Burnout
The experience of living with burnout and exhaustion for professional, creative and highly sensitive women
Hello from Lewes & London! 3 March 2018
It’s been so mild here in southern England that we were lulled into thinking spring was just around the corner. As I sit here writing to you winter just snuck up and settled in with a bang. Aptly named ‘the beast from the east’ it is bitterly cold, train passengers and motorists are stranded en route, and we have 10 severe weather warnings posted (Canada we are geographically as big in size as the province of B.C.) so the army and tractors are pitching in to rescue people.
What does this mean for The Burnout Queens and The Burnout Pups? Let’s just say we are getting a lot of work done, drinking pots and pots of tea, baking and the pups (?) well, they are by our side sleeping cosily on their blankets. These are the times we know we made a smart decision to work from home so we don’t have to brave the elements anymore. Good planning The Burnout Queens!!!!!!
Whether you’re in the freeze, still stuck on the motorway or train, or warm in front of the fire, we hope this edition of Hello brings a bit of beauty and entertainment to you. For those elsewhere in the world experiencing milder ‘climes’ enjoy as well.
Early February we bought a car (Dr B passed her UK drive test) so we bundled up the Burnout Pups and drove across town to Priory Park site of a 9th Century monastery. Who walks their dogs amongst ruins built between 1078 and 1082 during the reign of Cluniac pope Gregory VII? We do! It’s fabulous and all four of us were excited to walk and learn as we went. A definite walkie route is unanimously established (more in an upcoming extra edition of Hello). Arrived home to two valentine’s day cards from Dog’s Trust pups to finish the outing properly.
Then came the first snowfall (thought we have dodged this moving from Canada, but no). The street looked bleak, but I must admit the castle still looked pretty stunning, wouldn’t you agree?
Now the ‘beast from the east’ makes the pups hesitate before being taken outdoors for breaks. Who wouldn’t if you had short legs, were slung low to the cold pavement and get hypothermia quickly! The pleading eyes are a killer, but the youngest gets excited to romp, especially when wearing her pink fleece sweater and matching neck scarf (she insists wearing it over her head like The Queen). We swore we would never be these kind of dog owners, but…guilty!
Hope still springs eternal on market day with these inspirations. And we admit there is always room in the freezer for a Victoria Sponge to get us through cold evenings. However, this Valentine’s cake was too glorious to pass up (at least for a photo op).
Now that we have a car (aka ‘Flash’) you can bet we’ll be going further afield to explore, walk and just enjoy this beautiful countryside we live in. Don’t worry you’ll have a front row seat for all our journeys…promise.
Until next month, get a good winter’s rest like this guy does. This is his version of mindfulness… going, going, GONE!
Love from all of us!
Video: A question can create a moment of knowing
The Burnout Queens Wisdom: A question can create a moment of knowing. If you are feeling stuck or confused don’t look for an answer look for a question.
It’s never too late to reconnect with dropped resolutions
The #Burnout Queens Wisdom: It’s never too late to reconnect with dropped resolutions. Just begin again darling xx
#highlysensitivewomen #livethesolution #justtoosensitive
Talk It Up & Shout It Out! | Let people know just how great you are.
Are you good at acknowledging your accomplishments? How about your strengths and gifts? No? Well, it’s time to get BOLD BOLD BOLD and honest about how great you are! (Felt you cringe.) You know, many of us were raised and trained to be modest; no bragging or being conceited allowed. Not even in school where you are supposed to develop your gifts were you allowed to shout out the answer when you knew or rush to be first in line.
So guess that when it comes to being an adult it stands to reason that you are simply not comfortable blowing your own horn or proclaiming your own praises. You have to ask,“Where does that get you?” Answer: Absolutely nowhere. Yes, it’s definitely time for a change.
It just doesn’t pay to be shy, and we mean that quite literally. You are not going to get the promotions or the pay rises if you can’t talk-up or shout-out your accomplishments, achievements, abilities, capabilities, strengths, and greatness. And we know, my dear, that you have all of those in abundance! Taking centre stage may not be the most comfortable thing you do, but…well…get over it.
You are a Burnout Queen and it is time to own your throne!
(mind chatter: what if the other kids won’t like me? I’ll be left sitting all alone at recess…I meant coffee break…really I meant coffee break!)
It’s a dilemma. We want others to see us for who we are. We want to be acknowledged for our hard work, our good results, our leadership, our great people skills, but we are also people pleasers and want others to ‘like’ us.
If we can’t stand up and proclaim loudly, boldly, confidently, how absolutely fabulous we are why do we expect others to notice or care?
Just the other day one of my fab VIP clients said she was ecstatic that she had finally learned to “shamelessly promote herself”. (Those words are music to my ears!) And the outcome? One word… promotion! Our message is getting out there. Another Exec client ‘bragged’ to me that she had told her boss that “she was the expert” in her area! You bet she is, time he knew it and valued it as well!
So, what has this got to do with burnout? Easy peasy.
Burnout is hiding just around the corner if you continue pretending you are less than you are!
It’s all about your beliefs and your attitude. AND, it’s about what you do. Time to set yourself a goal to step over all the obstacles in your path that stop you from sharing your fabulous self with the world. Go ahead and make a list of your strengths, talents, successes, and accomplishments. Pop it right into your queenly handbag, backpack, diaper bag, or briefcase. Next time you are on the verge of being modest, get your crown on straight, read your list, and step up to take your place!
You have some pretty amazing qualities. You are great at what you do. You have fabulous, outside of the box, ideas. You are not afraid of hard work. We know it, you know it. Now let the rest of the world know it! Time to talk it up and shout it out!