…and how Bad Habits may be Making it Worse
You’ve done everything right: worked hard for long hours, accumulated cultural artifacts of success, and made your family proud. Still, however, you feel this nagging exhaustion, irritability, deep depression and hopelessness for a more balanced tomorrow. When you’re feeling burnt out, your inner saboteur can have a hayday and make life even harder, so read below to see if any of these negative habits are messing with your qi:
You secretly hate-stalk people on social media:
Let’s face it: social media is the millennial generation’s drug of choice. Instagram-stalking your graduating class and feeling FOMO? Well, rest assured that social media can be deceiving – I mean, when was the last time you saw a post about that oh-so-successful member of your graduating class having to stress-hit a pillow with a whiffle-ball-bat 15 times before she can walk out the door in the morning?
“…when was the last time you saw a post about that oh-so-successful member of your graduating class having to stress-hit a pillow with a whiffle-ball-bat 15 times before she can walk out the door in the morning?”
Your late-night snack became a comfort-food binge sesh:
Listen, I’m no stranger to the midnight-3-bags-of-Movie-Theater-Butter-popcorn binge session, so no judgement here, but I know how upset that can make my stomach feel the next day, and how fast it can lead to digestive problems. During times of high stress, it’s important to eat consciously, because nothing slows a busy New York millennial down like feeling preggers from too much processed food.
“…nothing slows a busy New York millennial down like feeling preggers from too much processed food.”
Your evening herbal tea became an evening glass (or bottle) of wine:
While the media constantly portrays alcohol as an elixir to a stressful life, alcohol is actually a depressant. Think how much better you feel on the mornings you awake clear-headed than the mornings you wake up in an alcohol fog. Don’t get me wrong, some nights we all need a good evening romp down college street with our besties, but this should be in celebration and not a coping behavior for stress.
“While the media constantly portrays alcohol as an elixir to a stressful life, alcohol is actually a depressant.”
You gave up on Self Care a long time ago:
“Self Care” can be defined as healthy habits or occasional activities to nurture your confidence and self-compassion, and create sustainable happiness. Take working out for example, whether it’s yoga, CrossFit, running, pilates, team sports or swimming, getting out there and moving your body releases natural endorphins to make you feel better. Plus, developing a fitness regimen is a keystone habit, and one that may have a waterfall effect on your life and make it easier to create more positive habits.
“‘Self Care’ can be defined as healthy habits or occasional activities to nurture your confidence and self-compassion, and create sustainable happiness.”
You’re too busy for the ones you love:
Today, everyone is expected to be available 16/7, that is every waking moment of the day (provided you’re lucky enough to get 8 hours of sleep each night, which I think is safe to say doesn’t apply to the majority of people reading this right now). When work cuts into enjoying time with loved ones, it can make you depressed, but you may simply be burnt out and need to create better boundaries with work. I’d recommend a technology shut-off time at least one night a week, and more if that’s possible for your line of work.
“I’d recommend a technology shut-off time at least one night a week, and more if that’s possible for your line of work.”
Listen dude/chica, I’m not here to make you feel worse…The good news is it’s not your fault, you did nothing wrong (and in fact a lot right), and there are ways you can get back on track today. After all, one year from now you could look back on today as the day you decided to start living consciously everyday and create more positive habits that skyrocket your life into a new dimension of success.
“The good news is it’s not your fault, you did nothing wrong (and in fact a lot right), and there are ways you can get back on track today.”
Follow my blog for a follow-up post coming soon on ways to instill new, positive habits.
Beautifully expressed