how to make the most of being toast: embracing burnout

Hells bells I've just discovered you and I'm sooooo in love with your writing... I'm all about cosy quiet mindless time for doing battle with exhaustion and saying hello to a whole new world of ideas... works everytime...thank y

Any day with The Cure is a good day indeed. I'm on a bit of a Morissey jag myself these days.

Yes. Yes. Yes. This one for sure gets stuck up on that there wall.

Holy crap. This is me...right now. I've had my first sick day, but I still spent it writing and that actually made me feel better. And having a quiet comfy day to myself did allow me to appreciate how far I've come and how hard I work. Friggin' genius.

Oh man. I remember a couple of years ago thinking how fabulous it would be to become a nun, to just do nothing but fast or pray or sweep in solitude. My neighbor (in her early 90s at that time) laughed & laughed & then informed me that no doubt I would be assigned to some sad, poor country needing much help and interaction and just hard physical stuff in general. But damn, it sounded so good in my head! I'm loving me this post.

This post couldn't have come at a better moment. Literally moment. I am guilty of "You're Burned Out" #5 twice this week (literally went to the store like that), #6 and WHOA to #8...every sad story lately feels like my heart is breaking a bit more. It's wearing me down...so much so that I'm on my 5th day of a cold/bronchitis. The bod is telling me it's time to rest.

I love the "Re-framing" list. And eerily enough, it again was #5, #6 and #8 that really spoke to me. Um, hello Universe, thank you for speaking to me through Danielle! Taking all of next week off. Rest is in order and I am SO ready for those new ideas that I know will soon have the fire burning bright again.

xoxo

Oh boy! I think you wrote this one for me! Being burned out can be a good thing. It can mean that you're working hard on something you believe in - and that takes time and energy and lots of brain cells. Thanks for sharing this today. I feel a little less alone and little less frustrated by my own burned-out-ness (if that's a word?)

I hope you found your mashed potatoes and fudge cake, Danielle... Loved reading this one!

So THAT'S why chocolate hasn't been safe around me for the past month ....
Great post! I laughed more than once and enthusiastically nodded my head more than that.

You totally relate to this "Overnight Success" video from Chris Brogan.

A-freakin-men.

I know I'm burnt out today because you reminded me with #8--when the lunch conference discussion went to flesh eating bacteria, I blurted an interruption of, "has anyone played with a really cute baby or puppy lately?" to change the subject. So, I will take the leap to be more beautiful, by retreating from optional activity tonight and tomorrow. As if you could be more beautiful, Danielle! I may need special glasses to look at you next. Thank you for being art.

As always, so fabulous, Danielle. In the midst of my own desert (in which you so kindly lingered and commented) I came across this quote yesterday:

The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune’s spite; revive from ashes and rise.
Miquel de Cervantes Saavedra – Spanish writer, 1547-1616

I simply adore this. All of us feel this. All of us strive and strive and strive. We have dreams that we pursue and realize and then pursue some more. But the burning out is par for that proverbial course. It is. And that's a good thing, right? We burn out and then we pause and regroup and plan bigger fires. That is what life is all about, no? I can relate. But then again, my name means "little fire." Cheerio to big fires blazing and burning out from time to time. Brilliant post.

I hear you and thanks for giving it additional perspective. I'm experiencing my own version of livin' the dream fatigue...but even though I feel the exhaustion in my bones, you are so right. Its the best kind of being wore out.
I'll be back for more!
Take Care,
Jill

well, what a relief--for normalizing both needing and taking a break after going full out. Enjoy your rest.

for me re: high school music it is always Coney Island Baby by Lou Reed, 'when you're all alone & lonely in your midnight hour, and you feel like you soul's been up for sale, and you begin to think about all of the things that you done, and you begin to hate...just about everything...' Gonna listen right now. Thanks as always for the inspiration. Glory of love will see ya through. wink.

Hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot.

HOT.

This is so timely because I have been thinking about how burned out I was, how much free time I have now that I am on a self-imposed hiatus, and how much energy I want to put into jumping back in.

Burnout can be a beautiful thing when it makes you realize how much your time is worth and how much YOU are worth to yourself!

My high school music is Depeche Mode. Or any cheesy 90s song. The cheesier the better. Groove Is in the Heart? Check. I'm Too Sexy? Check. Mr. Big? Check. I also tend to throw in some music from college too. I can't stay in a funk if I hear Whoomp! (There It Is).

