burnout is an invitation to recalibrate
We spent Memorial Day weekend at the lake, and as we were driving home – about 20 minutes out and nearing the kids' bedtime – it dawned on me we had no milk in our house.
That was not gonna fly for our 3-year-old who, if given the chance, would exist solely on milk alone. Bedtime would've been a disaster.
Thank goodness we were just about to pass by Target, so my husband dropped me off in the parking lot to run in and grab some milk.
Here's what I came out with:
Coffee
Cereal
Bananas
Strawberries
Heavy cream
A lamp
A new crop top
F*cking hell. I FORGOT THE MILK.
While very much annoyed, my husband was forgiving as I ran back into the store to grab the one item that I went to get in the first place.
This blunder was no surprise as my mind has been anywhere but in the present moment lately.
Maybe you can relate? All of the social obligations that come with this shift in seasons (that and the perpetual fear of being dive-bombed by cicadas 🤪) has many of us feeling stretched thin.
My brain is running faster than my body can keep up.
And my body is starting to communicate that we can't keep up with this pace.
‼️ My acne is starting to flare up
‼️ I'm feeling puffy in my midsection (a symptom of stress as cortisol, our stress hormone, makes us store belly fat)
‼️ And I have a ginormous, painful knot in my back and my neck that won't release no matter how many massages I get or how many times I visit my chiropractor
There's no doubt about it, I've been stuck in a loop of fight-or-flight, lately. And I know from my years of experience, that it's impossible to heal in this state.
Let's play a game:
Put a finger down it you're…
Often forgetting to eat
Jittery – esp with caffeine or if going too long without food
Constantly scrolling on your phone
And another if you…
Have a short fuse/feel irritable
Feel “alive” with HIIT workouts and a hectic schedule but crash after
Are annoyed by meditation, yoga, or anything “slow”
Or what about…
Racing mind when trying to sleep
Cravings for salty and/or sweet foods
Persistent bloating and puffiness
Doing the most with nutrition & exercise but not seeing results
Hormone or digestive symptoms that won't budge
If you put down three or more fingers, chances are your nervous system needs some recalibrating.
The cool thing about our bodies is that they're really good at letting us know what they need.
But it's only helpful if we know how to listen & respond appropriately.
That's exactly what I help women do.
I help you to learn how to hear & respond to your body's whispers, so you don't have to hear it scream.
I teach you how to speak the same language as your body so that when symptoms bubble up, you know exactly how to respond to nip them in the bud.
& the best part of all of this is that I teach you how to respond without extremes.
It's human nature to seek a quick fix to resolve our symptoms as quickly as possible.
Gaining weight? – “Time to restrict my diet & hit the gym 5 days per week."
Acne flaring up? – “I'll cut out dairy, gluten, sugar, & caffeine, buy those supplements I saw on Instagram, and order that skincare line that my favorite influencer said worked wonders for her skin…"
Tangible action makes us feel in control.
Trust me, I had the same knee jerk temptation when my symptoms started arising this past week.
But after years of practicing functional medicine & working with hundreds of women, I know better.
Pushing harder (whether it be diet, exercise, supplements, etc.) will only lead to more burnout & more dysregulation (+more symptoms).
Simple solutions are often overlooked for more “sexy” action steps (like diet restrictions or supplements).
But, in my experience with my clients, healing symptoms can be quite simple once we know what's causing them.
& it's oftentimes rooted in some sort of imbalance…
Eating more processed foods vs nourishing foods
Not getting enough sleep
Too much screen time
A spiritual disconnect
Past trauma
Urge to work overriding desire or ability to rest
…just to name a few.
Ask yourself these questions, First name / friend:
❓ “I feel most balanced when _____”
❓ “What's been throwing off that balance in my life lately?"
❓ "Is there anything that's felt like ‘too much’ or ‘too little’?"
I bet you'll find your answer(s).
As for me, here's my simple plan to recalibrate:
Wake up with a guided visualization instead of scrolling on Instagram
Prioritize a 20-minute, phone-free walk each day
Include 30 grams of protein per meal
Incorporate extra mineral mocktails (minerals support stress resiliency!)
Prioritize strength training 2-3 days/week (only 20-30 minutes)
Read before bed instead cramming in more work or doom scrolling
Bed by 10pm to get at least 7 hours of sleep
Icing my pimples & continuing with my usual skincare routine
This stuff is sooo foundational, but dangit, it's SO effective!
The sexy really is in the simple.
If you're in a season of stress & burnout, too, consider this your invitation to recalibrate.💗