What does Pleasure have to do with Burnout?

What does pleasure have to do with burnout? The answer is simple: EVERYTHING!

Many of us high-achieving perfectionist types experience resistance to pleasure. We think that we have to check everything off on to do list before we deserve pleasure.

How can I possibly think about feeling good when I have so many things to do!?!

I am here to remind you that you are worthy and deserving of pleasure no matter what. But trust me, I know how hard it can be to actually remember that and truly believe it!

When you consciously choose to connect to yourself in a pleasurable way, you encode the message that you deserve to feel good. When you continue to show-up and choose pleasure, you learn to prioritize yourself over all the other things that lead us to burnout, like overachieving and over-giving. You learn to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others.

But pleasure doesn’t just help prevent burnout by teaching us to prioritize ourselves, it also heals it. When you experience pleasure, a cascade of natural chemicals and hormones floods your system that not only feels amazing but literally helps heal chronic stress and fatigue.

The hormones released when we enjoy a comforting hug or massage (oxytocin) or enjoy sexual pleasure (oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin) are the exact chemical antidote to chronic stress (cortisol). Oxytocin and Dopamine down-regulate cortisol in our bodies. I believe pleasure in all its forms is the cure for our modern culture of burnout.

This is exactly why I’ll be launching an online course called Pleasure as Medicine in the Spring. If you’re anything like me and want to learn how to make space to experience more pleasure in your life and harness its stress-beating benefits, let me know and I’ll make sure you’re on the list.

XO

Alyssa