My check engine light is on.
My emotional and mental check engine light is on. In fact, it’s been on for a while, but probably like many of you, I have ignored it. Ugh, I don’t have time for that. I’m too busy to focus on that. I’ll check on it when I have a free moment. Everything seems okay, it’s probably nothing major. Once I get through this, then I’ll check on that.
I know that I am tired. I am worn down. I am not feeling myself. I am burnt out. But, the thought of taking the time to focus on me feels selfish. (Does anyone else ever feel that way?) I have so many people that rely on me. I just need a nap. Maybe a coffee or an ice cream treat will get me out of this funk.
Do you ever have those moments when you feel off? Something is not right. You feel out of place. Things seem out of control. You are sad. You are mad. You are just off. And all the coffee, naps and ice cream in the world don’t seem to be helping.
Maybe you know why. Maybe you do not. But your check engine light is on.
You can only go about ignoring that light for so long before something major happens and you are in a bigger mess than if you had taken time to address the issue when the light first came on.
We are busy people. We have a lot on our plates. We do, in fact, have people that depend on us. There are certain things that I just do better. We can get so overwhelmed with stuff, projects, activities or just the mere thought of how I am going to get all this done. Just refer to Heather’s blog post: “Invisible WorkLoad (A women’s mental load)
Do you know your warning lights? Do you know how to “sense” your warning signs before your engine completely breaks down? Do you know when you are getting stressed out? Can you feel the weight getting to be too much?
Learning to identify your warning lights can help to give yourself time and space to relax before you are at a place where the overwhelming weight of everything crashes down on you and you find yourself in a place of discontentment, sadness, anger, or just wanting to quit.
So, what can you do to help yourself?
- Identify that you are burnt out
- Ask for help
- Take time for yourself
- Make a plan for when you feel this way again (because chances are good, you will)
Friends, if your check engine light comes on, please allow yourself the time and space to figure out what is going on. If you feel that you are too overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, may I suggest you start with a moment of silence and reflection. A moment where you do nothing else, but just be. Maybe like this:
Just focus on your breathing.
Close your eyes.
Inhale in through the nose.
Exhale out through the mouth.
Big. Deep. Breaths.
Intentional and slow.
Maybe you want to picture your favorite place.
Think about the sounds at your favorite place.
Big deep breath again.
Imagine the smells and the sights.
Think of your favorite things to do there.
Breathe.
Repeat as many times as you can or want to.
We all get overwhelmed and run down, but don’t stay there. Talk to someone you trust and let them know how you are feeling. Ask them for help. Ask them to pray for you. Tell them what you need. Take the energy you give to everyone and everything else and focus it on yourself, even if just for a moment. And I think you will find it’s okay to slow down and rest and recharge.
