7 STEPS TO OVERCOMING BURNOUT AND ANGER

Being a woman in today’s society can be extremely fulfilling, but also challenging at the best of times. We know we should feel lucky and grateful after how far we’ve come in history. Yet, a lot of us may have taken on more that we can chew...
After working hard for years, many of us are find ourselves in unstable jobs, finding it hard to balance work and family, short of money, not having enough time for friends, travelling, or even ourselves. A lot of us are confused, sad, feeling stuck and frustrated; a perfect recipe for anger. Anger, when not dealt with can turn to depression, or worse.

So what can we do to avoid this?

1/ EXPRESS YOURSELF: Sometimes we don’t feel like it’s ok to be angry towards our partner, our employer, our kids or friends. However, anger, when not exte
alized, can turn into depression and even manifest physically in the body in the form of diseases like cancer. Simply allowing yourself to talk about what it is that is bothering you can be liberating and can make you feel better straight away. A lot of us are embarrassed to talk because we are afraid we’ll cry and or make a fool of ourselves. However, sometimes that’s all you need, to just release those pent up feelings. When you’ve done so, you’ll have cleared up your mind and you’ll notice you think about things in a more useful way.

2/ BREATHE! Brian Colbert, author of The Happiness Habit, says breathing is fundamental for optimum brain function and succeeding in life. It allows you to be present in the moment. Here’s an easy technique that will allow you to release tension straight away: take a deep breath while you count to 4 slowly. Pause. Hold your breath for 4 counts. Pause. Exhale slowly for 8 counts. By the time you reach 5, push the rest of the air out of your lungs. Repeat this process 10 times. Notice how much calmer you feel.

3/ DISCOVER HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME BETTER: It’s not about working harder or longer, it’s about working smarter. By learning to plan, organise and prioritise, you can get more done with the time you have, and make sure you are spending our time on the things that matter. Many of my clients have discovered the tips and skills that have allowed them to live life on their terms and break free from stress, anger and depression.

4/ LEARN TO DELEGATE AND SAY NO MORE OFTEN: A lot of us have what I call the “superwoman syndrome”. Because we are great at multi tasking, we think we can be everything to everyone and do everything ourselves. And it has to be done by us, because we are the only ones who can get it done perfectly. This is not realistic or useful, and can lead to more stress. Learning to let go and delegating the right task to the right person will free up time, and allow you to take a break and unwind.
When we say yes to extra work, we are saying no to all the other things we would like to be doing instead. It’s important to know when to say no. This can allow you to free up a massive amount of time and stress in an instant. By asserting yourself more often you will boost your self-esteem and feel better about yourself.

5/ SCHEDULE SOME “ME” TIME: Time for yourself is not luxury time, it’s a necessity. It’s about ensuring you make time for some fun. It can be about the little things that make you happy: working out, reading your favourite book, or taking a bubble bath. It’s important to schedule some “me” time you can look forward to, if not every day, a few times a week. Wanting to do this is not enough, you need to schedule it in your diary and follow through with it.

6/ EAT MORE HAPPY FOODS: With so many responsibilities, a lot of us often forget to eat, or do so badly. As a result our brain chemistry is compromised, which can result in stress, depression, and other health conditions. It’s vital to eat fresh unprocessed foods high in nutrients, such as vegetables, nuts, lean meats and fish, fruit... If you are always on the go, eating small portions every 2 hours or so can provide you with a constant flow of energy, which means you’ll get more done and feel better about things. Experts recommend we drink 1 litre of water for every four stone of weight, just for optimum day to day functioning.

7/ PRIORITISE EXERCISE: A lot of us put exercise last on our list of priorities. Even though we know it’s important, and we want to do it, we make a thousand excuses as to why we can’t do it. We are tired, cranky, we’ve had a lousy day at the office... so, and we skip the workouts. Then we feel even worse for having missed them. This is what happens when we expect certain things of ourselves and we don’t follow through with them. Research shows that quality is better than quantity. A fifteen minute intense interval workout will not only have you burning fat for hours, but also release the feel good hormones called Endorphins. Regular exercise, especially in the fresh air, will make you feel better about yourself, more relaxed, and generally happier.