Finding Rest for Your Soul: Practical Steps to Reverse Burnout in the New Year
Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: The Power of Choosing One Word for the Year
Are you one of those people who make resolutions and doesn’t keep them? 43% of people expect to give up on their resolutions by February – so if you don’t keep them, you are not alone. I don’t set New Year’s resolutions but I do reflect on the past year and look forward to the new year by choosing a word of the year. A couple of months before the New Year, I begin praying and asking God what He wants the focus to be for the coming year. It is usually just one word. As I am praying, I am journaling as well and seeking to hear what God wants to focus on in my life. This year’s word is REST. Not long after I had felt the word “rest” was the word for 2025, I read this in my daily devotional:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV)
Rest for your soul—something I think most people really feel a need for right now. World events, political disagreements, financial pressures, demands at work or home all drain us and push us to the brink of burnout.
Understanding Soul Care in a Demanding World: Nurturing Your Mind, Body, and Spirit
What is the Soul?
Dallas Willard said, “[the soul] includes an individual’s thoughts and feelings, along with heart or will, with its intents and choices. It also includes an individual’s bodily life and social relations.”
The soul is the mind, will and emotions as well as the desires, passions and wounds from the past.
In short, our soul encompasses all that we are. To care for our soul is to care for our entire being. That means you are caring for the part that is seen but also the parts that are unseen.
The Five Key Dimensions of Soul Health: A Guide to Emotional, Physical, Relational, Spiritual, and Vocational Balance
Stephen A. Smith has identified these areas of the soul: Emotional, Physical, Relational, Spiritual and Vocational. Take a few moments and evaluate where you are in each of these areas:
Emotional – Are you tuned into how you feel? Are you numb, depressed or anxious? OR Are you filled with joy and peace?
Physical – Are you exhausted and lethargic? OR Do you feel healthy, resilient and energetic?
Relational – Are you isolated, disconnected or misunderstood? OR Are you feeling loved, known and valued?
Spiritual – Is your spiritual life flourishing, joyful and trusting? OR Are you weary, dry and disillusioned?
Vocational – Are you overwhelmed, burned out, busy and unsatisfied? OR Are you thriving, fulfilled and energized?
If you’re unsatisfied with where you are in an area, how could you move toward what you want to be? What would you need to do?
Recognizing Soul Depletion: How to Identify Signs of Burnout and Exhaustion
If you mostly describe these areas of your soul as weary, burned out or empty, then maybe it is time for you to put some focus on soul care. To assess where you are, you might ask what are the depletion factors that have happened in this past year.
What has been demanding on the reserves in your life? It could even be positive things – a new baby, a new job with new responsibilities or it could be a conflict between your and your spouse or an ongoing struggle with a chronic health condition that has lingered.
Practical Steps to Restore Your Soul and Combat Burnout in the New Year
What do you do?
Try journaling to help identify the factors that led to burnout this past year.
Did you have any life-giving patterns that you stopped doing this past year like journaling, spending time with God, being out in nature, regularly meditating or consistently exercising?
Start talking to someone about what led you to burnout and find some accountability to help restart your life-giving patterns.
If you're ready to make lasting changes and need someone who truly sees and understands you, we’re here to support you. Our team can help you identify actionable steps to rebuild your physical and spiritual health, so you can break free from burnout and reclaim your peace. Don't wait—reach out today and start your journey to emotional, physical, and spiritual renewal.
Paraclete Counseling Center is conveniently located in Suwanee, GA, and offers both online and in-person therapy to clients in Suwanee, Johns Creek, Duluth, Alpharetta, Cumming, Buford, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Roswell, Peachtree Corners, Dacula, and the surrounding areas. We are proud to offer Christian counseling to individuals, couples, and families looking for faith-based support in their therapeutic journey. Whether you're dealing with mental health concerns, relationship challenges, or desiring personal growth, we are here to walk with you through whatever you're going through. Reach out today to schedule a session with us!
