So ‌I've confirmed that I am burnt out. I took the time to identify the symptoms that I have and acknowledged it (at least to myself). Now I need to work on handling my mental fatigue. I needed to come up with ways to recover from burnout so that I could feel better. To recover from fatigue and prevent it in the future, I needed a plan.

Admitting Burnout

I understood I was experiencing burnout, but I had not admitted it to myself. It may seem small, but this subtle difference was not just a mental acknowledgment, but a pivotal moment that allowed me to deal with my burnout more effectively. This process of acknowledgment can look different for everyone and is an essential part of the recovery journey.

For me, this realization came through verbalizing my feelings. However, there are various ways one can come to terms with their burnout.

Verbalizing It

For me, the next step of handling my burnout was to admit it to myself. I remember actually saying out loud to myself, “I am burnt out” and how it helped me accept that as fact. Until that point, I kept chipping away at my work, assuming that whatever was giving me a creative block would subside and I could go back to normal. It happened before and will happen again. Especially with my ADHD, the focus and flow of writing can come and go. But this case was not truly what I had anticipated. It had started to impact me in various ways, as mentioned in my previous post. Verbalizing was a way for me to actualize my situation and start accepting it.

Other Ways to Admit Burnout

What this step looks like to you will depend on you. Maybe, similar to me, you’ll simply need to express or record it. But maybe for you admitting you have burnout involves telling people around you. It could be a case of telling a friend or loved one. Or mentioning it on social media. Consider expressing it through your preferred creative outlet, like writing. But this looks to you. The first step is admitting it.

Handling Burnout

Now that I acknowledged my burnout, I worked on resolving it. The first thing I did was to look at all my tasks and responsibilities and prioritize them.

Prioritizing Tasks

As I had mentioned previously, I keep myself busy. My writing includes both this website and projects for Runic Press. I help with our group Patreon. I also run a D&D game, play in a monthly campaign, and sign up for weekly games through my local bookstore. Besides this, I have the regular responsibilities and tasks that come along with life (job, home, pets, etc.).

Taking Time Off

I categorized them into two groups: necessary and time-sensitive, and flexible. It wasn’t easy to set aside my job for a long time, but taking a week off was possible. My D&D game could be a bit more flexible. Summer can be tricky to schedule with my group, and we often end up needing to take a month or two off, anyway.

I felt I could put the writing for my website on hold. I focus on writing about topics I’m passionate about. With Bjarke the Bard, I do not have to worry about writing for someone else, so it gives me flexibility. My Runic Press work is a collaborative effort. Multiple people work on projects, and we have deadlines for our content. To me, that makes work with Runic Press take a higher priority.

I decided to take a break from anything I deemed more flexible. My D&D game took a bit of a hiatus (which aligned well with some of my players being busy), and I avoided trying to keep up with my posting schedule on my website. While it does not seem like a lot, this provided me with a bit more breathing space and flexibility while still being able to manage my responsibilities.

Focusing on Self-Care

With my new priorities set, I then looked at what I could do to improve my own mental health. When things get busy and I felt myself stretched thin, my self care routines take the first hit. Getting these back into shape helps me get back to my normal self, and I have a fun tool I like to use, the Mental Health All-Stars.

*Mental Health All Stars, by Ryan Harby*

This picture has been something I always keep in my mind whenever I am trying to determine how my self care is going. It’s fun, colorful, and a great way to keep everything I need in mind. Looking at the chart above, I ask myself what of these All Stars I have been lacking in my daily routine.

Immediately looking at this, I know I have been lacking sleep recently, and with sleep comes my routine. Hence, it offers me a venue to work on, by progressing in these two aspects. I can adjust other areas too, but that will happen later.

Recovery Tips

While the above works for me and my method, it might not be the same for everyone. We all function differently, and stress affects us all in different ways. Keep these universal tips in mind to manage burnout.

What Not to Do

It’s obvious, but don’t try to push through stress. It can be tempting to just put things to the side. You’re busy and don’t have time to pause from work. You can take care of yourself afterwards, right? Through experience, I’ve learned that thinking leads to postponing this task as new goals and responsibilities arise. That is why I recommend admitting it to both yourself and someone else. Sometimes verbalizing it can be the difference between putting off self care, which sets up a bigger breakdown, and getting yourself healthy again.

Focus on Self-Care

You want to make self care a priority. I am a big fan of the Mental Health All Stars because they are funny and it’s a visual aid I can use to check myself. Looking at the picture, I have gotten good at identifying one or more areas in which I need to improve in order to better my mental health. If this works for you, great. Alternatively, there are countless resources you can use or change to suit your needs.

Returning to Normal

Now that you have admitted to feeling burnt out, taken a break from your non-urgent tasks, and worked on your overall health by improving self care, you may feel like it’s time for you to return to your busy schedule. Take your time, it can span weeks or months. But once you feel you are ready to return, it’s time to plan how you return. This can be as important as taking the time off, since how you get back to your regular schedule can have a huge effect on your mental health.

Start Slow

Looking again at physical exercise, imagine that you had to take time off your workout routine because of pulling a muscle in your shoulder. Your routine had become very focused on your upper body, and a little too much effort resulted in you hurting yourself. You took time off, recovered, and now you’re prepared to come back. Do you jump right back in where you left off, hitting your heavy routine? Not at all! Jumping right back to 100% is a recipe for disaster, which could lead you right back to where you started, possibly even worse. The same goes for a mental strain.

Slowly get yourself back into your routine. Attempt to add tasks and responsibilities onto your plate gradually. If you have big or high-stress tasks, it might make sense to add them in first by themselves adding nothing else. What you determine is “large” and what is “small”, mostly due to what gives you the most stress. Perhaps dealing with family issues, like a relative you have to care for, drains you more. Maybe it’s a regular club or group that you are involved with that pulls you out of your day to day routine. It might even run TTRPGs. We all know GMing can be draining. Whatever the case, gradually returning to normal is important.

Maintain Self-Care

The other big focus should be to maintain your self care routine while you return to your normal schedule. This can be tricky, especially for those who prefer to stay occupied. Finding time to get the right amount of sleep can be tricky if you have multiple late night groups or a few deadlines that eat up your free time. A stressful job can make the prospect of regular exercise and eating healthy seem almost impossible. But it is important to keep your self-care routine in mind since it will help you keep yourself in check. These Mental Health All Stars can help you keep your mind in check.

Conclusion

Handling burnout and allowing time for recovery can be more challenging than recognizing it. For those accustomed to being constantly busy, slowing down can feel unnatural and difficult. Society often pressures us to be perpetually productive, but this mindset can be detrimental to our mental health. Pushing through burnout is akin to exacerbating a physical injury; it only worsens the situation. Therefore, it is crucial to minimize your mental load and prioritize recovery.

Throughout this post, we discussed the importance of admitting burnout, prioritizing tasks, taking time off, focusing on self-care, and planning a gradual return to regular activities. Remember, the journey to recovery is personal and requires flexibility. Maintaining your self-care routines and gradually reintroducing tasks can help you avoid overwhelming yourself.

In the next part of this series, we will explore long-term strategies to prevent burnout and maintain mental wellness. Stay tuned for more insights and practical tips to support your ongoing recovery journey.

Navigating Burnout: Practical Strategies for Recovery (Part 2 of 3)