Burnout

The experience of living with burnout and exhaustion for professional, creative and highly sensitive women

I Work Differently Now and Love It!

staycation time

Over the last months we have been working, working, working on new programmes, by choice…but have to say…working ‘overtime’ certainly doesn’t resemble the past.  Then it was 18 hour days; racing from office, to hospital, to university, to private practice, then home quickly to look after ill cats and aging parents.  It was madness but necessary and unavoidable.

On the contrary, these days work often starts with a quiet dog walk to the park, a breakfast looking out the roof terrace at the English Channel, a walk to the local for bread and dinner dessert, a play time with dogs, and afternoon tea break to clear the head.

Sounds too good to be true?  Sometimes it feels it!  After living a life of unrelenting stress and strain and driving ourselves into the ground (literally) this new life of enlightened balance  (aka burnout-free lifestyle) makes our hearts sing!

And that’s blissful!

Can you make a few changes to your usual routine to make life more enjoyable?

Love, The Burnout Queens xx

Step Into Your Best Pumps! Being Front & Centre In Your Life

BOQ-front-centre


Are you taking you and your life seriously?  What, you’re not!  Then you are not putting yourself Front & Centre.  It’s time to get serious, put on your best pumps and stand tall!

We wouldn’t think of implying that you aren’t serious about everything you do in life (some of you even get seriously serious about playing) but really truly, we know your natural tendency is to make sure that everybody else has everything they need and want before you consider yourself.   That’s why we want you to take pride of place, Front & Centre, in your life.

Are there advantages to being Front & Centre?  Oh Darlings, let us count the ways…

…following your dreams, finding your interests, acknowledging your needs, knowing what you want, enjoying healthy relationships, respecting and honouring your creativity & quirkiness, and falling in love with the gift of being highly sensitive.  

Sound too good to be true?  What’s the catch?  Seriously, there is no catch!

Life only gets better and better when you choose to put yourself Front & Centre.

The only thing that will get in your way (ok, maybe a couple of things) is listening to other people who like you putting them first (I’m sure you all have one or two in your life) or listening to the Mind Chatter that is going on right behind that pretty nose of yours (shhh listen…)

  • I can’t put myself first I have kids!
  • I’m being selfish.
  • It’s not nice to be self-centred.
  • I don’t want to be a nuisance and ask for something.
  • Who do you think you are putting yourself first?

That’s your Mind Chatter whispering or shouting at you to get back in line (that would be in line behind everyone else in your life)!

You have been told for years to put yourself first, put yourself at the top of your To Do list, make yourself Numero Uno, and get to the front of the line.  Can we chat about this because we think there has been a big misunderstanding.

Women really don’t like to put themselves first etcetera (read above please). It really does feel self-serving to women and more importantly women’s lives rarely allow for this.  So,we nod our heads in agreement, we acquiesce, “Yes, you’re right, I need to put myself first” and then we carry on doing what we have always done.  We totally get it.  So then, why are we asking you to consider being Front & Centre and directing your life from that place of honour?

We see it differently.  We don’t believe that you should, need to, or have to put yourself first at the exclusion of everyone else (that’s the universal glitch).  We believe that you need to stand proudly in the centre of your life making sure that you are in touch with your Self (big S), your life, your dreams, and all those  in your life who are important to you.

If you ensure you are strong and healthy in all ways, if your needs are being met, you will happily care for all the people you love in your life and then some.

Play with us here for a minute or two (oh come on humour us!).  Imagine a big ballroom and at one end is a gorgeous velvet and gilt throne.  Now see yourself striding, gliding, sashaying down that red carpet (8-inch heels?  No problem!), taking your seat (sorry, throne), and donning your tiara!  Settle in and make yourself  at home.  Own it!  This is where you need to be.  This is where you belong!  From this place of honour you will direct your life.

Being Front & Centre calls for a new awareness and a new attitude, a Burnout Queen attitude.

One shift in thinking, one shift in belief followed by new choices, decisions, and behaviours.  Oh yeah, and a few revolutionary ideas!

  • the only important opinion will ultimately be your own,
  • stop trying to see yourself as others see you,
  • look at all situations involving your life, your dreams, your goals through your eyes only.

Being Front & Centre means ‘more you’ for you and ‘more you’ for the other important people in your life.  It’s a win-win all around.

Choose Front & Centre and show up
in your life BIG TIME, crown and all!

The Burnout Queens | Dr Toby and Dr Bev

PS.  The BOQs would love to hear from you!  Leave your wisdom and comments in the box below.

5 Things That Frustrate Me!

steam headThese ‘things’ I’m about to list truly get my blood pressure rising…and quickly….

See if any of these hit a nerve for you too.

 

1. Technology (like the keyboard on this blogsite) that jumps around the page, erases my words without my permission and doesn’t load the pictures I want it to!

2. Technology having a language all to itself, so that when I go to order a new mobile (cell) phone, I can’t properly discuss what giggabytes, megabytes, little bits, big bits that are needed with the sales guy on the other line.

3. Ordering technology.  If you want to order over the phone then trying to find a contact number is like finding a needle in a haystack.  Why do I have to order ‘online’ all the time.  What ever happened to the personal touch.

4. Using technology to talk to someone long distance.  Why is it that every time I am set to speak to a client via Skype (I have a paid subscription) Skype decides it’s time for them to update my system.  Really, you are getting in the way of my calls!

5. Technology security updates everything on my desktop during the day (lovely feature that my computer guy installed)…but if I’m in the middle of writing something out on my computer, it slows everything down until it’s done.

Let me add a final note here.  I don’t like being controlled by my computer!  I will never get used to this and I don’t think I want to either.  After all personal control should be something that is under my control…shouldn’t it?!?

Now that I’ve had my say, I think I will find some peaceful place to sit…far away from technology…and let nature control things for a bit.  I believe in ‘her’ more than I will ever believe in technology.

Love, Dr B (a frustrated Burnout Queen at this moment)

PS:  Then I’m off to re-read Be The Queen of Calm, Cool & Collected.  Have you got your copy as well?

 

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