Real-Life Self-Care Tips: What Helped Me Beat Burnout
A few years ago, I was working a highly demanding job that left me stressed out most days. My anxiety was through the roof, often keeping me up at night. Even when I did manage to sleep, I’d wake up with anxious thoughts about what the day had in store or the countless tasks I’d been procrastinating. After 10- or 15-hour workdays, all I wanted was to collapse on the couch with a big bag of chips and watch trash TV. I realized I needed to prioritize my mental health before burnout took over, especially since it was already creeping in just two years into the job. I found ways to truly enjoy my evenings and days off, allowing myself to rest and recharge. Here are some things that helped:
Filled my home with things I enjoyed
Plants, plants, and more plants! My love for greenery comes from my great-grandmother, whose pothos plant was passed down to my mom. I told myself when I was old enough to get my own place, I would fill it with greenery. That’s just what I did.
Vintage finds - I love the nostalgia of old furniture pieces that remind me of childhood memories of being in a relative’s home. There’s something about today’s most modern furniture pieces that lack character and uniqueness.
Good smells - A nice scent from a candle can add the right amount of coziness.
Took care of my physical health
Exercise - I got a gym membership through my company and worked out at least 4x per week. Sticking to a plan helped me to stay consistent. If you’re looking for great strength plans, try Nike+ or Peloton.
Once per week, I also took the workout outside with a hike. Living in California meant I could often enjoy great weather for outdoor workouts. If a hike seems unattainable where you live, just go for a long walk outside.
Meal prep - With a crazy work schedule, prepping my meals on Sunday was the most ideal way to make sure I kept up with a consistent nutrition plan. It would be easy to just stop and get fast food, but staying prepared helped me eat healthy on the go.
Spent time with others
Spending time with family, friends, and my significant other helped to relax when I wasn’t at work. If I spent too much time alone, my thoughts would linger on the stress of work and I would be miserable and dread Mondays. Work isn’t all there is to life, and spending time with loved ones was a helpful reminder of that.
Hung out solo
When I did spend time alone, I made sure to do an activity that I enjoyed doing by myself and that would recharge me. This included trying local coffee shops, shopping to treat myself to a little pick me up, or getting my favorite cheat meal on the weekend.
Took up a hobby or new skill
When I wanted to fill some idle time, I decided to explore a few hobbies that interested me. I’ve always been fascinated by design, whether fashion or home decor. When I finally had my own space, I felt inspired to enroll in interior design school. It was a low-risk move since the certification program had a small fee.
I also got into refurbishing vintage furniture I found. There’s something incredibly refreshing about taking old pieces, giving them new life, and preserving their original essence.
Lastly, I discovered my love for creative writing in high school—blame my AP English teacher for that. I continued to write throughout college as a psychology major but really leaned into it when I started Revive and Bloom in 2017. Fun fact: I actually started a blog called The Jaded Chronicles on WordPress back in 2013. It was just random thoughts at their best—no overthinking, just writing. Looking back at those posts, I see the essence of 25-year-old Morgan at her most creative.
I’m even tempted to transfer those posts over here as a sort of historical archive—just maybe. It shows the evolution from Revival to Revive and Bloom and reminds me why I started writing in the first place.
These are some of the things that worked for me. What I liked most about these is that it didn’t require much mental or financial lifting. Wellness doesn’t have to be luxurious to be meaningful. In fact, keeping it simple and accessible can ease stress rather than add to it. I hope these tips inspire you to create space for rest and recharge in your own life—without the pressure of perfection. What are some of your favorite ways to unwind and take care of yourself?