Butterflies and Barbed Wire 19
up this anecdotal evidence. In my own experience, I have found
I am healthier when I manage my stress effectively. My body
simply works better when I invest time in the things that work
for me, things such as yoga, meditation, running, reading, and
woodworking.
insoMnia
Raise your hand if you have trouble sleeping. When I ask groups
of parents and caregivers to do this, 75 percent of them raise
their hands. As we discuss the topic, they explain that their days
are so full they do not have time for all the sleep they need, and
when they do finally settle into bed, their minds are cluttered
with thoughts and worries about yesterday and tomorrow. The
mental chatter makes sleep difficult and uneasy.
absenTeeisM or PerforMance decline
When the stress starts getting to us, we tend to stop showing
up for the things that cause the stress, or when we do show up,
we “phone it in,” just go through the motions. (This may ex-
plain why I skipped so many days during my senior year of high
school!) Center directors can predict when staff members are
going to quit by tracking how often they call in sick on Fridays
and Mondays. Why would you want to show up at a place that is
making you physically ill and affecting your sleep? Why would
you want to pour any more of yourself into work that is causing
you so much stress?
irriTabiliTy and increased anxieTy
When you are not sleeping, when your body is aching, and when
you are feeling ill, there is a good chance you might be a tad
irritable or anxious. You begin to snip and snap at the people
around you, your pet becomes afraid of you, your chest tightens,
and you end up feeling fed up and scared of the world.
boredoM, aPaTHy, and dePression
As burnout builds, you may find yourself apathetic and bored
with life. The day-to-day sameness of your home life and job
leave you feeling bored and unfulfilled. You struggle to keep up