Dealing with Burnout

Typically this time of year, we are left feeling the symptoms of burn out: stagnant, sluggish, depleted, and drained from the energetic nature of summer. Burnout is not always necessarily caused by overworking or a stressful job; there could be other factors at play. These could include your lifestyle, personality, perception of the world, or even what you do in your downtime.

It is common for any one of us to have days where we feel tired, overloaded, or under-appreciated, but if you’re feeling like this everyday — you are most likely burnt-out. Signs may be subtle at first, but long-term burnout can lead to insomnia, substance abuse, heart disease, high blood pressure, and vulnerability to illnesses like colds and flu.

So, how can you mitigate these feelings of burnout?

• Shift your Perspective: Changing the way you look at things will cultivate a greater sense of personal control. What parts of your life bring you joy? Trust in your ability to navigate

• Focus on Meaning: Pursuing tasks you find important allows you to be more present in your life. Connect your current task to a larger goal in order to shift your focus to why the work matters to you.

• Prioritize Mind-Body Wellness: It’s essential to take care of your entire being — mind, body, and spirit. Prioritize healthy sleep habits, movement, nutrition, and activities that nourish your soul and creative side, like meditation, journaling, painting, or yin yoga.

• Seek Out Connection: Finding connection and developing rich interpersonal interactions with others is so important. Often, socializing is the first thing to go when we burnout, but when we find our community, we’re able to offer each other support and advocate for solutions.

If you’re feeling burnt out and need support, reach out to us for a free consultation!

References:

Knight, Rebecca. “How to Overcome Burnout and Stay Motivated.” Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/04/how-to-overcome-burnout-and-stay-motivated?ab=at_art_art_1x1.

“Stress Management: Burnout Prevention and Treatment”. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm.

Valcour, Monique. “Beating Burnout.” Retieved from https://hbr.org/2016/11/beating-burnout.

How to Get Hygge

Pronounced, “hoo-gah”, Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word (used as a noun or adjective) to describe a state of coziness and warmth, like creating a certain atmosphere that illuminates the soul. Hygge is about surrounding yourself with feel good things: people, food, drink, activities, decor. Simply put, Hygge is self-care and a state of mindfulness.

Have you ever wondered why Nordic countries are always top of list for happiness? Hygge is their way of life. In the US, we often feel pressure to pursue the future, rather than savoring this moment — What can I buy next to feel more fulfilled? Where can I travel next to be happier? When will I get the next promotion? How can I be more successful?

What if we took a break from the demands of life to enjoy the process of it all, allowing ourselves to indulge and listening to what our bodies really wanted? Hygge is less about minimalism and more about feeling present and comfortable; it provides a friendlier and more forgiving lifestyle.

Some ways to turn up your Hygge lifestyle include having a movie or board game night, connecting with kith and kin, cooking a soup or baking a cake, brewing a fresh cup of coffee or tea, cuddling with a fuzzy blanket, putting on your favorite loungers, reading a good book, lighting a candle, taking time to be outdoors every day, or even by adding low-light lamps to create a peaceful environment. Hygge is whatever is wholesome and nourishing to your soul.

Although a Hygge lifestyle can be implemented all year round, it can also help with “SAD” — seasonal affective disorder, because Winter is the most Hygge time of year. Think about it — candles, cozy socks, hot cocoa, and lounging fireside! Implementing Hygge year round means finding joy in even the most mundane tasks (hence: mindfulness) and doing things that are simply just good for your soul even in the coldest of weather.

Contentment, comfort, and connection are the perfect ingredients for a Hygge lifestyle.

Summer Farmers Markets

In our opinion, there’s nothing that says summer quite like getting local produce and goodies from a farmers market. Picking out a bunch of green kale or unique patty pan squash, sampling squeaky cheese curds, buying fresh maple syrup, talking with a local farmer, and socializing with neighbors are a few of the experiences you can look forward to at a market. The beauty of farmers markets is that they benefit all of us--the farmers, our communities, and our bodies. 

Why farmers markets are awesome:

• They contribute to building local food economies. Farmers are able to experience rapid sales of their produce, on a weekly or consistent schedule, with low costs since the produce goes directly from the farm to the individual purchaser. 

• Eating seasonally happens naturally, because farmers bring produce that is at peak freshness and ready to be consumed. 

• Many of the farmers who participate in the markets use organic growing methods. The result is healthier food for our bodies that doesn’t rely on the use of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, genetic modification, and other toxic processes.

• Did you know that food typically travels 1,500 miles to get to you? By shopping at farmers markets, you help reduce the amount of natural resources needed to bring food to you and help reduce or eliminate the need for plastic packaging. 

• The market becomes a place where individuals can become engaged in food policy issues through conversations with local farmers. While at the market, you may become aware of upcoming campaigns, initiatives, or volunteer opportunities to support farmers and community health in general.

• Farmers markets provide access to healthy, local food, which is extremely important in areas where quality food is not available. In low-income neighborhoods, having a farmers market can increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and can be a place for conversations about balanced, healthy, affordable eating. 

• Use the farmers market as a perfect reason to get outside! Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and socialize with other community members. 

OnMilwaukee has created an up-to-date guide on the farmers markets throughout Milwaukee and other surrounding areas. Take a look at their list to learn specific details about each market! Many of them run into the Fall, so try to stop by when you have some time. 

https://onmilwaukee.com/seasonal/festivals/articles/farmers-markets-guide.html

References

CUESA. 10 Reasons to Support Farmers Markets. Retrieved from https://cuesa.org/learn/10-reasons-support-farmers-markets

Farmers Market Coalition. Farmers Markets Support Healthy Communities. Retrieved from https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/education/farmers-markets-support-healthy-communities/

Matthews, D. (2016). Farmers’ Markets play a vital role in America’s changing economy. Retrieved from https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/articles/farmers-markets-america/

Saul, R. (2011). The cultural significance of Farmers Markets. Retrieved from https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/the-cultural-significance-of-farmers-markets/