If you’ve been feeling lately like there’s so much to do that you’ve actually become unproductive… you’re not alone.
The modern world has a way of brainwashing us into thinking that our productivity is the most important part of who we are. There’s a sense of ever present pressure to get things done, and we’re primed to think that we’re somehow failing, or wasting time, if we’re not working towards something with a tangible end result.
Over time, unchecked and overbearing responsibilities can lead to chronic stress and burnout. It’s an issue that has been explored in the scientific community for years (decades, even), but has only recently been getting the respect and attention it deserves.
With remote work turning into the norm for many people, some of us have seen our work lives get a little too comfortable in our personal spaces, and the lines between where our jobs end and our real lives begin may have started to blur. Couple this with the drastic decline in the non-work activities we’ve been able to enjoy as a support mechanism… and we’re experiencing a perfect storm of conditions that has caused burnout to surge.
So what can we do? Burnout is tied up with things that we have to do… and we can’t just not do them. It can be difficult to take time away without consequences. Most of us don’t have the luxury of taking a vacation for a reboot, and many of us have trouble even squeezing in a mental health day for a bit of respite.
But what we can do is take some conscious time to set aside our responsibilities, even for just a few moments. Taking some time to break free of the gravity of our responsibilities and enjoy the moments of weightlessness that come from taking the world off your shoulders. To daydream, and let our minds wander for no purpose other than to clear themselves.
If you can’t take a vacation to the tropics to escape your stress, come enjoy a stay-cation instead. Step away from your responsibilities and let yourself refresh your resolve to approach them.
