Written by: Ariah Washington, LAC
Does this sound familiar?
Your alarm is blaring. You roll over and groan while working your way to your feet then make a dash to begin your morning routine before leaving for school. When you finally make it home, you’re so tired that all you want to do is watch tv or lay in bed.
Still, you power through schoolwork, chores, and manage to find something to eat before going to bed and doing it all over again the next day. Before you know it, you find yourself feeling irritable, stressed, and dreading the next day but you don’t know why.
This is what burnout looks like.
We become so accustomed to our routines that we spend our days neglecting to engage in activities that bring us some sort of mental relief. But this ultimately does more harm than good.
It’s essential that we learn to implement even small moments throughout our day that we can allow our minds to relax. Whether it’s a brief meditation, a few minutes coloring, writing in a journal, or just taking some time to sit outside and stare at the clouds; these moments of stillness can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and remaining motivated.
Support systems (friends, family, trusted adult, or even a therapist), could also provide suggestions and methods of ways to relieve the stress that comes from the daily grind. Your supporters can be your teammates for helping you stick with your new habits and offer encouragement on your journey.
So, if you’re curious to explore more options to help with feeling overwhelmed, reach out for additional support. Self-care is a priority. You can only give your best when you feel your best.
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Ariah Washington is a therapist with Arizona Connection Counseling. She received her master’s degree in clinical counseling from Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. Ariah works from a developmental background, using cognitive approaches to help children and teens manage a variety of age-related issues. She also works with adults who experience challenges with anxiety, depression and an array of life stressors. She takes pride in working with diverse populations and specializes in LGBTQ+ and multicultural issues.