Emotional exhaustion is a topic that I have frequently discussed with my friends and colleagues.
Emotional exhaustion is defined as being emotionally drained or worn out, often as a result of accumulated stress, usually from work and/or personal life. With this being said, emotional exhaustion is inevitable for anyone with a demanding career.
Since starting banking, my social life certainly died down a bit since I work most weekends. Interestingly enough, there have been plenty of free weekends where I literally did not leave my apartment at all. It’s weird, right? Why not go out or call up my friends to get coffee or dinner?
It eventually dawned on me that I was just really emotionally worn out after interacting with people nonstop for 15+ hours a day for 5-7 days a week all the while trying to meet near term deadlines for several deals and projects.
What I learned from this experience is that it is so crucial to be cognizant of your mental state and to not feel guilty about paying attention to your needs. Everyone needs time to recharge. I think it is very important to invest time in identifying and then enjoying the activities that help you unplug.
For me, whether I have to work on the weekend or not, I always exercise first thing on Saturday morning. It allows me to think through and organize my thoughts, and I end up feeling calmer and more relaxed after a hot shower.
Other than working out, there is a 50% chance I will stay at home and catch up on my Korean TV shows while ordering food from Seamless and a 50% chance that I will actually go out. I am a big park person, and I tend to gravitate towards Madison Square Park or Union Square Park. With a Maman latte in my hand (my favorite coffee shop around MSP), I am all set.
I have also been reading some books recently that I am very much enjoying but I’ll just leave that for a future post.
In conclusion, what helps me unplug is having a lot of time for myself. Exercising and nice walks around the city help me achieve mental clarity and start the week fresh.
