapist!) and for me it's definitely about seeking a balance of how can I actually exist and achieve the things that I want to achieve and also not only implement but encourage  time to play, rest and to just be.  

My downtime at home generally still looks like a list of sorts, whether it is a hot shower, a med, a self massage, special skincare routine, going to the gym it goes on! I feel as though that when I give myself the leeway to rest and not have a to do list, I forego everything (to my own detriment anyway!) instead of having a balanced version!

So my gift from me to you is learn from my mistakes as I surely have! Take everything a step at a time and whether you're on holidays or a work trip - The richest mode of living is taking a step back and asking yourself what you need from yourself in this moment and make it a daily practise of honouring all parts of you not just the ones that you want to thrive and encourage the play, rest and being! Oh and HAVE FUN!