What’s This Collective Burnout Thing Anyway?

What’s This Collective Burnout Thing Anyway?

G'day you fab lot!

Ever feel like everyone around you is stuck in the same slump? Not just in terms of work, but in life in general? Relationships, household chores, all the things! It's like we're all walking around like zombies, right? (or is that just me?)

Well, guess what? We might all be going through a little something called collective burnout. 
Picture this: burnout that you can catch from your friends, family or work mates just like a winter bug. Yep, collective burnout is a real thing and it’s as contagious as a yawn. Essentially, it’s a shared feeling of emotional exhaustion that leaves everyone feeling drained, unmotivated and a bit directionless. Fun times, huh?

You might be thinking, Nah, that’s just the Monday blues of something or just a serious case of the CBF's.
But it's more than that. Collective burnout goes beyond the work grind and can seep into our roles as parents, fur parents, friends and more.
The pandemic, for instance, threw us all for a loop, changing how we live and interact with each other. And get this, you don’t even have to be physically close to your crew to feel the burnout vibes. It’s like a ripple effect of stress.

How to Dodge the Collective Burnout Train 

Okay, so isolating yourself from the world isn’t the answer (although a little 'me time' never hurt anyone, right?). Here are some tips to keep that burnout at bay:

  1. Set Clear Goals (Minus the Overwhelm): Start small. Instead of setting ginormous over the top, scary goals, break them down. Plan to take a walk at lunch or aim for a decent bedtime. Easy wins make you feel good and help you stay focused without the overwhelm.

  2. Embrace the Power of “No”: I’m serious. Saying “no” can be your ultimate secret tool. We don’t need to learn how to say it; we just need to start doing it more. Protect your time and energy and don't feel bad about it!

  3. Celebrate Your Wins, Big or Small: Stop comparing yourself to others. Measure your stuff by how you feel when you tick off those tiny wins. 

  4. Understand Mid-Year Burnout: Yup, it's a thing! We’ve blogged about seasonal burnout " SAD" before, and it’s real.
    See: Mental As Anything
    Life happens and goals can shift. It’s okay to fuck up or have a bad day. Give yourself a pass and keep moving forward.

  5. Prioritise Downtime: Make time for your brain and body to unwindulax (a term I love from S7, E4 - 30 Rock). Schedule that shit in! Classes that promote relaxation, like yoga, can do wonders. Trust me, binge-watching your fave series for the millionth time won’t give you the same benefits. But hey, no judgment—we’ve all been there! (30 Rock, here I come!)

  6. Find Your Balance: Life’s a juggling act, but discovering time for the things that matter can prevent burnout. Join us regularly in our sessions and find what works for you. We’re all in this together and it's nice to know you're not alone.

Remember, life’s too short to be running on empty. Join us for some fun and relaxing times, reset; many of our sessions activate the relaxation response (parasympathetic nervous system) and help the body move out of the fight-or-flight mode, together let's keep that burnout at bay.

We’ve got ya back!

Cheers and feel good vibes, always.
xxx
Sab