Don’t burn out (1)

Did you know that people in the helping professions experience a higher rate of drug abuse, alcoholism, and suicide than other professions? A major contributing factor is they only hear and see the troubles and negative side of people’s lives. So in order to stay effective, you must learn to do these: (1) Cultivate new disciplines. Shut the door, let your phone calls go to voicemail, and relax. Above all don’t be surprised when troubles come. Jesus said they would (see John 16:33). Author M. Scott Peck says when you anticipate that life will be hard, it usually turns out to be less so. (2) Take time off regularly. And on your days off, do something different. Remember, your Creator never intended you to put in more hours than He did! Spurgeon said, “Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body…If we do not rest, we shall break down.” Jesus said, “Come apart…and rest a while” (Mark 6:31) because people who don’t “come apart” end up coming apart! (3) Exercise and get enough sleep. Walk, swim, and breathe deeply. It’s good for you! Dr. Arch Hart says, “Adrenal arousal reduces our need for sleep – but this is a trap; we ultimately pay the penalty. Most adults need eight to nine hours a night.” (4) Learn to relax. The relaxation response is the reverse of the fight-or-flight response. The Bible says, “A faithful ambassador is health” (Proverbs 13:17), and as little as twenty minutes a day without the tyranny of “things present [and] things to come” (Romans 8:38) can counteract the damaging effect of stress.