How To Reconnect With Yourself When You’re Mentally Drained
Burnout is real, and it seems to be happening at record rates with all of the issues we have faced in the last number of years. More and more people are feeling the pressure of our growing world, technology, and problems, leading to mental fatigue and stress. If you are tired of being mentally drained and ready to start doing something about it, there is help out there.
Reconnecting with yourself, especially after such a rough number of years, is comparable to a marathon with pit stops rather than a race. It could start with something as simple as keeping a 2023 diary, just writing what comes out of your brain, but could grow into so much more. With guidance, discipline, and effort, you can blast through this mental burnout and start enjoying life again.
Let’s take a closer look at some useful ideas you can implement so you don’t endure more mental fatigue and can get the ball rolling with reconnecting with yourself.
Writing is a Window to the Soul
Journaling, as mentioned above, is something that comes with its fair share of ridiculous stereotypes but is actually an incredibly beneficial exercise. Put your foot down, get past the image of purple glitter and little heart-shaped locks, and open up to write down your thoughts on a regular basis.
The act of putting pen to paper, or finger to key, and letting the ideas flow from brain to fingertips, can be very liberating for someone who has never tried it. It may take a bit of time, crumpled paper, and rambling, but it is worth the effort. Getting your innermost thoughts, fears, and dreams on paper somehow solidifies them.
No one ever has to read these words, not even you, as it is a personal choice for each individual who writes. The point of it is to just get things out, honestly, so you can then acknowledge and face them.
Find Positivity, Don’t Wait For it
Being mentally drained can make it feel like even the smallest responsibility is overwhelming, and it becomes more difficult to look at the bright side of life. The thing is, you can actually force the positivity, with some practice. If you are willing to take the time, put in the effort, and open up your perspective, joy and positivity can be found in the smallest things.
This can be achieved by practising gratitude on a daily basis. To some of you, this may sound like we are going the way of the Yogis and hippies, but it is not so out there of a concept. Start finding things in your everyday life that make you happy, even the slightest amount, and express that it makes you grateful, and why.
It is so easy to lose focus on all of the little things around you, especially when the external pressures of the crazy world run on a continuous cycle. When you start taking the time to re-focus on these little things, your brain remembers, and your brain is going to appreciate the effort.
Take a Social Break
Whether it be going out for various activities, or scrolling the endless mountain of content on the internet, humans are socialising at record rates nowadays. If you are mentally drained, you need to take a step back from social media as it isn’t healthy to be focused on what others are doing constantly, as well as updating those others on what you are doing. Your brain wants some time for you, and you alone, so give it what it is asking for.
The length of time will depend solely on your individual situation, but set a goal of no social media and/or no socialising, for a set period of time. Make sure to have enough activities, hobbies, and interests lined up to keep you occupied and entertained, but completely cut yourself off, letting the necessary people know your intentions.
Take the time to do what you want to do, and only that, within reason, of course. If you think you would rather sleep for three hours than read a book, go ahead and take that nap. This time is going to be for you and your brain to heal, learn, and ultimately reconnect with each other without any outside influence or pressure.
Treat Yourself Like You Deserve To Be Treated
It is funny how the word “selfish” automatically comes with a negative connotation attached to it. While, yes, in some cases it certainly deserves it, people need to start understanding that selfishness is not akin to self-less. It is healthy to be selfish, at appropriate times, to give yourself love and kindness.
Being good to yourself, and doing things that bring you happiness, is not a bad thing when balanced appropriately with the rest of your life. People are not meant to be mentally stressed and drained all the time, and if people took just a bit of time to be selfish and reconnect with themselves, there’s no doubt that everyone would be much better off.