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We Need To End Burn-Out Shaming Now
In my university years plus the year after, I was not good at fulfilling promises I would make. I’d talk a firm talk without doing the necessary walk. Because of this, I ended up being very good at burning contacts. Not necessarily burning them forever — as I’m still connected with people via email/LinkedIn/phone and can get back in touch if I wanted to, but giving them a bad first impression. I want to write an article for your startup, only to never do it. I want to launch a podcast app, only to never do it. I’ve done this dreaded promise-and-fail cycle too many times to count in most of my adult life.
Fast forward to today and as of the last half-year and longer, I’ll give myself credit where it’s due: I’ve become much better about this. I might’ve had the failed promise occasionally, yet I honestly can’t remember it. I’ve taken a lot of pride not only in my work but also in my capability to deliver on it timely to my promise.
But I can’t lie when I say that I’m feeling burned out.
We’re in mid-April now, and I have the urge to be in my bed and never leave. Much of this has to do with a bizarre sleeping schedule for the past few weeks, though I think that schedule would be tamer if I had taken the time to take care of myself.