Summer is here, and that means I am back outside. But let’s be real, I’ve been outside since our Cancer Wellness Expo in April, with the occasional pop up here and there for ITAVFoundation, Ricky Codio Foundation, and Byrd Cancer Foundation.
Someone recently asked me, “How do you balance it all?”
Honestly, this is years of organization and structure coming together. I’ve found a rhythm that works for me and allows me to manage everything that’s on my plate.
The truth is, I don’t balance everything every single day.
I balance my life in seasons.
Winter is for planning.
Spring through fall is for execution.
I’ve stopped expecting every day to look the same, and I think that’s made all the difference.
And like I’ve said before, maybe not on this blog but definitely in general, Trudy doesn’t work during the winter. Lol.
Okay, that’s not entirely true. I still work during the winter, I just don’t come outside.
Winter is my planning season. It’s when I map out the upcoming year. I take that time to realign myself with my purpose and my goals. It’s when I sit down with my business partners and plan what we’re building. More importantly, it’s when I intentionally spend uninterrupted time with my family because once March arrives, I’m booked and busy until November.
That time with my kids, my family, and my home is just as important as everything else I do.
Today, I’m tabling at a wellness event representing ITAVFoundation and Byrd Cancer Foundation. As I listened to the yoga meditation session this morning, I realized how hectic my day had already been. While I was trying to be intentional and present during the meditation, I also felt compelled to write.
So here I am.
When was the last time you truly took time for yourself?
I recently saw someone share that they were burned out, and it made me stop and think.
How do we get there?
What exactly is burnout?
To me, burnout happens when you’ve been carrying so much for so long that you begin to slip in areas where you normally thrive. Things that once came naturally suddenly feel impossible.
Burnout can make you want to quit.
It can make you feel like everything is falling apart.
It can even convince you that you’re alone.
So what do you do when you realize you’re burned out?
First, you stop.
Stop everything.
Breathe.
Cry.
Release it.
Sometimes we’re so focused on the next task, the next meeting, the next responsibility that we forget how badly we need permission to simply exist.
Just be.
The saying “stop and smell the roses” is something I take literally because it’s one of the things that brings me back to myself. It reminds me to slow down and be present. I think everyone should have something that does that for them.
Burnout is often your body’s way of saying, “You’ve been going for too long.”
It’s asking for rest.
It’s asking for stillness.
It’s asking you to stop.
Not pause.
Stop.
Listen to your inner voice.
Listen to your surroundings.
Listen to your body.
Ask yourself what you need.
Ask yourself where you want to go.
Ask yourself why.
And then actually talk to yourself.
Out loud.
Not just inside your mind.
Say the hard things.
Ask yourself the uncomfortable questions.
Cry if you need to.
Sometimes we become so consumed by life that we stop checking in with the one person who’s been with us through every chapter, ourselves.
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight.
It’s built over time.
Most of us don’t notice we’re burning out because we’re too busy checking things off our to do lists. We keep showing up. We keep saying yes. We keep pushing ourselves because we think we have to.
Until one day, the joy disappears.
It’s the result of constantly pushing forward without noticing the warning signs until one day you hit a wall.
You crash.
But burnout doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong.
Sometimes it’s simply the result of giving so much of yourself that you forgot to leave something for yourself.
As the meditation session came to an end and everyone slowly returned to their conversations, I realized maybe that’s what I needed too.
Not another meeting.
Not another email.
Not another thing to check off my list.
Just a quiet reminder that taking care of myself isn’t something I earn after the work is done.
It’s part of the work.
Maybe today, that’s your reminder too.
You’re not alone.
And you can absolutely find your way back.
