A burning opportunity or a burnout waiting to happen?
That mid-January/February sense of being bone-tired after the frenetic winter season, which we lean into every year in the UAE, is being expressed by many already
Does your life resemble the traffic on the roads right now here in the UAE?
Mine certainly does, the email inbox feels like a Sheikh Zayed Road with all lanes packed bumper to bumper in a rush hour that never seems to end.
And I know I’m not alone, it’s everyone, it’s all of us, running full-tilt into the economic bounce back in the UAE which seems to be eclipsing pre-pandemic activity levels.
That mid-January / February sense of being bone-tired after the frenetic winter season which we lean into every year in the UAE is being expressed by many already.
In a word, we’re all busy, busier than busier, we’re burning through our reserves at a pace unprecedented even for the UAE. And thus, if we’re not careful, we’re all going to burn out.
So, as we’ve just got to hang on in there and grasp the opportunities at hand, I’ve reprinted three tips borrowed from a previous article by Dr Saliha Afridi of The LightHouse Arabia, to try to help you stay grounded amid the tidal wave.
Information overload
To prevent burnout and stress from information overload, be sure to shut your phone off and get some respite from the constant download of content. Regardless of how busy you are or how ‘urgent’ work may be, everyone can afford to turn off their phone for a few minutes every day.
Give your brain a rest and schedule time to “do nothing.” Since most people do not know how to “do nothing” anymore, I recommend looking at a candle flame, or out of your window at the moving cars or the dancing trees and allow yourself to day dream. Don’t make an intention to do anything or think about anything… just soften the gaze, and let your mind rest as it wanders.
Dr Saliha Afridi of The LightHouse Arabia
Not enough quality or quantity of sleep
While technology has helped us become more efficient and entertained, it has caused havoc on our sleep cycles. Melatonin, which is the darkness hormone, is compromised due to our constant interaction with back lit, blue light devices. This is resulting in people sleeping fewer hours, and when they do, they do not have good quality sleep.
Good sleep is not just ensured by what you do at night but how you spend your day. Wake up and go for a short, brisk walk in the morning sun, this will help regulate your circadian rhythms. Avoid naps because it will disrupt the adenosine levels in your body, making it more difficult for you to fall asleep at night.
Good sleep is not just ensured by what you do at night but how you spend your day
Stop drinking coffee at 10am, since coffee has a very long half-life and quarter life. You can also unwind with an evening routine which can include hot showers, lavender pillow spray, magnesium oil, and chamomile tea in a dark room as a nightly ritual.
Connect with yourself
Start developing a relationship with yourself, engage in some reflective practices by spending time alone without the constant influence of the external world. This is easier said than done in the world where something is constantly pulling at our attention so it will require a disciplined practice.
Whether it is a daily journal writing, weekly therapy, minutes of meditation built in throughout the day, ink it in to your schedule and make it a part of your daily and weekly routine.
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By Staff Writer
More of this topic
A burning opportunity or a burnout waiting to happen?
That mid-January/February sense of being bone-tired after the frenetic winter season, which we lean into every year in the UAE, is being expressed by many already
Does your life resemble the traffic on the roads right now here in the UAE?
Mine certainly does, the email inbox feels like a Sheikh Zayed Road with all lanes packed bumper to bumper in a rush hour that never seems to end.
And I know I’m not alone, it’s everyone, it’s all of us, running full-tilt into the economic bounce back in the UAE which seems to be eclipsing pre-pandemic activity levels.
That mid-January / February sense of being bone-tired after the frenetic winter season which we lean into every year in the UAE is being expressed by many already.
In a word, we’re all busy, busier than busier, we’re burning through our reserves at a pace unprecedented even for the UAE. And thus, if we’re not careful, we’re all going to burn out.
So, as we’ve just got to hang on in there and grasp the opportunities at hand, I’ve reprinted three tips borrowed from a previous article by Dr Saliha Afridi of The LightHouse Arabia, to try to help you stay grounded amid the tidal wave.
Information overload
To prevent burnout and stress from information overload, be sure to shut your phone off and get some respite from the constant download of content. Regardless of how busy you are or how ‘urgent’ work may be, everyone can afford to turn off their phone for a few minutes every day.
Give your brain a rest and schedule time to “do nothing.” Since most people do not know how to “do nothing” anymore, I recommend looking at a candle flame, or out of your window at the moving cars or the dancing trees and allow yourself to day dream. Don’t make an intention to do anything or think about anything… just soften the gaze, and let your mind rest as it wanders.
Dr Saliha Afridi of The LightHouse Arabia
Not enough quality or quantity of sleep
While technology has helped us become more efficient and entertained, it has caused havoc on our sleep cycles. Melatonin, which is the darkness hormone, is compromised due to our constant interaction with back lit, blue light devices. This is resulting in people sleeping fewer hours, and when they do, they do not have good quality sleep.
Good sleep is not just ensured by what you do at night but how you spend your day. Wake up and go for a short, brisk walk in the morning sun, this will help regulate your circadian rhythms. Avoid naps because it will disrupt the adenosine levels in your body, making it more difficult for you to fall asleep at night.
Good sleep is not just ensured by what you do at night but how you spend your day
Stop drinking coffee at 10am, since coffee has a very long half-life and quarter life. You can also unwind with an evening routine which can include hot showers, lavender pillow spray, magnesium oil, and chamomile tea in a dark room as a nightly ritual.
Connect with yourself
Start developing a relationship with yourself, engage in some reflective practices by spending time alone without the constant influence of the external world. This is easier said than done in the world where something is constantly pulling at our attention so it will require a disciplined practice.
Whether it is a daily journal writing, weekly therapy, minutes of meditation built in throughout the day, ink it in to your schedule and make it a part of your daily and weekly routine.
Follow us on
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