Burnout Is Real
If you've not been feeling yourself recently, it could be because you're burnt out. I know I am. So I've decided to take a week off and committed to not doing any work, to help me get back on my feet.
Happy Sunday!
I'm going to share something with you all this week, and I'm sure it's something you've all felt at some points in your lives. I'm sharing because it's now, more than ever that we need to look after ourselves and ensure that our mental health is in top shape. So this week, I'll talk about burnout.
Over the past few months, I've been working incredibly hard. Harder than I've ever worked in my life. I've been working 18 hour days, six days in a row, with several hours on Sunday too — for four months straight. As you can imagine, this doesn't leave any time for myself, or to do the things I do to look after myself.
Without a commute, it has become easier for those of us working from home to work with intensity. It's also become more accepted always to be online, available and pick up work. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like this, and the feeling may be shared with some of you too.
But I now understand what it feels like to be burnt out. I'm starting to accept that I'm not as invincible as I maybe once thought. Getting out of bed has become a struggle for me, which is very unusual. I procrastinate my morning runs and find it so difficult to leave the house and start my run. Even during my runs, I notice that I'm more tired than usual. In short, I've not been feeling myself — this is a significant indicator of burnout.
Not feeling yourself over a period of time is a significant indicator of burnout
To help me get back on my feet, I've decided to take a week off. And over this week, I've committed to not doing any work while I'm off. I won't even be checking my emails. I need some "me time" to recover my energy again and ensure I get back to my feet.
So if you find that you're not feeling yourself, take a break. Step back, and you'll be way more productive long term. That's what I intend to do by giving myself a few days off.
Have an awesome week ahead,
Samuel
Featured Article
Yes, It’s All Your Fault: Active vs. Passive Mindsets
"The hard truth is that most things in your life – good and bad – are your fault. The sooner you realize that, the better things will be."
Do we know what we want in a romantic partner? No more than a random stranger would
Apparently, we have no clue of what we're looking for in an ideal partner. The qualities we list like; intelligence, funny and attractive, are all generic and are positive qualities that everyone likes. The study makes for an interesting read.
Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?
"They don’t need to figure out who I am. All they see is what I am. A black male. And what I am pronounces who I am. A criminal. The embodiment of danger. The producer of fear."
Tweet of the Week
The real test of the UK is whether by Election 2024, we all forget the Tories caused the most excess deaths in Europe, gave the top grades to private school kids, starved poor kids while their parents were out of work, blew £millions on dodgy contracts and left the North to rot.
— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) October 25, 2020
This Week's Wisdom
"Most of what happens in life is entirely out of your control, and while blind self-belief might disguise that fact for a while, it will eventually prove an anaemic opponent to brute reality."
— In the book Happy, by Darren Brown
I use readwise to resurface content I've previously highlighted. My followers can get an extra month for free by following this link.
Final Word
I’d love for you to share this email with a friend or two. I try to make this the best email you receive each week, and I hope you enjoy it. You can see all the weekly newsletters I have been writing here.
I’m also excited to grow and evolve this newsletter, making sure it remains relevant and helpful for all readers. Ideas, feedback, and suggestions are encouraged. Simply reply to this email, or drop me a DM on twitter @SamuelObe_
Subscribe below to receive new post updates the minute they are published. You will also receive my weekly newsletter, where I share interesting articles, books, quotes and lessons that I have learnt during the past week.