Practice What You Preach
Probably like you, I’m a little burned out. To be precise, I’m crispy. I’m happy as hell — and grateful as all get-out — but my tank is a little low on fuel.
My emotional state inspired my article for the Atlantic about burnout. It just came out yesterday — I hope you read it and share it widely.
I’d be lying if I told you that the last 16 months have been a piece of cake for me. Nuh-uh! I’m just like everyone else — with my own set of vulnerabilities and challenges. But writing this newsletter since March 2020 and helping people replace fear with facts, navigate complex medical information, and better understand the relevance of mental health to our everyday lives has been beyond rewarding. I am having a blast, plan to keep it up, and hope you'll stick with me.
That said, sometimes there’s too much of a good thing. As I slogged through the process of writing this article over the weekend, I was reminded that I need to slow down, take some deep breaths, and practice what I preach.
Up next for me? A long-awaited family trip in nature to unwind and unplug. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to do nothing! But vacation alone won’t get the job done. For me at least, calm comes not only from resting, relaxing, and spending time with people I love; it’s about re-centering my thoughts, drilling down into what gives me meaning, and making small, sustainable changes to improve everyday life when I come back.
We’ve come a long way together since the hair-on-fire days of March 2020. The pandemic is coming to an end. But here we are — 16 months later — with the embers of COVID and the stress of living through it still burning. I hope you, too, can take a moment or two to zoom out on your life, remind yourself what matters most to you, and consider small ways to find joy, peace, and calm amidst chaos.
Over the next few weeks I’m really checking out but am excited to provide you with some amazing guest blogs from people I truly admire. For me, one of the silver linings of the pandemic has been connecting and learning with them — and you, dear readers — alongside me. For that I am eternally grateful!
I will see you later this month. Until then, be well.