Back in March, I finished writing the second of back-to-back manuscripts. Most long writing projects are challenging, but some are more difficult than others; this one was the equivalent of swimming in concrete. In recent memory, I don’t remember ever struggling over a manuscript like I did this one. When the final chapter was finally written and the manuscript emailed to the publisher—I was physically run down and emotionally spent. To borrow the words of Bob Dylan, “I felt like I was pulling an empty wagon.”
Maybe you can relate. No matter what type of work you do, there’s a risk of burnout, and from time to time, it’s easy to run ourselves empty. But what do we do when we find ourselves running on fumes? I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but here are some things that have helped me refill after a season of burnout.
- Being Still Before God. This has the potential to sound weird, so let me explain. If you are in the habit of having a devotional time when you read your Bible and pray, you undoubtedly know the value of those spiritual disciplines. But sometimes, we can be rushed or distracted and miss God in those moments. A.W. Tozer said, “One important thing many fail to understand is that the Bible was never meant to replace God; rather, it was meant to lead us into the heart of God. Too many Christians stop with the text and never go on to experience the presence of God.”[1] God is omnipresent—meaning He is everywhere all the time. But to experience Him, you do have to slow down and contemplate His presence. In those quiet moments, God renews us.
- Do What Refills You. This looks different for everyone, so you’ll need to find what works for you (although I’m betting you already have a pretty good idea). As a writer, I am constantly in search of new ideas, greater knowledge, helpful things to share, and different perspectives. When I run low and am teetering on the edge of burnout—it helps me to consume other people’s creativity. I’m always reading, but when I’m bouncing back from burnout, I read even more and almost always choose books outside my work genre. I watch movies, listen to music, and admire other people’s art. Another thing that is helpful is to get in my kitchen and cook because I’ve found that working with my hands gets my creativity flowing again. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. You just need to do what works for you. God has filled this planet with things to enjoy—so we’d be crazy not to.
- Prioritize Rest. Confession: I am prone to burn the candle at both ends, so I am cringing as I write this because I don’t want to be a phony. But the reality is rest is essential in getting over burnout. God designed our bodies in a way that they demand rest. He also modeled a Sabbath rest that many of us ignore at our own peril. Some of us have been operating with high fatigue levels for so long that we don’t even realize how tired we are. So go ahead and take that nap. Sleep in on the weekends or go to bed early. Do whatever it takes to prioritize rest. I realize that not everyone has the luxury of taking time off. But doing little things to recharge our minds, bodies, and souls make a big difference.
In a fast paced culture, it’s easy to get burned out and feel like quitting. But rather than quitting, why not rest when we need to?
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[1] A.W. Tozer, The Crucified Life: How To Live Out a Deeper Experience With God, (Bloomington: Bethany House Publishers, 2014, p. 19).
