Contemplating Life’s Choices

One thing I’ve learned about burnout is sometimes it makes the easiest things feel really hard.

Responding to a message from a friend suddenly feels like being asked to draft a 20 page research paper.

Making dinner, even when you normally love to cook, feels like being asked to run a marathon.

Facing the world with a smile and a positive attitude, feels like trying to summit Everest without a guide, physical training, or the equipment to do so.

Maybe it’s burnout. Maybe it’s depression and anxiety. Maybe it’s the weight of what feels like a total world collapse sometimes.

I have found that sometimes the best I can do is give myself the grace and space to be ok not responding immediately to everyone about everything. To fall behind and know that it doesn’t mean the world is ending.

Sometimes it’s simply disappearing off social media and doing the least possible to protect what tiny fraction of your energy remains so you have enough force of will to fight for another day.

I think it’s hard to face burnout when some of the outcomes of being burned out can add to impostor syndrome, feeling like a failure, or doubting your abilities.

Worse, sometimes you could be dealing with people gaslighting, downplaying, or dismissing your concerns.

That can be a recipe for a really bad mental health situation.

For me, I’ve learned that sometimes you have to say no to protect your space and your peace. Sometimes you have to prioritize your own care. Sometimes you have to learn to be ok not being “busy” or “productive” not because you don’t care about things but because it’s ok to take a break. You do not need to earn rest. Ever.

As you can see from posting two days in a row, I’m working on showing back up. I want anyone who is dealing with burnout to know that you are not alone and that you can pull through this.

I don’t think every day will be a recap or stream of conscious kind of post but I do want to say that I’m hoping to launch something that means a lot to me over the coming months. If you’re someone suffering from burnout or someone who has realized that work isn’t the thing you expected it to be and you’re looking for other options you’ve found the right place. Stick around and I hope you can get the help you need to navigate burnout. And, if you’re not dealing with burnout I hope you’ll share my posts, follow me on LinkedIn, or connect on Instangram.