When my twin sons graduated from high school, my emotions were a cocktail of joy mixed with a shot of exhaustion. Twin milestones tend to be extra “big”\u2014especially events like graduation that only happen once. I was ensconced in a beautiful bubble of joy, embracing the \u201clasts\u201d and sentimental send-offs, but also flaky and forgetful. <\/p>\n
Like monkeys swinging through the jungle, most of us swing from one big event to the next. June and May are the third and fourth favorite months of the year<\/a>, with December and October scoring the slots for first and second. Like the December holiday season, our calendars are full of exciting events like weddings, showers, confirmations, communions, proms, graduations, and the end of school, as we embrace the new season with gardening, swimming, and vacationing. We also have Passover, Easter, Ramadan, as well as Mother\u2019s and Father\u2019s Days thrown into the mix, along with sports tournaments and arts performances. On top of everything, the normal ebb and flow of life continues with our need to manage careers, appointments, households, families, relationships, adulting, and other responsibilities. <\/p>\n No wonder we are exhausted. <\/p>\n How to Not Let Exhaustion Steal Your Joy<\/p>\n We might blame depression<\/a>, sadness, grief<\/a>, and other heavy emotions for draining our energy. But when burnout<\/a> sets in, even joy can be exhausting. It is connected to anxiety<\/a> about next steps for our loved ones and ourselves. The beloved saying, “You can\u2019t pour from an empty cup,” rings true. So, it\u2019s crucial that we stay mindful<\/a> of our individual needs.<\/p>\n Here are four tips for staying grounded in the magic:<\/p>\n