THIS is the Reason You're So Exhausted

In a culture where we glorify hustle and grind, there is never such a thing as being too busy or working too hard. But more and more we are finding stress, anxiety, and fatigue ramp up. And despite how seemingly balanced your life may be, or used to be, it’s common to feel totally out of balance and out of control.

When it comes to the way our body responds in life… It’s not just what you do, but the way you do things that matters. When you are aggressively tackling your activities throughout each day, you are putting your mind and body under stress. Meanwhile, a growing resentment starts to take place and rather than looking forward to your daily to-do’s and goals, you begin to resist and detest them. This creates a negative anchor that cycles and grows each day. And because you’re trying so hard… this continues to exhaust you. Let’s talk about some ways you can turn this cycle around.

First, turn your need to achieve into a need to achieve - some fun and relaxation. Scheduling time for yourself daily, at least a half an hour to an hour, to do something simply for fun will benefit you not only more productivity and less stress - but also, the skill of being able to turn on and turn off your hustle mode. Whatever you do should have no other objective other than to enjoy or to relax.

Second, bring that fun into as many daily activities as possible. If something has to be done a certain way, add fun or relaxation to it. Play some enjoyable music while you’re cleaning, listen to something entertaining while you drive, setup break timers for a moment of deep breathing… Take a moment to look at all your tasks each day and ask, “Is there any way to make this more enjoyable and relaxing?”

Next, take the time to soak into the moment. It’s equally about the journey as it is the destination, and the journey usually takes the longest, so it’s important to enjoy the journey! Sometimes things are inconvenient or unfavorable, but taking the time to see how those specific things allow you the privilege of certain experiences shifts your paradigm towards a desire to complete the task rather than to resent it.

You realize you actually DO want to do most of the things on your task list, because the outcome is what you desire. So, if feeling energized, clear and productive is the outcome you desire, learn to enjoy the process of fun and relaxation.

There are a couple key things to consider; You can’t fake enjoyment and relaxation. In order to truly generate balance and recharge your energy, you truly have to allow yourself to authentically enjoy. You have to bring your mind and body into states of relaxation. And it takes conscious awareness and effort to do so. Don’t fight yourself about it.

Also, if your sleep routine and quality is not solid, never mind expecting anything. It’s not that these tips won’t help, they certainly help manage stress and energy, however you won’t experience the same results without a good foundation of sleep.

So before you write this off in exchange for a tangible solution “that actually works”, I challenge you to be open to the idea that that thought itself is a clear indicator of your goal- oriented need to achieve. And I challenge you to give this a try first. Everyday for 2 weeks find a way to incorporate at least a half hour of fun, regular relaxation, and mindfulness into as many things as you possibly can. At the very least, I’m confident you’ll find a little more focus, ease, and appreciation throughout each day. You have nothing to lose!