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.

Rylie Vanderhoff

Burnout is something we all go through at some point. I see life as a constant balance between passion and discipline. It happens when we’re always giving our energy away but forget to recharge ourselves. For me, staying connected to my hobbies and creative outlets makes all the difference. Creating art is what fuels me—it keeps me inspired and gives me something to look forward to every day. Read More>>

Jamison Weeks

Burnout is definitely something I try to be mindful of. One way I manage stress is by playing pickleball with friends—it’s a great way to stay active, take a break from work, and just have fun. I also make sure not to overbook myself with clients. While I want to stay productive, I know that taking on too much can lead to exhaustion and lower the quality of my work. Lastly, I try to keep a mindset of gratitude. When I’m busy, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I remind myself that having a full schedule means my business is thriving, which is something to appreciate. Finding that balance helps me stay motivated and enjoy what I do. Read More>>

Tina Kapp-kailea

For me to overcome burnout, I had to learn about all the nuances that burnout can have and understand what it meant. I really wasn’t aware of all the symptoms or the effect that prolonged stress has on the body. I used to believe that being busy and stressed was just normal and that burnout was just a catchphrase. Read More>>

 Laura Sherwood

Hustle culture told me burnout was normal. I chose to prove it wrong.

In my last corporate job, I worked 10-hour days, barely slept due to anxiety, and felt stuck in an endless cycle of working more and seeing fewer results. The more effort I gave, the more was expected—without rest or reward. Read More>>

Nicole Shin

As the eldest daughter of four in an immigrant family, I was always a high achiever—constantly busy and never knowing how to take a break. Being the first in my family to graduate from college, enter the workforce, and get married, I felt a deep responsibility to succeed. In many immigrant families, the eldest child often carries a lot of pressure, acting as the “trial” child who must meet high expectations. My family also moved frequently due to financial reasons, which meant I was constantly changing schools—about every 1-2 years. As a result, I never had the typical childhood of staying in the same neighborhood with the same friends. I was always the “new girl,” balancing my studies, helping care for my younger siblings, and adjusting to new environments. Read More>>

Jerry Ryan

I’m always skating that line, it seems. When it comes to organizing events, the thing that helped me most in avoiding burnout was taking a “less is more” approach to booking shows. I decided to focus on two Elephant Talk Indie festivals per year and stop booking smaller shows in between. At one point, I was doing too much and trying to help too many people.

By spacing out my festivals (April and October), I can focus on one event at a time and settle into my structured routine. There are still times when I feel burnout in my personal life, but music is always there to bring balance. Read More>>

Autumn Davis

Not enough is said about compassion fatigue. I don’t cuddle kittens and puppies all day – animals often come to me after being abused or neglected, and continuously taking on animals in need can be overwhelming and stressful. They need housing, food, and vet care for starters. For every animal we assist there are more pleas for help. It gets to me physically, emotionally, psychologically – without enough volunteers I can’t always take the break that I need. You witness a lot of awful things when rescuing. Animal welfare work is exhausting. That’s reality. Read More>>