Yes, I know I haven’t shared my o’pawnion for a while now. But today I’m back with a bang and a burning question: why are humans talking about burnout? You might think why this question suddenly. Well, that’s because lately I’ve been hearing the word ‘burnout’ way too often.

What’s burnout anyway? I gathered that burnout is when humans always feel tired. And I’ve this strange feeling that humans tend to bring this thing called burnout on themselves.

Allow me to explain

After eight years of going to doggie day care almost every day, I’ve started staying more at home over the past two years. Since my human started working from home, I decided to stay in too to give her company. So, these days I go to the day care only on some days. Now here’s the thing, I switched pattern as well, but I didn’t burnout. Then why does my human complain about burnout?

They say staying at home all the time is causing this. But that’s not entirely true. I make it a point to take them out at least thrice a day for long walks. As their in-house therapist, I feel the real issues are different. Unending to-do lists, not taking enough breaks, worrying about things that aren’t under our control.

So, today I’ll share some tips for humans to tackle burnout.

Reduce to-do lists

Let me start with a question. When was the last time you had nothing on your to-do list? I’m sure you’ve to think hard! So, the first step is to reduce your to-do lists and prioritise the most important tasks. Let me give you an example, walking and sleeping rank high on my to-do list so I prioritise these. And I urge all you beautiful humans to take a relook at your long to-do lists and prioritise.

Take breaks

Starting with a question again. When was the last time you took a break? I do it a few times every day by simply walking over to our balcony and laying there for a while taking in the smells and sounds. So, along with planning staycation/vacation/glamping etc practice taking breaks every day. Do things that you really like. It could be going to the beach, gardening, reading, even snoozing. Basically, whatever relaxes you.

PS: Please don’t stare at those screens because that’s not taking breaks.

Move on

Now here’s the million-dollar question. How often do you stress about what’s not under your control? Let me share a personal experience. I’ve recently been diagnosed with what’s called the Lafora Disease (more on that later). Even though I don’t feel any pain or discomfort, my humans are extremely sad. Yeah, I can feel it. But then I slowly taught them my go-to hack – what you can’t control, pee on it and move on.

Of course, they haven’t peed on it [literally] and moved on completely, but they are less sad now. From what I understand they are spending more time to research for weird smelling stuff to add in my food. Yeah, I can totally sniff! But I let them do that because I know this is helping them to move on from worrying to doing things that will turn me into a supaw-dawg. So, humans don’t keep worrying and stressing about things that aren’t under your control. Instead do things that will help you move on.

If nothing works, book an appointment with Yours Truly the Zen Dog!