According to new research, 9.8 million working mothers in the U.S. are suffering from workplace burnout.
Attempting to manage remote school coupled with the high demands of maintaining at-work performance in a disruptive, uncertain environment can feel like too much to bear.
Without a doubt, existing external stressors have been creating a perfect storm that could lead to burnout. And sometimes, the truth is that there is very little we can do to change our external circumstances. But all hope is not lost! What we CAN do is look at and change the way we internalize, process and approach our situations and circumstances in life.
When you face a situation which you have no control or influence over, the only chance you have to navigate it is to search within and activate the tools of your potential.
Though I don’t believe in a “magical how-to manual” on overcoming burnout during a pandemic, I do believe that we can develop and adopt new attitudes that can certainly help us alleviate struggle and become more resilient and accepting.
How Mindfulness Can Help to Ease Signs of Burnout
I find that cultivating the following mindfulness attitudes can help improve the relationship with events in your life and can help us all navigate the “rising of the tide” that we’re experiencing right now.
Cultivating patience
We have become very sophisticated at speeding up, multitasking and trying to predict the future. Cultivating patience is an essential attitude to accept life as it is. Sometimes, trying to be “everything for everyone” can lead to an exhausting, self-inflicting, anxiety-provoked state of mind… practicing patience can help in avoiding similar, troublesome mindsets.
Slowing down and experiencing the present moment are essential to train your mind and body to be calm and accepting of the unknown future. Being patient can help you become focused and grounded when pursuing long-term goals, helping you make good choices, rather than impulsive decisions.
Cultivating a beginner’s mind
Many of our biggest challenges are experienced mostly in our heads, rather than in real life. A lot in life can change if you refresh the way you look at them. By embracing a beginner’s mind, you allow yourself to detach from pre-existing judgements and enter an opportunity to experience something new and unexpected. Be willing to step out of limiting beliefs and assumptions that are preventing you from entering the experience of life. Innovation and reinvention happen when we have the ability to see things differently.
Cultivating letting go
Detaching from the expectations that we entertain in our minds is not an easy task. We tend to develop expertise in creating expectations to avoid pain and discomfort that we may predict in our futures. But expectations are a construct of our own minds. Sometimes, they differ greatly from that of real life, causing frustration and despair. The more we live life in a state of flow instead of a state of control and resistance, the happier and more at peace we will be. Letting go of trying to exercise control over the future is key for you to leverage the present moment. How would your life change if you let go of control over the future and simply capitalize the present moment?
Cultivating acceptance
Accepting life as it is can be a hard pill to swallow. It is that way, though, because it is essentially resisting reality. Acceptance is the first step to healing from any wounds of disappointment and frustration. Once we are willing to accept life as it is, we can use all of our mental, emotional and physical resources to overcome adversity – any adversity. Embrace acceptance. You’ll be surprised at the lessons and opportunities that lie ahead for you.
Cultivating trust
To me, the opposite of trust is fear.
Cultivating a spirit and attitude of trust is key in shaping a successful and bountiful mindset with behaviors and actions to match. You always have the choice to live in fear and doubt, but how far can that take you? Instead, focusing on and trusting new opportunities can be a big driver in achieving your career goals.
Cultivating all of these attitudes can be a deal maker in an environment of uncertainty, disruption and exhaustion. When we no longer feel the need to control the outcome of a situation, we are left with the option to activate our inner power.
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