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This Just In: Breathe in. Breathe out. Move on.
Are you burnt out? You’re not alone.
Earlier this week, I woke up with Jimmy Buffett’s Breathe in. Breathe out. Move on. in my head. The song was written in response to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in New Orleans. I woke up with its titular phrase on repeat like a mantra.
If a hurricane doesn’t leave you dead
It will make you strong
Don’t try to explain it just nod your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on
The peak of hurricane season is next week, but 2020 gave us a lot to deal with already. With all we’re dealing with, it’s important to pause and breathe.
I’m not saying we should ignore social injustice, the lack of response to a global pandemic, or any of the other atrocities of this year. We must address all of these issues head-on. If you’re not registered to vote, please get on it.
That said, individually we cannot hold the weight of the world. We need to find ways to breathe before the weight crushes us.
I used to train youth workers on the signs and dangers of burnout. We all experience stress, that’s a natural part of life. When our stress grows unmanageable, it can develop into burnout. Common symptoms include demoralization, a lack of hope, and a sense of overwhelming helplessness. Does any of this…
