Recognize the Early Signs of Burnout

Most of us are trying to balance work, home, and a family life. We tend not to accept the early symptoms of burnout and carry on our daily lives. In my opinion, living your life isn't supposed to be that way. If you ignore the red flags, you'll become gravely ill and your life could come to a complete halt.

To add to the normal day-to-day stresses, what about the poor economy and the war on terrorism? How many of us watch the news and all of a sudden, you get a headache? As much as I find the news to be a source of information, I try not to watch it everyday.

Here are some strategies that I put together that might help you right now:

* Eat well and exercise. Take vitamins and drink plenty of water.
* Get your rest. Slow down.
* Ask for help. Some of us are so self-reliant that we won't ask for help from our family members or close friends. You can't do it all, all the time, by yourself.
* Take care of yourself first before you commit to others.
* Don't wait until the weekend to take that long, hot bubble bath. When you get home from work, (temporarily) turn off the ringer on your phone, shutdown the lights, and light a scented candle while sipping on a cup of tea. If you have children, find a babysitter for a few hours.
* If you haven't read a good book lately, start today. Go to the nearest bookstore (Barnes & Noble or Border’s) and order a latté then enjoy yourself.
* Don't skip your vacations and breaks. Spend your breaks meditating, praying or reading. Don't bring work or your laptop with you on vacation.
* Use technology to your advantage. Let the voicemail pick up your messages. Ask those who have email access to send their responses to your email account. That way, you won't have to respond immediately.
* Meet for brunch or dinner, at least once a month, with a group of close friends who share your common goals.

Remember, take care of your body because it is yours to cherish. If you don't, life will be hard to manage, and every little incident, small or large, that happens will become a huge risk towards a sound, healthy life.