"Help! I've Burnt Out...Again..."

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a constant loop of feeling like you got this life thing figured out and out of nowhere you feel completely defeated? 

Well of course you have, you’re human.

It’s draining, isn’t it? 

That’s called burnout, my friend. But you probably already knew that. So, let's talk about it. 

Why does it happen? What triggers it? Is there a way to avoid burnout or at least lessen the impact when it hits?

Why am I constantly burning out?

I feel like I’m always looking for the answer to my existence, my purpose. As cliche as that is, it’s the reality most of us live. This constant train of thought is what leads me to constantly change jobs, constantly want to pick up new hobbies, and eventually it's what lead me to start my own business (which I think is the biggest sign of someone losing all sanity lol). 

Nonetheless, I think Of the Coast has been my favorite passion project, yet. It has put me in this headspace of creating something out of nothing.

 Unfortunately, burnout came quicker than I imagined. Howeverrrrrrrr, I don’t want to give up on this like I do with everything in my life. Besides the fact that I invested so much time and money into this, the feeling of pure excitement while creating my little business is what is keeping me from walking away. It really does boil down to how I feel that has kept me from losing my shit, to say the least. 

What is causing burnout?

I blame it entirely on our society and the need to constantly work and be productive. Because God forbid we decide to take a break. You'll be called lazy and will be accused of wasting away your own life. Talk about people not minding their business now a days. 

Do you think people in the 1600s experienced burnout? I wonder how burnout looked like to them. 

Or burnout might have come into existence the more we advanced as a capitalist society. It's the price we have to pay. 

But let's zoom in a little more. Yes, burnout stems from the outside pressure of our society; but we can manage how our inner world looks like, can't we? So why do we keep giving full control of our lives to others? 

I think it's time we get it together. As individuals and as a collective. 

Can I avoid burning out completely?

I think the simple answer to that is, ‘no’. But let’s get into the nitty gritty as to why. 

I think burning out is as natural as being happy, angry, sad, anxious, etc. You can’t avoid those feelings; we just learn how to manage and live with them. 

I think the speed in which we burnout and recover lies deep within our micro habits. How good are you taking care of your outer and inner world? Are you drinking enough water? Eating well? Taking time out of your day to truly check in with yourself? Are you constantly pushing yourself to your breaking point? Or do you know when to stop and rest? 

It’s easier said than done, I knowwwwwww but it has to be done. We have to find that balance in order to lessen the fall when we do burnout. 

Dreaming Big

I always thought dreaming big was the key to life, tbh. And maybe it is, but in moderation. Everything in life should be taken in moderation. 

Now that I come to think of it, I think that’s the root of my burnout issue. I get TOO invested in my big shiny goals that I forget that it's the small goals that really make that big goal possible. I come across one inconvenience and just throw everything to waste. And that is very toxic lol.

But that’s life, right? Constantly learning as we grow. And if you don't learn, you'll find yourself in constant cycles of repeating the same problems over and over again. Until awareness hits.

If you're reading this, what leads you to burnout?

-Diana A.