From Exhausted to Energized: Overcoming and Avoiding Burnout

Between Hustle Culture, Work-From-Home, and other trends and changes in the work and business culture, we’ve seen a large rise in burnout within the community and so we’ve become very interested in hosting conversations around how folks can avoid or overcome burnout.

Emily Bhatnagar

I constantly have to remind myself that you can’t give from an empty cup. I’d actually be doing a disservice to the individual I am trying to help if I’m trying to do so at half-capacity. If I’m not feeling my best, I won’t be able to perform my best. Read more>>

Von Zoldyck

As a creative it is essential to RECOUP. im kind of in a burn out period right now that im slowly getting back out of, and the way i think i got into this head space is by working hard and not allowing myself to relax or set time aside specifically for giving my mind and body time to chill. the BEST advice i can give you is, treat yourself well. Read more>>

Amanda Luecke

For a long time I didn’t avoid burnout and would push myself until I would almost collapse from working so much. Although I’ve since gotten better at taking breaks, I still struggle with this. Whenever I start to feel like I’ve taken on too much, I try to give myself as much time as I can to complete the order(s) so I can still get a decent amount of sleep at night. Read more>>

Clayton Bury

I believe my best work comes from a deep personal connection with the material/environment at hand. So my clearest path to avoiding burnout comes through my “Why?” – why am I involved in this project, or submitting for that role? If my “Why?” is linked to a personal connection with the material or the people I’m working with, then burnout is very unlikely because I’m fulfilling a deep need – maybe it’s a need to present the material and share that particular story to the world, or maybe I need to be part of a creative community and be seen and valued as a contributing member. Read more>>

Sera Deva

I came from an educational non-profit background. In non-profits in general there is a huge culture of burnout. Generally, non-profit workers are overworked and underpaid. This I ultimately believe comes from the white-supremacy-culture vision of philanthropy, where it’s expected that (originally financially privileged white women, who were the ‘founders’ of the non-profit structure, but now anyone who finds themselves in a non-profit job) do a lot of ‘good’ work for little pay. Read more>>

Dr. ReBecca Heckl

Overcoming or avoiding burnout differs for each person, much like self-care. For some, self-care may be sleeping in and reading their favorite book, while others may enjoy going out and doing activities. For me, to overcome burnout, I had to focus on the self-care that was best for me, long-term.  Read more>>

Edgewood Heavy

The plight of the modern musician is to learn how to do everything on your own. We write the songs, record the songs, produce them, release them, promote them, and schedule our shows all on our own. We also fund all of this using the money we make playing local shows.  Read more>>

Olive Lardner

As someone who has been disciplined and highly motivated since they can remember, when burnout came onto the scene, it felt hostile. As they say, “You are only afraid of what you don’t understand.” I had goals to meet, and without understanding why, my focus was dwindling.  Read more>>

Grace Harvey

Being an entrepreneur will keep you working day in and day out. One of my models is you work the business don’t let the business work you. I started several businesses that I really enjoy doing one of my nonprofits is a Youth Organization and another non-profit is a women’s ministry. I recently added on a youth art program and a community engagement program as well. In the daytime I am a Pre-K teacher.  Read more>>

Courtney Metcalf

Burnout was a huge problem for me early on in my business. I was saying yes to projects that didn’t feed my passion, because I wanted to get as much experience as possible. I overcame burnout when I started saying, “no,” and not feeling guilty about it. I think oftentimes as a Black woman, I’m told that I have to be exceptional and excellent to fit the norm.  Read more>>

Chris Rubinstein

I don’t think I’ve overcome it, I think I’m currently living in it and figuring out how to navigate myself out of it. I’ve been cooking professionally in some capacity since I was 17, attempted to get out of the industry a few times and keep coming back. Read more>>

Tony Martignetti

I have had my fair share of experiences with burnout, which has led me to explore this space extensively. I have come to see burnout as the nemesis of creativity, often creeping up silently, draining our enthusiasm, and dimming the spark of innovation. Read more>>

