The culture we live in places so much value on productivity, hustling, and visible progress.
This is why burnout can sometimes feel like laziness.
The same is true of recovering from burnout.
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Burnout can start so small.
You put your needs second once, then twice, and so on.
Maybe something happens that causes a major shift in your life.
Before you know it, youre living on what feels like an exhausting and mind-numbing autopilot.
The culture we live in places so much value on productivity, hustling, and visible progress.
This is why burnout can sometimes feel like laziness.
Weve all been there.
Its the nature of life, and we might find ourselves there again.
Much like heartbreak, the first burnout hurts the worst.
Thats why experiencing it, while difficult, can still be a gift.
The skills and tools you pick up to equip yourself to push through dont go away once you heal.
Feeling like youre unable to do those things can make you feel even worse, too.
A good place to start is to accept that youre tired.
If youve ever tried to power through a headache, you know how the pain can intensify.
Its because youre experiencing two types of pain at once the actual pain and the resistance to your pain.
Give yourself the same grace and just let yourself be burnt out.
Its not for forever, and accepting your current state isnt the same thing as giving up.
This is where taking inventory of your passive consumptions can be helpful.
When I say consumption, I dont mean what youre eating.
I mean the passive things you do without even thinking about them.
As you know from feeling a lack of energy, your energy is very precious.
You dont need to approach this with a judgmental mindset, but rather one of curiosity.
What do you feel after watching your favorite show or drinking your favorite beverage?
Are these even your favorites anymore or just what youve adopted into your autopilot lifestyle?
You cant properly assess without being a little bit curious.
It just means youve grown.
Youve just created space for something new that you could end up loving.
I always hate hearing it when I feel low, but time really does help.
Life is not always easy, and theres nothing wrong with struggling.
It helps us unearth more of who we are and makes us stronger for where we are going.
Big change is possible, its just not always immediate, and the journey there can be so rewarding.
You are not a lazy person, youve just been trying to shoulder too much.
Dont think about burning out as an end, but rather, a new place to begin.
