For the Burned Out, Fried, and Exhausted | Emily & Amelia Nagoski
Dec 27, 2023
auto_awesome
Discover evidence-based interventions for burnout, including completing the stress cycle. Topics covered include the characteristics of burnout, creating a 'bubble of love,' and the importance of creativity and connectivity in managing stress. The speakers also discuss the impact of stress on emotion processing, the concept of authenticity versus societal expectations, and universal tactics for managing stress and frustration.
Burnout is a combination of depersonalization, decreased sense of accomplishment, and emotional exhaustion that needs to be completed through physical activity, deep breathing, crying, laughter, and meditation.
Recognizing the real enemy in societal structures that create obstacles for women allows individuals to challenge and fight against inequality and difficult circumstances.
Completing the stress response cycle through physical activity, deep breathing, crying, laughter, and meditation is crucial for overall well-being and empowers individuals to take control of their emotional and physical health.
Deep dives
Understanding Burnout and Its Characteristics
Burnout is a combination of depersonalization, a decrease in emotional investment in work, a decreased sense of accomplishment, feeling like you're accomplishing less despite working harder, and emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion is the primary experience of burnout for women. Burnout, regardless of gender, is a biological cycle that needs to be completed. The stress response cycle can be completed through physical activity, deep breathing, crying, laughter, and meditation.
Addressing the Real Enemy: The Systemic Challenges for Women
The book explores the concept of the real enemy based on the Hunger Games. It refers to the system or societal structures that create obstacles for women. These obstacles are not solely based on gender, but also intersect with race, creed, and other factors. By recognizing the real enemy, individuals can focus on challenging and fighting against the systems that perpetuate inequality and create difficult circumstances for women.
The Power of Completing the Stress Response Cycle
Completing the stress response cycle is crucial for overall well-being. Physical activity, deep breathing, crying, laughter, and meditation are effective strategies for completing the cycle. Mindfulness meditation, when practiced with non-judgmental awareness, allows individuals to observe and release stress without simply seeking calmness. Understanding the importance of completing the stress response cycle empowers individuals to take control of their emotional and physical health.
Completing the Stress Response Cycle Through Physical Activity and Other Strategies
Physical activity, such as exercise, can help complete the stress response cycle in the body, leading to a feeling of relief and well-being. However, physical activity is not always accessible to everyone, especially those with disabilities or chronic pain. Fortunately, there are other evidence-based strategies to complete the stress response cycle, such as getting enough sleep, using imagination to create a sense of completion, engaging in creative self-expression, and forming a supportive bubble of love with others.
The Importance of Doing a Thing and Building Connections
Engaging in activities, or 'doing a thing,' can help the body recognize its capacity to access safety and overcome stress. This can range from simple tasks to creative outlets like writing, painting, or playing music. Additionally, building a strong bubble of love, or a supportive network of people who genuinely care for each other's well-being, can provide a sense of connection and alleviate burnout. Loneliness is a significant issue, and fostering meaningful relationships is essential in navigating the stress response cycle and experiencing overall wellness.
Amelia Nagoski holds a DMA in conducting from the University of Connecticut. An assistant professor and coordinator of music at Western New England University, she regularly presents educational sessions discussing the application of communications science and psychological research for audiences of other professional musicians, including “Beyond Burnout Prevention: Embodied Wellness for Conductors.” She is the co-author of Burnout: The Secret To Unlocking The Stress Cycle
In this episode we talk about:
The three characteristics of burnout
The difference between addressing stressful circumstances in our lives and dealing with the actual physical experience of stress
What they call the “real enemy”
How to create a “bubble of love”
The evidence-based interventions you can try right away