Are you exhausted, overwhelmed and tired all the time? Well, you are not alone.
For one reason or another, WoC are more exhausted overwhelmed and overworked than ever before. It feels like every WoC we talk to, everyone that walks through the GirlDreamer door, or anyone that we meet at an event feels chronically tired and almost at breaking point.
With an overwhelming sense of pressure from every angle, for years, WoC have been the backbone of society and have had to bear the burden of doing the most for everyone and being there for everything. With an expectation to show up and show up positively, regardless of what is going on, this can be incredibly exhausting.
Experiencing an overwhelming set of expectations from every angle can leave WoC feeling burned out, anxious and stressed. Whether it’s an expectation to overextend yourself for family, do more than your job requires or always act in an amenable and pleasant way in society, WoC must always do more to be accepted.
Facing a unique and challenging set of obstacles, WoC constantly have to grapple with different and ever-evolving rules that are only ever set against them. With outdated systems of oppression, discrimination and racism still built into society and continuing to grow, for WoC, these intersecting tools of oppression take a toll. Be it hiring biases, workplace inequality, wage and wealth gaps, lack of opportunity, casual sexism and normalised misogyny in the workplace and society, it feels like WoC are constantly taking hits from every angle.
Creating insecurity and leaving us riddled with imposter syndrome and angst, these regular annoyances leave WoC questioning their skills, capabilities, talent and worth. Constantly being second-guessed, underestimated, dismissed and disregarded can cause burnout and an overwhelming sense of tiredness that leaves us uninterested in hobbies, life, and progression in our careers and personal lives. As a result, WoC show up less like themselves and less for themselves, without that vital thirst for life that encourages us thrive.
Here at GirlDreamer, we know all too well how this feels. We know just how debilitating these experiences can be, and we want to help you thrive. It is vital that WoC overcome these irritating obstacles and overwhelming pressures to ensure they live their life to the fullest and do not settle to become less than or do less than they should.
Below are our top tricks for how to overcome exhaustion and thrive in a dangerously exhausting world.
Remember Who You Are
This world will bend over backwards, trying to make you feel less than. In professional, social and even family settings, your skills, talent, capability and worth will be questioned. It is your responsibility to remember who you are and what your worth is. It is incredibly easy to internalise the barrage of negativity you face, and if you do this, you might begin experiencing imposter syndrome or even choose to settle in circumstances beneath you to avoid uncomfortable moments.
Constantly reminding yourself of your worth, skills, talent and knowledge will ensure you do not settle and let this world make you feel less than. It is vital that you remember that you do not have to work to prove anyone wrong. Trying to accommodate, comfort or rationalise the opinions and feelings of others is an utter waste of time and fruitless focus.
In remembering who you are, you prioritise yourself and know that however the world tries to make you feel, you are worth your wants and are deserving of happiness and success.
Don’t Over Extend Yourself
WoC experience chronic exhaustion because of the outrageous level of expectations placed on them.
As a way to overcome this, stop overextending yourself. Set your boundaries and mean them. Say no, and say it often. An incredibly important tool, saying no without explanation, hesitation, or guilt is one the most powerful things you can do for your peace.
When you are constantly overextending yourself, you are not valuing your time, worth or peace. You prioritise others, their wants, and their time over yourself and centre others above yourself. Once you stop overextending yourself, you will feel that a load has been lifted and realise just how much lighter you feel.
Do What Brings you Joy
This world has a very special way of trying to make WoC feel less than. As a result, the pursuit of joy should take precedence in your life. With the world and its factors essentially built to our detriment, a vital way to overcome the exhaustion and overwhelm that comes with this is to actively seek and build joy in your life.
Whether it’s practising self-care, taking regular career breaks, spending time alone or with family or friends, doing what brings you joy again and again can help you manage the stress and pressure you face.
Seeking and centring joy in your life will help stop the exhaustion, dread and tiredness that life creates and ensure you thrive and get to live your best life.