Running on empty
I am tired, exhausted, empty, hollow, counting down the days until year end, I need some time off – sound familiar? With the last two years overpowered by covid, lock-downs and constantly changing rules and restrictions many of us have not had a proper break, booked annual leave, had any time away from our day to day routines. How do you operate when you are running on empty?
In endurance sport the term ‘bonked’ is used when your body won’t cooperate with your brain. For instance, in the Tour de France perhaps towards the end of a big mountain stage, a riders legs will start to feel like lead, and no matter how much their brain tells them to keep moving, their legs will not do it. It is the body’s physiological response to long periods of exertion and depleted glycogen stores.
I wanted to use this analogy and get you thinking about work. Think about what you have endured the past two years with limited breaks, higher stress levels, uncertainty, feeling disconnected from your work colleagues, of course all of this would impact your effectiveness to concentrate and perform at your best.
Here are some areas to think about when you are running on empty:
Break it down – when you are running on empty, looking at a big scary goal or task will feel overwhelming and seem too far out of reach. By breaking it down into smaller tasks it becomes much more reasonable to achieve. Your motivation will also be higher if you believe you can achieve it.
Build momentum - once you start to achieve smaller goals/tasks, it will create momentum. As you make progress, your confidence will increase and you will feel a sense of achievement at the end of each day.
Focus your energy on progress not perfection – it is easy to get stuck obsessing over results and striving for perfect outcomes. Complete some small tasks to the best of your ability and don’t let fear of perfection prevent you from even doing something.
Fill your self-care cup – there is no need to rush out and book the day spa for a 6-hr treatment (who has time for that), I am talking about small steps each day to prioritise you. Acknowledge the times in the day you do something for yourself. A quiet cup of tea/coffee, your morning workout, reading a book to wind down at night, calling a friend and having a good laugh.
Move it - firstly, by doing some light exercise you will enjoy the benefit of happy endorphins, improved blood flow, and increased energy (as long as you don’t over do it). Secondly, when we run on empty and feel our emotions heightened, giving yourself a break and moving away from a problem can provide your brain with a break. Give yourself space for clarity and insights to come to you.
What can you pay attention to, to get safely to your end of the year break?