Slow Morning Routine - the Burnout Diaries CH2

Welcome back to the Burnout Diaries. My name is Siobhan, I have a small creative business selling mainly pottery, and I am burnt out. 

This is chapter 2. 

And boy what a week it was. Because for the last seven days I have done, well, not much at all. 

I’ve been a blob incarnate. A living sack of potatoes. Last week I was mentally fatigued, the decision-making part of my brain was on strike, and no settlement could be reached. 

This week my physicality joined in. I had a 24 hour horrible headache after reading one sentence. I cried in a cafe because I couldn’t follow a simple conversation. My calves shake when I walk too far and my fingers play a similar wiggle dance when I try to do anything too detailed. 

And I think this is because I finally stopped working, the first time in years I have actually stopped thinking about what I needed to do next, how many of this or that I should be making, and will it actually work or be good enough this time? How much will sell? Will any of it sell? Will anyone care?

I mentally stopped, and a few days later when it became sure I wasn’t changing my mind, my body stopped. This last week was the “getting worse before getting better” phase ( I hope). 

So it’s not surprising that my morning routine has shifted. 

A couple weeks ago, I was rising at 5:30, out the door to walk Zoe the pup before 7, back and working before 8. I would break for a morning coffee at around 9:30, and work til lunchtime. A winning work morning.

My morning routine is now about slowly waking and dragging my larger than life heavy head out of bed, probably some time before 8:30 but maybe not, then making Zoe’s and my breakfast slowly enough that the dizziness doesn’t take over but fast enough that I don’t fall over before reaching the lounge. Despite wanting to stay in bed, I still get up and start the day, knowing that staying in bed will result in an even worse nighttime routine. 

Once properly caffeine aligned, I drive to the local ovals or park to walk Zoe (the necessity of driving due to the presence of next door’s unsupervised dog that roams the street and has attacked a leashed Zoe {yes, the owners were told and, no, they didn’t care}), before driving back and flopping down to do either a) nothing much, or, b) a whole much of nothing.

Some days I can read, some days I can watch YouTube. On a good day I can do grocery shopping, on a bad day I can lie in bed holding my head while cursing the heat of Australia to hell, where I believe it actually originates. 

I started a new painting. I briefly started the business course (which is what brought on the 24 hour headache, so not the strongest start). I’m now 2 weeks behind in the business course which has been running for 2 weeks. 

I started to make three mugs in a new and different way. It’s an experiment that I hope will promote a better and healthier way of producing mugs in the future. 

But most importantly, I’m letting my body rest. I’m not getting back to emails I should be (sorry!). I’m eating frozen chips because I want to eat frozen chips (no longer frozen at time of consumption). I’m actually listening to my body and lying down when I need to lie down.

What? Who is she? Where has the weird workaholic lady gone?

Will I go back to 5:30am mornings and feeling all productivy and accomplishy again? I believe so, or at least a healthier approximation of before. This is just my blip. I’m learning, I’m evolving, and I’ll be back soon. 

Like next week, with Chapter 3.

X Siobhan 

ROSEMARY WATER RECIPE FOR HAIR GROWTH:

As seen in this week’s YouTube video, I made some rosemary water due to recent stress-related hair loss. My basic recipe is as follows:

4 - 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary

1.5 cup of water

1. Add water and sprigs to a small saucepan. 

2. Simmer for 10 - 15 minutes. Water should reduce by 1/4 - 1/2 during this time.

3. Allow to completely cool.

4. Using a pipette/dropper, disperse a few drops to a couple pipette amounts on scalp. Massage the scalp (also helps stimulate growth).

5. I repeat this process a few times a week and lessen the amount used when I start noticing results.

Please note anything to do with hair and skin is personal and reliant on individual needs.