Understanding Burnout and Finding Small Ways Forward

Sometimes, when you open your laptop, it feels like all your energy has evaporated on the spot. There’s work to do: emails to answer, a project to move forward, or just the everyday stuff, but suddenly, even the simplest things seem impossible. Slack or your inbox can feel like a massive rock you need to move uphill, Sisyphus-style. You want to do anything, but you can’t figure out where to begin. The days add up, and you wonder: Am I lazy? Is something wrong with me? Is it just time before someone realizes I’m not enough?

All of that is familiar to me, and probably to more people than you think. But it isn’t laziness, and it isn’t personal failure. It’s burnout, often tangled up with anxiety.

Burnout isn’t just tiredness. It’s that slow draining of your emotional, mental, and physical energy, until even small tasks feel insurmountable. You start to feel detached from your work, questioning whether it matters, and wondering if you matter. And then anxiety creeps in, building up inside you brick by brick with every indecision, every task left undone. You think you can’t do much, and what’s left is waiting for someone to admit what you fear: that you’re not enough and maybe you should quit.

“Anxiety can build up inside you brick by brick with every indecision you make.”

But here’s a truth worth repeating:

We are enough, and we should not quit.

Instead, we should better understand and acknowledge what’s happening to us. The voice that says you’re not enough is not reality. It’s just anxiety, and it’s something you can work with, not something that defines you.

Naming what’s happening is powerful. Say it: “I’m burned out. I’m anxious.” Admitting it isn’t giving in, it’s taking the first step toward change.

“Our greatest weariness comes from work not done.”

Often, it’s the unfinished things that hang over our heads that sap our energy the most. That’s why even the thought of starting can feel so heavy.

So what helps?

First, protect your time and energy. In a world of constant notifications and distractions, allow yourself to mute things, close tabs, and carve out even a little focus time

“If you don’t separate yourself from distractions, your distractions will separate you from your goals.”

Sometimes the best way to get moving again is to step away. Take a walk, step outside, breathe, or rest. Recovery isn’t optional; it’s essential.

The Art of Slowing Down in a World That Won’t

In a world where every moment buzzes with digital demands and constant updates, it’s easy to lose your sense of self in the noise. But sometimes, the path back to clarity is as simple as stepping outside, listening to the wind, or writing in a quiet notebook.

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When it’s time to return, start as small as possible. Don’t worry about finishing everything. Just reply to one email. Write one sentence. Drink a glass of water. Every small win builds momentum. If your anxiety has built up brick by brick, your way out is also one brick at a time.

One of the most underrated tools for breaking the cycle of overwhelm is journaling. When your thoughts feel tangled and heavy, try pouring them onto the page. No filter, no judgment, write what’s on your mind. Sometimes it’s just “Today, I feel…” and let the rest come. Journaling helps you see your thoughts with a bit more distance, clarifies patterns, and processes emotions you might not even realize are there. You’ll start to notice what drains you, what lifts you, and where you might want to go next. It’s not about writing something perfect—it’s about being honest with yourself and giving your mind space to breathe.

As you write, you might rediscover the spark of what you love, or at least find more clarity about what you need right now. Maybe you’ll remember a project that used to energize you, or a hobby outside of work that brings you back to yourself. Even a few minutes doing something you love, a walk, a song, or a favorite book, can remind you that you’re more than your to-do list.

Above all, know this:

You are enough.

Burnout and anxiety aren’t verdicts, signals that it’s time to take care of yourself, to find rest, to reset. You don’t have to do everything today, or do it perfectly. Just take a breath, show yourself some kindness, and move one step at a time. This tough season will pass. And along the way, you might find new clarity about what truly matters to you.

If you need a place to start, try this: pick up a pen, open a blank page, and begin with,

“Today, I feel…”

Sometimes, that’s all it takes to find your way back.

If you want to start journaling, here is an article I wrote to help you get started.

Your brain’s hard drive is full: Start a journal.

Your mind feels full because it is. Journaling is the reset button you didn’t know you needed. Learn simple, proven methods to declutter your thoughts and regain focus.

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See you soon!