OK, so the only thing I couldn't relate to was the mashed potatoes bit-I would go straight for the chocolate cake-may even leave the cake part off-either way your email in my box today was perfect! It made me stop my grousing for a minute and really think about how I got here-doing what I always hoped to do! How cool is that?! I lost sight there for a sec that I had always hoped to be busy doing what I love (I'm an artist) and here I am running through my days with my hair on fire-over scheduling-over committed and loving every second of it. i just need to work on the organizing part of it-if I can figure that out then it will be all that AND the bag of chips!
Thanks!

Crikey...ok....confession time. Is it wrong that this post makes me want to get burnt out? How is it possible that you make the dreaded b-word sounds so bloody cool? Woman, you are good.

Time to immerse myself even further in the work that I adore...thanks for reminding me I can go much deeper and need not be afraid. Besides...down there is chocolate cake.

Oh Danielle, how you speak to me! You are so good and thank you so much for this post. I sat down at the computer - feeling COMPLETELY burned out and then I laugh and laugh and laugh. Time for a some music, tea, my favorite warm, cozy socks and rest. You have no idea how you lifted me today. Thank you.

What a stunner! This made me smile!! That one truth - You can't be burned out unless you were on fire in the first place - has helped me through 25 years of burnout. (I'm fifty, but have spent half of my life burned out after spending the oher half passionately on fire! I guess that's where my balance is.) I also think it helps to see things in terms of the elements: sometimes you're the earth and grounded, sometimes you're on fire, sometimes you flow towards your destiny and overcome all obsracles like water and other times you inspire and guide others like the wind.

Close your eyes and open your mouth like a baby bird -I'm sending mashed potato - my favourite burnout food, too.

I´m keeping this article as new to read it again and again. Truly inspiring for someone who spent the past two days with her head in a bucket, sick out of exhaustion.
My laptop is named VIrginia to remind me of the "You´ve come a long way baby" . In fact is it Madame Virginia Foster. Ever watched the Foster Mansion toon? She is the headmistress of a house full of imaginary friends. grin
I actually laughed out loud at #7. :D

This is brilliant. I am such a burnout. I spark, I glow and then I crash. Beauty in breakdown and you're right--we need to take that time to renew before sparking again. Why spend time feeling bad. Embrace the burnout baby.

Came over after reading Luann Udell's insightful post. Consider me a new stalker, er, I mean follower.
You have hit my nail, and I like the refreshing idea that burnout is a natural part of the growth process. That you come out all the more lovelier on the other side. Really highlights that attitude is everything, doesn't it? I am experiencing transformation right now, and I plan to embrace it in all its terrifyingly wondrous and excitingly scary glory.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

"Take rest. A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."
Ovid

It's hard to deal with this, especially when you feel you are on the brink of something big. Trying to pace myself is like taming a lion...not easy but it can be done. What's worked for me, is paying attention to my natural cycles and switching things up when the time is right.

Damn, Woman

Every bit is true. So glad this came my way as a confirmation from the Universe that I am on the right track and always looked after and whatever I need will always be there when I need it.

You are my heroine

Rasheed!

I love your Joan of Arc references. And yeah, I totally feel the guilt when I hear of the not-so-good news around the world. Our mortal coils! We must escape them. ;) Or live in them more fully?

May you enjoy this time of yours to rekindle the fire for the next round.

Nathalie

LOL!! I love the Britney Spears sympathy line! Awesome :-)

I love this and found it accidentally right when I needed it. I am a 32 year old undergrad in my senior year. I am doing extremely well, but have a MAJOR case of burn-out, trying to balance my home, social, and academic lives. I'm so ready to be D.O.N.E.

I so relate to what you have written. I especially love the "epidermis" line. I feel that way most of the time and cannot wait until I'm free of it. However, this post has made me realize I do need to embrace this time and learn from it, instead of resorting to negativity and sensitivity - two attitudes I don't "normally" have.

Thank you for writing this. I'm sure it's much appreciated by many.

Also, something I notice is a sign of my burn-out is the "giving in." When faced with difficult people or situations, I tend to roll over like a puppy in training, which is not something I normally do easily. I just am too tired to argue or deal and then I mentally slap myself afterward for being such a wuss.

Thank you. I don't even know how I ended up here, link/link/link, all starting with my hero Morganica. I wonder if she will blush? (I hate waking up feeling like I did today, so very low and sad..., no fun). I found comfort, laughs, and comfort here, thanks again.

awesome, awesome post.

thank you.