burnout | The Burnout Queens

Women, Bodies & Baggage

June 15, 2016

Women’s bodies come with a full set of baggage. We worry about how fat or thin, tight or saggy, tall or short, young or old, beautiful or ugly we are.

It all comes down to our bodies and the relationship we have with it. Whether it’s loving or spiteful we are stuck with it. It is something we are born with and changes with or without our permission over a lifetime. It changes, it grows, it develops, it moves, it gets strong, it gets weak and all manner of things in-between.

So how do you treat this ‘thing’ that holds you up and moves you through the world. Perhaps because of that very fact alone we should learn to like it more.

Here are 8 ways you can take good care of that ‘thing’ you already love, are getting to love or have hated for years.

Like her more by not comparing her to another woman
Feed and water her regularly
Put lotion on her and let her glow
Massage her to help her move with ease
Take her for a walk, bike ride, swim
Sit her down
Let her sleep
Limit the stress and strain you put her under

Showing respect for your body will help you respect your Self and THAT darling, results in you becoming the radiant Queen of Calm, Cool & Collected you were truly meant to be.

With Love, The Burnout Queens xx

Out of tragedy is love

June 14, 2016

The Burnout Queens were taking a lunch break today and saw a video from the Orlando community to the young gay youth of the world. It is beautiful, it is simple, it is pure and it is for absolutely everyone.

Open your hearts and spirit to Love. Watch the video we saw here Orlando message

Love, The Burnout Queens xx

My Boss Bunked Off Work!

June 9, 2016

I have choice at my company. It’s a flexible workplace so if it’s sunny out I can go out and enjoy my day with a mind to work on another day.

Deciding is often easier because I ask the same questions my boss asks. Don’t ask what you should do, but what you want to do.

Decision made.. 2 bosses (hey because I’m one) bunked off work the other day and were found browsing the North Laines (well one had a hair appointment so we made a morning of it). We both love working this way. Then we were back in the afternoon ready to write and create.

This is truly an example of how to ‘think aside’. When we are away from the desk, the minds start to expand and think in a different way. Out of the confines of the office (even if they are beautiful) allows thoughts to come more naturally.

This kind of day…doing something I want…definitely gets the creative juices going (including this post) over coffee and jam doughnuts.

How can you create a ‘thinking aside’ moment in your work life that suits you and your company?

Love, The Burnout Queens, xx

Spring Cleaning HSP-style

May 26, 2016

When Spring arrived, everyone was talking about spring-cleaning the house, the garden, washing the car, mending the curtains and fixing the fence! All of that sounds lovely and inspiring and encouraging. It will make us feel better to put the new paint on the walls, get the old out and make room for the new.

Of course, that got me thinking. All those make-overs outside ourselves will make us happier and feel more organised, but dear one, what if we take that concept and apply it just to little-old-you! Have you spring cleaned your life yet?

Yes, let’s spring clean you! Whoosh that sounds kinda weird, but before you get offended, why not try freshening your ‘self’ up this spring.

Spring may be the perfect time to take stock of yourself and give a heave-hoe to the old stuff and a welcome mat to the new!

Here are 8 challenges that will give you and your life a fresh-air newness.

Challenge your brain. Make a new routine to your day.
Challenge your emotions. Create new rituals (not chores) that you enjoy.
Challenge your spirit. Clear your energy by saying kinder things to you and others (get rid of the swearing and cursing, it doesn’t become a queen).
Challenge your perspective. Look for positives in your life and bin the negatives.
Challenge your heart. Send your outworn styles to charity. Give some other woman less fortunate the opportunity to feel beautiful.
Challenge your creativity. Make a beautiful space, even if it’s a little corner or small surface. Air freshener that makes you smile, candle that calms, colours you love, most classy-comfy armchair to curl up in.
Challenge your self. Take pictures of yourself and see what others see. If you don’t like what you see, change her!
Challenge your desire. Start a piggy-bank for anything you want it to be for. Keep investing in your dream, who knows when that little piggy will crack!

Remember you need to put yourself on the spring clean list every year, along with all the household cleaning. What better way to ensure you feel alive and invigorated again. After all, isn’t that what Spring is all about?

Challenge You. Clear the clutter and feel the freedom!

Love, The Burnout Queens xx

The Infamous HSP Tennis Game

May 24, 2016

Highly Sensitive Women are often inwardly analytic (we can’t help ourselves), but sometimes it doesn’t work in our favour. In fact, it backfires on us and we are left wondering “how the heck does this keep happening?”

I’ll use this cute, manipulative little face from The Burnout Pup as a case in point (stick with me, my mind is strangely creative). She’s waiting for her dinner and begging in her very cute way. It’s hard to ignore, but I don’t want to give into her demands when it’s too early for her dinner (guilty mummy moment). How can I say ‘no’ to that face? I feel like a meany and then I think (in HSP analysing mode now) why am I feeling like I should change the rules for her…perhaps I’m being too harsh… maybe she’s really hungry… why am I being so unreasonable… no really I should stay strong. On and on the circle of reasoning and guilt goes, till I’m tired and confused from thinking.

Wait a minute now…this sound like many of my clients (HSP creative mind thinking in loop-de-loops)! They want to stand firm in their opinion, the trouble is when they do, the other person blames or criticises, attacks their character! So my clients end up taking on the responsibility and guilt that isn’t theirs to begin with. They end up feeling so hurt, confused, guilty and lost. “Why is this always my fault” they ask.

Here are 6 accusations that signal it’s someone else’s issue, not yours!

Why can’t you just go with the flow.
Why do you always have to be unreasonable.
Why can’t you be more flexible.
What’s wrong with you that you can never let this go.
You’re always such a control freak.
This isn’t about you, you know.

These are the kind of accusations that send reasonable HSW’s into immediate turmoil upset and analysis. We waffle back and forth, arguing silently with ourselves in an attempt to understand why a conversation and opinion went so sideways and how we ended up feeling guilty and responsible for it.

Stop analysing this. It’s rarely something to feel guilty or responsible for. It’s not yours after all. It’s never been yours! As one wise woman told me (that would be Dr T) “you aren’t even in it!”

Saying no, or contradicting somehow makes others point the finger in our direction, rather than admitting they just don’t like our answer.

So here’s the advice I tell my HSW clients. Think of a back and forth conversation as a back and forth tennis game. If the other side hits the ball to your side of the court and somehow you know that ball has changed colour mid-return or it should have been a foul, then shoot it back across the net where it came from and where it belongs. Don’t let it drop and remain on your side of the court.

If that tennis ball changed colour, you didn’t do it.

If that tennis ball went offside, you didn’t do it.

If you were accused of the sun being in your opponent’s eyes, you didn’t do it!

Do you get the picture?

Yes! Then repeat after me…

this is ‘not’ my responsibility…

this is ‘not’ my problem…

this is ‘not’ about me.

Long-winded story, but it occured to me while I was looking at cutesy pup trying her best to make me change my ways (and feel sorry for her in the mix). I’m not the one trying to sneak dinner early! Nope, this is ‘not’ about me!

Love, The Burnout Queens xx