☁️ You should probably take a break
descending the corporate ladder / heart hands / netflix doomscrolling
Hi friend,
Last week, I was completely knocked out by an annoying cold. The week before that, we talked about how to cure creative burnout.
On that note, here’s my best tip that no productivity hacker has ever told you: take a break. Take time off. Stop working for a hot second.
I know, revolutionary, right?
I think it’s wild how often we hear about burnout being a major issue, yet we find ourselves having to test out hacks and fixes when there’s one solution that truly holds the most value.
I’m not blaming any one of us (though if you’re in a leadership position and can effect organizational change, maybe you can really help!) but I do think we need to admit that these cobbled together solutions aren’t always the best cure to burnout.
If that meditation app you tried didn’t fix your burnout, it’s not because you didn’t try hard enough. If a fun new self-care product isn’t curing your depression, it’s not because it was the wrong one. If you’re struggling to implement the tips from that self-help book everyone read, it’s not because you need a different system.
It’s probably because you’re trying to handle deep-rooted issues with bandaids.
If you can (I know this is an over-simplified solution), take time off. Take a break. Take time just for yourself without the relentlessness of everything else.
Sometimes a major reset is more powerful than a million little tweaks.
with warmth + love,
N
P.S. On that note, I’ll be on vacation next week unplugging! I’ll see you again on June 27, friend! ✌🏻
📚 read
TikTok’s effect on young voters: tens of millions of people are getting their news from TikTok, which will have a major impact on elections worldwide
Descending the corporate ladder: Gen Z and Millennial workers are (unsurprisingly) openly deprioritizing career growth in favor of better work-life balance
Your phone knows your mood: mood tracking apps are now using thousands of data points, like typing style, to predict your mental health shifts
Are you doing the Heart Sign wrong? file this under “things that make me feel old” for doing the tswift version of heart hands 🫶🏻
Self-care consumerism feels lonely: as self-care products have ramped up in recent years, studies show it’s encouraging loneliness + self-obsession
I can’t decide what to watch: yet again, I’ve never had a unique experience in my life… because it also takes me awhile of scrolling Netflix to pick a show
🌱 do
In taking next week off, I’m really, really going to try to take the week off. For me, that means getting some tech rest.
Tech rest, according to Internet People, is “intentional technology downtime, and can take a lot of forms. At the heart of each iteration is the intention to lower the amount of technology stimulation.”
Here’s what I’m going to do: turn off all notifications on my phone with the exception of texts and calls (I’m not going completely off-grid). Tuck my phone away from view and prioritize reading, adventuring out places, and spending time with people around me.
What I really like about Internet People’s article is that it makes it really manageable! If this feels like a lot, they suggest just starting with awareness. Try to pay attention to the urges you get to distract yourself on your phone without judgment.
✌️ until next week
Thanks for reading, friend!
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As always, if you have any thoughts, please let me know in the comments or by replying to this! Appreciate you so much, friend 🤍
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And I have to say one of the keys is learning to take breaks as well as avoid getting addicted by taking accountability.
Thanks for this post. I hope it helps lot of people, who may need to read this.