08.05.2025 Spring Burnout
This Weekly Wellness post should be sponsored by @Unwell
What I’m Having
I’ve been having a rough time, TBH. Ever since both my Creteian Queens left and returned to the States, my loneliness has increased too much for my liking.
Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
R I recommend taking yourself to a movie. Last Friday, I saw The Accountant II, after watching the first one with my Dad while we were exploring Barcelona. The Rotten Tomatoes rating is pretty accurate for this one…
E Give me the sweets! I cannot get enough of the Greek desserts: halva, chocolate mousse, cakes, and chocolate chocolate.
P I suppose I've been brushing up on my writing. My goal is to upload a post a day… I’ve got a lot of time on my hands.
O This is an odd one, but I’m obsessed with taking a shower before bed. I don’t usually do this, primarily because it takes around 30 minutes for the water to heat up, but I love the feeling of water washing away the dusk from each day; I am left feeling calmer and renewed.
R I’m still reading 48 Laws of Power, but I just downloaded Audible yesterday in hopes of listening to some highly rated summer reads.
T I’m treating myself to a manicure…set next week, but I scheduled the appointment. These poor hands need some beautification.
Let’s Talk about Burnout
Whether we like it or not, I think most of us, especially those still vibing on a “school-year” timeline, are deep in that chaotic, unmotivated, slightly crispy phase of the year: spring burnout.
Our (at least my motivation goes as follows: we get a rush of motivation in the fall; an slight drop of discipline, but excitedness to see family and relax for the holidays; a recharge with new intentions and surge of discipline for the new year; slow drop in work quality due to eagerness for spring break; post break//nicer weather leads to unpredictable work ethic (either a grind to get more sun shine in or complete fall-off to get sun — sun is goal); thick of spring – discipline for work overpowered by personal goals (most relating to vanity and summer lets be real); mini crisis after priorities (both professionally and personal) pile up before summer months begin; crisis averted after reality check and realigning.I feel like no one talks about spring burnout — that time in the year when we all just want it to be summer, because let's face it, everyone is happier when the sun’s out. This is the time of year when those goals set in January are essentially nonexistent or altered so much that you can’t even remember the original drive behind them. Most of us are living in a haze, slowly turning into cold NPCs as we work away the mundane hours of the week — we're tired of doing the same thing every weekend, eating the same thing from the night before, and feeling the same way no matter what we’re doing.
I know I am in full burnout mode…. Probably why I’m writing this…. But I know I’m not alone in this state. My coworkers cannot stop marveling at the fact that there is only a month left of school (I work in a school, this is not a metaphor), and my housemate’s work rants are turning into copy/paste versions of themselves… “nothing new.”
The enemy of burnout are the stories we tell ourselves,
“I have a headache, OMG I’m going to die.”
No, you have just had a tension headache, chill out.
“I feel puffy. Oh no, what am I allergic to? I might die.”
Maybe the puffiness is from spending hours in the sun.
“I’m tired, but I slept for 8 hours, am I dying?”
Your MF burnt out, you’re going to be tired.
I could go on, but most of these narratives I’m telling myself stem from the SMALLEST thing and bloom miraculously into the same conclusion — death — a.k.a the GRANDEST outcome of all.
Let’s Talk About the Facts
According to CNBC, burnout is officially peaking—especially for women and anyone under 30. Gen Z and younger millennials entered the workforce in the middle of a pandemic, with inflation on the rise and news cycles that read like dystopian fiction.
Toss in a cultural obsession with high achievement and the looming threat of layoffs, and it’s no surprise so many of us are feeling emotionally fried. We’ve lost the plot of what work should be—something that supports our life, not consumes it.
The 5 Stages of Burnout (No, It’s Not Just You)
Borrowed from Integris Health, here’s what the descent into burnout really looks like:
Honeymoon PhaseYou're hopeful, energized, a little naive. But hey, at least you’re smiling.
Onset of StressYou start losing focus. Your afternoons drag. Your hobbies are… less hobby-ish.
Chronic StressEverything feels heavier. Deadlines slip. You're more irritable and emotionally checked out.
BurnoutHello emotional exhaustion. Every task feels like climbing a mountain in crocs.
Habitual BurnoutIf you stay in this space too long, it becomes your baseline. Anxiety, depression, and complete disconnection follow.
So, How Do We Fix This?
The real answer? I don’t fully know yet. But I’m starting small. Enter the 8/8/8 Rule I found on The EveryGirl:
Break your day into thirds:
8 hours for sleep
8 hours for work
8 hours for you
It sounds overly simple, but it’s actually a mindset reset. Work is not supposed to be the majority of your life. And “you time” can be anything—slow mornings, mid-day walks, journaling, aimless phone scrolling without guilt.
The blocks don’t have to be perfect or equal, but they should all hold value. Stop letting work bleed into the hours meant to recharge you.
I want to turn this hopeless and unmotivated feeling into drive and determination… or something, I don’t know nor care, just get me out of this rut!
So, how exactly am I doing this? While I am not exactly sure, I know that it’s crucial to listen to my mind and body.
:)