Burnout / Overwhelm

Welcome.

My name is Julie Conrad.

Today I'm going to lead you in a relaxation when you're feeling burnt out.

Lay down or support yourself comfortably and make sure that you're warm.

You may like to place a folded blanket over your abdomen just for a little extra weight which can be very grounding and supportive.

You're here because you're feeling done,

Cooked,

Burnt,

Exhausted.

And you may even feel disillusioned,

Disappointed,

Or simply tired of it all.

Your feeling of burnout is real.

We know this.

We're hearing it.

More and more of us are feeling this way.

But remember,

This is temporary.

Even if you've been feeling this way for months,

It is temporary.

The deep exhaustion and fatigue you're feeling is real and temporary.

The sadness and frustration you feel is also real and also temporary.

It's important to understand this.

Allowing yourself to fully surrender to the feeling of burnout is an important part of moving through it.

It may take time to feel like you're on the other side of this.

But you being here is an important step in recognizing how you feel and what you can do to ease the discomfort.

I'm glad you're here.

Understand that you don't need to get out of burnout right now.

You don't need to solve anything or do anything or make any decision.

You just need to be with it.

Actually feel what it really feels like in your body and in your mind in this very particular moment.

This practice is designed to create space in your body and mind,

Allowing deep rest to come.

Rest is the spark needed to reignite your spirit and your creativity and your passion and what brings joy to your life.

In this practice,

Let each exhale help to relax and unfurl the deep tension and sense of holding in the body and mind so that you can feel fully present to receive the nourishing rest that will help bring you back into balance.

Let's begin by exhaling.

Allow the inhale to happen naturally.

Then the exhale to linger a little longer than the inhale.

Continue with another inhale and a long slow exhale.

Feel the abdomen rise with the inhale and fall with the exhale.

Continue this breathing gently and easily,

Inhaling and exhaling.

Now,

Can you sense the weight of your body?

Let go of tension in your shoulders.

Feel them drop down,

Away from your ears.

Imagine releasing the weight of everything you're doing in your life right now.

Release the weight.

Feel the world slow down all around you.

Notice your exhale growing a little bit longer.

The abdomen rising and falling gently and easily.

What are you feeling?

What emotions are coming to the surface right now?

Sometimes,

Along with burnout,

Comes a feeling of dullness in the mind.

This is normal.

Just notice.

What does burnout actually feel like in your body?

Maybe it's difficult to describe.

Maybe it's a sensation.

Is there anything distressing about how you feel?

And if so,

Hold on to that thought just for a moment.

Don't judge it.

Just hold it in your awareness for a moment.

Can you validate the feelings that you're having around burnout by reflecting on all that you've been through?

All that you've done?

And all that you want to be?

Now allow those thoughts to disintegrate into the atmosphere around you on your next exhalation.

Let those thoughts disintegrate out into the atmosphere around you.

If emotions arise,

Allow them to come and then let them go out into the space around you.

Keep breathing gently and exhaling completely.

Staying with easy breath,

Let's take 20 breaths together.

Inhale and exhale.

Inhale and exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

And exhale.

Inhale.

And exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

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Exhale.

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Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

And exhale.

Inhale.

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And exhale.

Inhale.

And exhale.

And exhale.

Inhale.

Inhale.

And exhale.

Continue on your own.

Inhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

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Inhale.

Inhale.

Inhale.