DEALING WITH BURNOUT and ANXIETY

by Colleen Cox

When dealing with burnout and anxiety about the future, it’s essential to learn how to sit with your emotions rather than try to escape them. This means creating space to feel your emotions without judgment—whether it’s anxiety, fear, frustration, or exhaustion. When these emotions arise, instead of pushing them away, numbing with phones and television, food or business, allow yourself to acknowledge them.

What does this look like in the day to day? It can be as simple as taking a moment to breathe deeply for 90 seconds and notice what your body is experiencing. Are your shoulders tense? Is your heart racing? Sit quietly with these sensations, observing them without trying to change or fix them. 

This practice is grounding, and it can help calm and release the physical tension associated with stress. When we’re anxious about the future or burnt out over the demands of our daily lives, our bodies often respond with tightness, shallow breathing, or even chronic pain. By simply pausing to sit with the discomfort, we can begin to understand and potentially release that tension. Grounding practices can allow our nervous systems to shift from a fight-or-flight mode to a more relaxed state, impacting both our mental and physical health.

Faith can play a crucial role in this practice of slowing down and connecting to our body and mind. In times of uncertainty, we can lean on the belief that God is with us, holding us in our struggles. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This reminds us that we don’t have to carry the burden of anxiety alone. Trusting that God is present in our suffering can bring a sense of peace as we sit with our emotions. As we rest in His presence, we give our bodies and minds permission to heal and find balance.