20 Ways to Prevent Burn Out and Restore Balance
by Brian Norris
Take time for yourself. A hot bath or shower does wonders. Turn off the TV, the computer, the cell phone, the Blackberry and give yourself permission to be disconnected.
Enjoy quality time with family, lovers, spouses and colleagues. Pour yourself into your relationships. Most of us weren't meant to be alone.
Don’t give in to the allure of workaholism. Establish regular business hours and stick to them (even if you work from your home).
Breathe deeply and consciously.
Reward yourself for hitting goals. Celebrate the small successes along with the big ones.
Live in the precious present. If things are difficult at the moment, remember that this too shall pass.
Focus on the things you can do something about versus the things that are outside of your control.
Forgive others and love without expecting it in return. Strive to recognize the divine in every person you meet. Stay away from negative people. They’re not worth it.
Get lots of massages! Touch is more powerful than any prescription drug in the world. Find a massage therapist you can trust and go to them as often as your time and/or budget allows. Be sure your therapist is able to leave their own issues at the door, and instead can focus on giving you the energy, attention and bodywork you need.
Come to terms with your physical and emotional limitations. Resist the urge to be a superhero, savior or martyr. Learn to say no (and not feel guilty about it).
Love your body and engage in self-pleasure on a regular basis.
Meditate, pray or just enjoy the sound of silence.
Make love often. Be candid in letting your partner know what you do and don’t like.
Learn something new every day. Listen to different types of music. Read often. Expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives. Reserve the right to change your mind.
Keep a diary, journal or blog. While you’re at it, write a book. Find someone you can talk to about anything with knowing that they can keep your secrets too. On the same hand, know when to shut up and be the listener.
Exercise and eat according to your needs . Combine stretching with cardio and weight bearing exercises. Understand what certain types of food do to your mood, energy and waistline. So, watch you caloric, sugar and caffeine intake. Enjoy foods in moderation and eat according to your body type. Make breakfast a requirement.
An occasional bowl of Decadent Chocolate ice cream topped with whipped cream, butterscotch and sprinkles can be extremely therapeutic.
Remember that overeating, over-exercising, over medicating and excessive drinking won’t make the real problem(s) go away.
Plan ahead but yield to frequent bursts of spontaneity.
Donate your time and/or services to a cause you believe in. Aspire to be the person that your dog thinks you are.
Brian Norris is owner of Milwaukee's Best Massage and provides professional therapeutic massage for men and women in Milwaukee. He is also author of Escape Life Sucks Syndrome (available on Amazon). You can reach Brian by email or by calling 414-899-1905.
