Girl on Fire: 5 easy strategies to avoid burnout

The Gary Vaynerchuk’s of the modern motivational movement have a lot to answer for. The message to work harder, and longer than anyone else and sleep when you’re dead, is normalising an imbalance of masculine energy in the workplace. Yeah it feels amazing to crush your goals, smash your to-do lists, and kill it at work - but does it feel natural? Are you growing tired of the hustle and yearning instead for flow? As a woman, existing in the fiery world of entrepreneurship, the corporate ladder or just the daily grind can disconnect us from our natural feminine energy and lead to burnout.

If you’re feeling spread too thin, that there aren’t enough hours in the day, or like you’re drowning - here are five strategies to activate your natural feminine energy of flow and avoid burnout. 

I was brought up to believe that being girly was weak, and being one of the boys was a badge of honour. Femininity was inferior in my world. It wasn’t until my mid twenties that I saw the error in this logic that is at the root of violence against women. It’s hard to shake beliefs that have been ingrained for decades, and generations, even when you know they are wrong. So when it came to reconnecting with my femininity I had to ask for help. I thought the following advice was stupid when it was given to me. It seemed too ‘fluffy’ to be taken seriously. It turns out that I was the stupid one because they work, these five strategies to activate your feminine energy are genius in their simplicity. 

1. Wear flowy skirts and dresses. I still cringe at this one but it’s true, there is something empowering about feeling the flow of fabric as you move around. It’s a celebration of your feminine body, and the rhythmic flow of feminine energy. Feminine energy, like creative energy, works in tides, flowing back and forth from extremes to create perfect natural rhythm. Feel it. 

2. Look into a flower. Again, cringe. The logic around this is that flowers contain shapes that hold the same sacred geometry of the vagina and that somehow brings out your feminine power. I don’t know about that, but I feel that creating a safe womb-like space, full of beauty, is healing.  A touch of floral beauty on my desk helps me to feel calm and feminine which allows for my creativity flow. Flower power all the way.  

3. Cocoon yourself in a blanket. I thought this one sounded depressing until I tried it. While masculine energy charges forward and penetrates, feminine energy draws inwards and is magnetic. Which sounds a whole lot more relaxing than forcing your way through life to me. Wrapping yourself up in a blanket is an act of self compassion, like a self hug, that helps you to hold space for your emotions instead of numbing them. 

The coolest thing about feminine energy is that when you’re in it, nothing can hurt you because pain is the source of healing. 

#snuglife forever. 

4. Embrace the downward spiral. I though my mood swings were a weakness, little did I know that ‘dark days’ can offer the greatest lessons and breakthroughs. Feminine energy is cyclical, and like our menstruation, it’s governed by the moon. Masculine energy is seasonal and governed by the sun. That’s why masculine energy feels fiery. Guys have down times a few times a year, but us gals are taken on a downward spiral twice month. On the new moon, when the night sky is at it’s darkest, and on the full moon when we turn into luna-tics. If you’re synced up with the moon, that’s ovulating (new moon) and menstruating (full moon). It’s not as bleak as it sounds, it’s actually quite divine to honour your femininity with rest twice a month, to turn inward and face your shadow self. This is known as ‘the hero’s journey’, celebrated in mythology with a quest into the underworld to resurface as a much stronger hero. If you surrender to the gloom, great healing takes place and new strength is born. 

5. Sync up with the moon. We all have both masculine and feminine energy, the key is balance. I synced my cycle with the moon by increasing natural light and reducing ‘fake light’ after dark. As soon as I wake up I look at the sun to set my circadian rhythm or ‘light my fire’. On dusk I try to turn off my devices, and choose a candle, salt lamp or moonlight instead of artificial light. My favourite benefit of syncing with the moon is that twice a month, on the half moon, I feel super balanced and focused. I can achieve everything I set my mind to without the fiery energy that used to burn me out. This divine energy isn’t just ‘on’ for one day, it increases for a week, peaks for a few days, then slowly decreases over the next week. Rather than trying to control my energy, by aligning with my natural rhythm I feel an unshakable sense of power and ease. 

This power is your birthright, try it out.

Your Friend,

Buzzy