Life is packed with opportunities for millennials, but does it have a downside? Those with millennial burnout would say yes, there is.
Have you heard of millennial burnout? Well, let me back up a bit.
If you compare today's world to 30 years ago, even 10 years ago, you see the huge differences. We're more technologically advanced, we can do anything we want within the touch of a button. Traveling is far more easy, study is open to more people than ever before. Put simply, we have more opportunities and chances to do things with our lives.
Millennial burnout feels like you’re on a constant hamster wheel and you can’t get off. You can’t rest, you can’t chill out, you can’t just switch off and do nothing without feeling guilty. Put simply, it’s exhausting. Over time, millennial burnout can easily lead towards chronic stress, anxiety, and even depression.
# Try mindfulnessNo, this isn’t all about chanting and meditating; although, you can incorporate that if you want to. Mindfulness is about simply learning to live in the moment. I don’t know about you, but I spend a huge amount of time thinking back over the past or panicking about the future.
The problem is, we’re missing the moment we’re in! Mindfulness pulls your awareness back to the present and forces you to notice the small pleasures in life.
# Have a social media detoxI know, terrifying, right? Many of us check our social media feeds the moment we wake up and countless times throughout the day, culminating in a late night check before sleep. Being this connected isn’t always a positive thing. Unless you seriously need your social media accounts for work, you should detox a little.
Disconnect for a week and see how you feel. The thought alone probably causes you millennial burnout in itself, but trust me, it gets easier after a few days.
# Cut out the comparisonsWhen you break away from social media for a short while, you’ll find this happens quite naturally, but it’s important to stop comparing yourself to other people. We all do it. We compare where we are in life, our jobs, our hobbies, where we’ve been on vacation, and how we look.
The thing is, you’re unique and wonderful as you are, why do you want to be a carbon copy of someone else? Comparisons easily lead to depression, so cut them out and see if your millennial burnout eases.
# Set one small goal at a time
It’s good to have a goal and to work towards something, but if you have several huge goals that you’re trying to achieve all at one time, you’re going to stress yourself out very easily. This is one of the main causes of millennial burnout. Rather than trying to change the world in one day, set yourself a small goal and work towards it. Once you’ve achieved it, pat yourself back on the back and set another one.
# Make self care a priorityYou are important. Your time is important and your health is vital. Self care is not being selfish, it’s something we all need to focus on. So, do nothing for the day if you want to, eat your favorite foods, skip the gym for a day, have a hot bath, and read a book. Do whatever makes you feel good. Self care on a regular basis will certainly help you to overcome millennial burnout.
# Set boundaries for yourselfYes, you can easily keep
working for another hour and get more done, or you can do another half
an hour in the gym, but what are you going to achieve really? You’re
going to be tired, annoyed, upset, and unhealthy. Know when to stop!
Most
millennials simply don’t have boundaries, and they’re vitally important
for a healthy life. Set yourself healthy boundaries and stick to them,
no matter what.
# Learn how to handle stress in a healthy wayHow
do you respond to stress normally? Do you go out and drink? Do you
overexercise? Or do you reach for a family-sized bar of chocolate? These
aren’t healthy ways to handle stress. Instead, exercise at a regular
pace, treat yourself in moderation, practice self care, talk about the
problem, and focus on wellness.