ALBA ESQUEDA

The key to avoid burnout. Has to be being able to come home and relax by yourself!! Making sure to let my husband know. I am going to be in my room alone. He knows what the means. I take my time in my room to catch up on some journaling and my book read. Since I also host and founded my local county BOOK CLUB. Read more>>

Sinthetic/Steelxvii

I’ve found that you can never truly grow tired of something you legitimately enjoy doing. Having a passion for something means continuing to do it through all walks of your life regardless of the circumstances. Read more>>

Cass Winter

Part of me wants to argue that burnout is unavoidable at this point in our society. Western culture is driven by high productivity and toxic independence, and if you’re someone like me who has multiple disabilities and neurodivergences, burnout is a guarantee. Read more>>

Katie Shelkey

Burnout for me was like a tidal wave that occurred in slow motion, but felt catastrophic when the final wave came crashing into the shore of my life. My experience with burnout happened in stages. The start of my burnout began during my divorce. Read more>>

Adrianna Willis

A month ago, I embarked on a transformative journey by stepping away from my 9 to 5 job, a position I had committed to for an impressive 26 years. This pivotal decision marked an early departure from my initial roadmap, which envisioned a graceful transition into retirement four years hence.  Read more>>

Hailey Dixon

Up until the end of 2022 I was a chronic workaholic not knowing it was actually detrimental to me and my business in the long run. Often photographers glamorize “all nighters” “editing for 14 hours straight” etc, etc. I was at one point one of those people thinking that’s how I could best serve my clients. I thought it showed dedication.  Read more>>

Jenny Wu

I don’t know if I can say I’ve overcome burnout or know how to avoid it. Learning how to live with it is probably a more accurate description of my current situation. You know that cliche, ‘If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life’? I completely disagree. I absolutely love what I do and have somehow managed to work seven days a week.  Read more>>

Zoe Johnson

Everyone has to decide what their status quo is, and they can choose to go above, below or stay at it. In American culture, children are universally taught that college is the road to success in your adulthood. Hardly ever is it challenged. Everyone can’t be famous or a model, so we go as a safety net.  Read more>>

Jenna Borrelli

I’ve been in & out of burn out for about 10 years of my life, and I feel like I am finally on the other side of that challenge, while also nurturing a business helping others overcome and prevent burnout. I look at burnout as both a holistic and targeted issue, meaning you can experience full on burnout or just burnout in specific areas for your life (like your career). Read more>>

Maya Ixta Delgado

I avoided burnout by realizing that being a perfect human is impossible. There was a time in my life when I tried to be good at everything I did, and messing up wasn’t an option. Now I feel more relaxed and motivated because I know it is okay to make a mistake. One mess-up doesn’t reflect who you are, but how you decide to keep going does. Read more>>

Love Atiya

Owning my self care company Ethereal By Love Atiya has helped me avoid burn out because I had to set an example and live the kind of lifestyle I wanted my clients and support system to live by. Burnout usually comes from a lack of self care and a lack of taking the time to pour into yourself. My self care company helped me hold myself accountable and truly tend to my inner and outer needs. I refused to be the CEO who preached a message but didn’t live by it themselves. Read more>>

Dominique Dunn

As a woman of many trades, from being a Health and Physical Education teacher, a basketball coach, and the owner of my own clothing brand, burnout is unfortunately a familiar place for me. Given the workload and all of the various duties of being a teacher, the burnout started to have an effect on my physical, emotional, and mental health. Read more>>

Stephanie Feliciano Rodriguez

Despite being an introvert, thriving and excelling in a social business might seem contradictory, but here I am, proving otherwise. I transitioned from a corporate setting, where I aimed to climb the corporate ladder, to taking a bold step to support my husband & now son!  Read more>>

Jaćhai DeJesus

Having dealt with burnout in college and even in high school, I developed a personal strategy to avoid falling back into burnout. I’ve titled the strategy S4L3R2C1; a long winded titled with a simple meaning – growth. S4L3R2C1 is a sort of acronym that I’ve curated to always maintain my sense of self, following the natural laws and theories of the world around us. Read more>>