Finding Balance in a Hectic Lifestyle: Tips To Avoid Burnout.
- beccalking
- Feb 27
- 5 min read
In the whirlwind of daily life, it's easy to lose touch with ourselves and overlook our own needs. Wearing multiple hats and giving 100% to everything we do can lead to a complete disconnection from our true selves.
On my journey to stress less and find better balance, I discovered that most of my stress and anxiety stemmed from one thing: a hectic lifestyle.
A hectic lifestyle can have seriously detrimental effects on our overall wellbeing. By understanding how this impacts us, we can take steps to manage a more balanced lifestyle, prioritise activities that support our wellbeing, and set realistic goals.
Understanding the Effects of a Hectic Lifestyle
Overwhelming Responsibilities: Juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities can make us feel overwhelmed. The constant pressure to meet deadlines, complete tasks, look after a home, walk the dog, be a good partner, parent, and friend can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety.
Lack of Self-Care: A busy schedule often leaves little time for self-care. Without regular downtime and activities we enjoy, it's challenging to maintain a balanced and healthy mindset.
Mental Fatigue: Continuous mental exertion without proper rest can lead to burnout, diminishing our ability to concentrate, think clearly, and make informed decisions.
Disconnection from Self: Prioritising others' needs over our own can make us lose track of ourselves and what we enjoy. This disconnection can lead to feelings of unimportance, being overlooked, and undervalued.
Physical Health: Neglecting our physical health due to a hectic lifestyle can result in poor diet, lack of exercise, and insufficient sleep, all of which contribute to anxiety and stress.
Reduced Social Interaction: Limited time for meaningful social interactions can leave us feeling isolated and unsupported, amplifying feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed.
Finding Balance
Turning around a hectic lifestyle requires intention and manageable steps. Let's turn the negative into a positive and find more balance in our day!
Remember, your hectic lifestyle isn't going anywhere. All of your responsibilities will still require your time and attention. While we can't get rid of responsibility, we can become the managers of our own lives. Time is precious, and it's more valuable than anything.
I asked people, "What would you do if you won the lottery?" The top responses were:
Leave my job
Buy a house in the countryside or a sunny place
Share money with family to spend more time together
Notice the pattern? People didn't actually want the money; they wanted the time that money would give them. Time is more precious than money, so why are we driving ourselves into the ground?
We don't have to wait until we win the lottery to enjoy life. We can incorporate more time into our schedules now. Simply put, time equals happiness.
Here are some steps I incorporated and changes I made to turn my hectic life into a calmer, more balanced, and mindful life:
Overwhelming Responsibilities to Organisation Queen
Using tools such as calendars, to-do lists, and planners to organise your day allows you to dedicate pockets of time to tasks without feeling like you're running around like a headless chicken.
At the end of every week, I sit down with my weekly plan and schedule the next week. I use a planner with allocated time slots, like an appointment book, to designate time slots for all tasks, ensuring I include 15-30 minute breaks between each one for recharging.
Taking a more organised approach allows us to step back from the chaos, gain mental clarity, break down tasks into manageable chunks, and set realistic deadlines, so we aren't pushing ourselves too far or spreading ourselves too thin. This approach also helps us see where we can make changes and allocate time for self-care.
Lack of Self-Care to Complete Self-Love
At one point, I was so busy that if anyone asked what I enjoyed doing or my hobbies, I wouldn't have an answer. This is totally unhealthy.
Having too much on the to-do list led me to skip showers, care less about my appearance, and give up my own hobbies, which lowered my self-esteem and created feelings of isolation. I was completely exhausted, making me more overwhelmed and less likely to deal with stressful situations calmly and rationally.
It's time to incorporate non-negotiable self-care into your schedule. Schedule time to get ready for the day, create a morning routine to start your day energized and happy, and find a hobby you love.
For me, I allocate an hour in the morning to enjoy a coffee, the stillness of the morning before anyone wakes up, and do some writing. After dinner, I watch TV and pick up my crochet, and in the evening, I set aside an hour to relax, light a candle, put on meditation music, shower, do my skincare, and unwind for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Allocating just three hours out of my day has been a game-changer, and I encourage everyone to set time aside for themselves.
Mental Fatigue to Mindful Moments
Instead of accepting burnout, I convinced myself that I was underachieving and pushed myself more. This led to complete burnout. Breaking down your day and setting clear boundaries between work and personal time is crucial to preventing burnout.
If you feel guilty saying no, use phrases like, "I’m sorry, I just can’t commit to that today," or "I’m sorry, but I’m taking some time to focus on myself." Those who care about you will understand.
Disconnection from Self to Finding Myself Again
A hectic lifestyle can make us forget who we are and what we enjoy. It's important to check in with ourselves regularly.
I created a personal compass that I keep inside my planner and refer to every morning. It includes:
I Am: Qualities that describe you best
Things That Make Me Happy: Anything from holidays to favourite foods
Things I Find Stressful: List of stressors
When Faced with Conflict I: How you ideally deal with stress and conflict
Ways I Look After Myself: Things that make you feel good
Things That Drive Me to Succeed: Motivations
Things I Enjoy Doing: Activities that make you happy
Things That Help Me De-Stress: Calming activities
This personal compass helps me stay balanced, rational, and in tune with myself. Create your own personal compass or if you like, download mine at the end of this blog and use it as a starting point to reconnect with yourself.
Begin Your Own Journey
By implementing these steps, you can gradually regain control of your life, reduce stress, and create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Remember, change takes time and consistency. Be patient with yourself and regularly reflect on your progress.
Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and be gentle with yourself during setbacks. Don't be afraid to delegate tasks or seek support when needed. Striving for balance creates a harmonious life where work, rest, and personal growth coexist, helping you navigate a hectic lifestyle with a calmer, more focused, and resilient mindset.
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