Showing posts with label burn out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burn out. Show all posts
Fitness Update #3: Burn-out Cures & Home Workouts during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Thursday, 21 May 2020
I have accidentally discovered how to recover from burnout
while on lockdown during this COVID-19 pandemic.
I did not know that one needs to recover from burnout.... did you know?
Apparently one does.
I thought if I took a few weeks or a couple days off and rested,
then that would be enough to recover.
I thought burn out was all about being tired.
I was wrong.
I have been walking around tired,
but also possibly dehydrated and probably nutrient deficient too.
I have been trudging through life wondering,
"Why the daily constant struggle to get out of bed?"
I would wake up feeling like I hadn't slept,
And go to bed feeling like I'd ran a marathon.
Coffee was no longer working...
I took five days off at Christmas time,
but still the same lack of energy and motivation persisted.
There was a week where every day someone kept telling me how tired I looked.
I went into panic mode, ready to go to the clinic to get all kinds of tests done.
"I must be dying..."
I was just soooooo exhausted.
You see...I am still dealing with the trauma
of watching my late Dad's renal system fail,
and now coming to terms with the fact that I could not stop it.
My boss tells me I need to take a break.
She says I must take time off.
She has confirmed I look drained.
My panic doubles,
So I complain to Bae,
Me: I am tired all the time, that's not normal,
might go in for a check up.
Bae: You might be dehydrated,
try eating some cucumber every day,
My mum used to tell us to do that.
Me: I hate cucumber!
Bae: Just try it.
So I try it.
I add one to my daily diet.
It works!
But I hate eating fruits and veggies
Why? Because of childhood....
Childhood and the privilege of being able
to dislike food that is healthy.
I take three weeks off as my boss advises.
Meanwhile pandemonium is enshewing outside
It's the week before Uganda announces it's first COVID -19 case.
Kenya has just announced it's first,
a lady of Indian decent returned from America.
Entebbe airport is still open.
The pandemic is slowly creeping up on us.
You can feel the paranoia growing in Kampala.
I saw a man in the pharmacy with matching pastel blue mask and gloves.
He was buying malaria medicine.
I decide to stay home,
Only going out to buy essentials or to meet friends.
I planned to be a blanket blob catching up on my series during my leave anyway..
COVID -19 has made it possible.
So days into the partial lockdown,
I am chugging down the cucumbers and noticing a difference,
but I still don't like them
Do you recall the snozzcumbers from the BFG book?
Then I remember my bestie gave me a juicer.
So one day I juice a whole cucumber and add lemon.
Not to bad... drinking makes it go down quicker....
And each day I add something to make the juice bearable
And Boom!!!
My energy and motivation return...
I wake up happy to wake up.
I have a joyous light skip in my step.
Two weeks later, I 'return' to work excited and ready.
I am working from home with a healthy juicing buzz,
while the country is now in full lockdown.
And it dawns on me burnout is very very REAL,
and its not just about sleep & rest.
I need to eat healthy too.
Duuuuh...
Anyway my fave juicing recipe includes these....
Also since, no private cars are allowed on the road,
I have been walking more on the weekend,
and working out from home during the week.
Here are some of my favorite home workouts from You Tube.
Low Impact Cardio
Standing Cardio Workout
Ballet Body Sculpt
Full Body Barre Workout
Thanks for dropping by!
Comment below with your fave workouts or juicing recipes.
All photo credits: Unsplash
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| You can see more of Gemma Correll's work here |
Maybe the year has been too productive? I don't know what to say... I feel like the illustration above. Even though I don't feel like posting my own content around the Christmas spirit, I have to mention that I am enjoying the range of wonderful vlogmas You Tube videos I have been watching since the start of December, for example 'This is Essmas' by Sharon Mundia, also Zoella and her boyfriend PointlessBlog, to name a few.While I look forward to loading my internet bundle, clicking play and catching up with my favorite You Tubers in the evening after work and school. I can't say I have the same enthusiasm for the season that they all do right now. It is difficult for me to recall the last time I actually decorated a Christmas tree. Which is sad. I am glad my mother isn't around to see this. She spent so much time during our childhood making Christmas a magical time for us. A week ago, I decided that this year I would actually buy a Christmas tree, I was supposed to get one this weekend but as the great Awesomely Luvvie once said I am "unable to Can".
“Burnout occurs when your body and mind can no longer keep up with the tasks you demand of them. Don’t try to force yourself to do the impossible. Delegate time for important tasks, but always be sure to leave time for relaxation and reflection.”
― Del Suggs, Truly Leading: Lessons in Leadership
This weekend I have been unable to can effectively.
I started feeling low on Friday, and immediately took myself for some tests because I was worried it might be malaria. The results indicated I was fine. I have body aches, fever chills, and I swear the snot in my nose has a green tinge to it, which is supposed to mean an infection, isn't it? Yet the only unusual item on the lab results was an increase in a certain type of white blood cell. I was reliably informed that it could mean the start of an infection that shouldn't disrupt my routine because all signs point towards a healthy body.
But here's the thing... it has made me spend an abnormal amount of hours in bed this weekend and important plans had to be cancelled. For the first time this year my body flat out refused to go with the flow. I am greatly surprised because even after a busy week, I am usually out and about on Saturday and Sunday. This week wasn't even jam packed with activity but all my body wanted to do is nap! The only task I managed to achieve was to blow dry my hair and purchase some Lemsip . Even Burn Out can't mess with a natural hair girl's schedule tehehehe. The Lemsip, I hope will ease the body aches and fever shivers. In between naps, I have been busy with all my favorite introvert activities including catching up on Victoria Series 2. Wrapped up in the safety of my comfy fluffy duvet, I accidentally stumbled across #booktube, which I am slightly ashamed to say has brought me so much delight in the last few hours of Sunday. A whole community of people who vlog about books. Imagine!
As I take my fiftieth guilt free spoonful of blueberry flavored ice cream, while writing the last sentence of this post. I am suddenly filled with a sense of gratitude that days like this can exist. That I can enjoy resting and still find joy and relief in the smallest things, after all even if I can't yet resonate, it is the season.
“A happy and productive person is one who understands that his or her job is not the purpose of his or her life. Go on vacation, use up your sick days, ask for a temporary leave-of-absence—anything that allows you to recharge your batteries away from your typical routine. No leave, no life.”
― Del Suggs, Truly Leading: Lessons in Leadership
(btw find me on twitter @mariajulietrose 😀)
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