In partnership with
Burnout Isn’t Always About Doing Too Much
Sometimes it’s about feeling like you’re not allowed to stop.
→ You’re not tired because you’re lazy
→ You’re tired because your mind thinks stopping = danger
→ And naps don’t fix that
If you relate to this, read slowly.
Quick Detour for my sponsors today: Roku
PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT:
Find customers on Roku this holiday season
Now through the end of the year is prime streaming time on Roku, with viewers spending 3.5 hours each day streaming content and shopping online. Roku Ads Manager simplifies campaign setup, lets you segment audiences, and provides real-time reporting. And, you can test creative variants and run shoppable ads to drive purchases directly on-screen.
Bonus: we’re gifting you $5K in ad credits when you spend your first $5K on Roku Ads Manager. Just sign up and use code GET5K. Terms apply.
🚨 OKAY BACK TO TOPIC 🚨
What This Version of Burnout Actually Is
This isn’t “I hate my work” burnout.
This is momentum burnout.
↳ Constant motion
↳ No off switch
↳ Rest feels wrong, not relaxing
↳ Silence feels louder than noise
There’s a voice that says:
“If you stop, everything falls apart.”
Even when you know it won’t.
That’s not a discipline problem.
That’s a nervous system stuck in protect mode.
________
Why Typical Advice Doesn’t Work
People say:
→ Take a break
→ Meditate
→ Nap
→ Relax
But when your brain is wired like this:
☒ Stillness feels unsafe
☒ Quiet amplifies thoughts
☒ Slowing down triggers guilt
☒ “Rest” feels like falling behind
So of course it doesn’t help.
Your mind isn’t refusing rest.
It’s guarding unfinished business.
________
The “Miles to Go” Problem
That poem line hits because it’s real:
Miles to go before I sleep.
Your brain is tracking:
▪ promises
▪ potential
▪ unfinished versions of you
▪ things you haven’t built yet
So sleep (literal or metaphorical) feels premature.
You’re not afraid of rest.
You’re afraid of abandoning momentum.
________
What Actually Helps (Without Forcing Calm)
Here’s the reframe:
❥ Stop trying to rest
❥ Start trying to close loops
Try this instead:
➤ Do one small, finishable thing
➤ Write it down
➤ Mark it done
➤ Let your brain see completion
Completion tells your nervous system:
“We’re safe. Progress exists.”
Rest comes after that signal — not before.
________
Practical Reset (5 Minutes)
✓ Sit down
✓ Write everything your brain is holding
✓ Circle ONE thing you can finish today
✓ Finish it
✓ Stop
Not forever. Just for now. That’s enough.
________
Quick Detour for my sponsors today:
RIPPLING. CHECK THEM OUT:
______
Don’t get SaaD. Get Rippling.
Software sprawl is draining your team’s time, money, and sanity. Our State of Software Sprawl report exposes the true cost of “Software as a Disservice” and why unified systems are the future.
BEEHIIV. CHECK THEM OUT:
Your readers want great content. You want growth and revenue. beehiiv gives you both. With stunning posts, a website that actually converts, and every monetization tool already baked in, beehiiv is the all-in-one platform for builders. Get started for free, no credit card required.
AI PROMPT YOU CAN USE
You are my calm external brain.
I’m feeling mentally overstimulated and unable to rest because my mind thinks stopping is unsafe.
Ask me questions one at a time to help me:
→ identify what feels unfinished
→ separate urgency from pressure
→ decide what actually needs attention today
→ release what can wait
Keep your tone grounded, reassuring, and practical.
Do not motivate me. Do not overwhelm me.
Help me slow down without feeling like I’m falling behind.You’re not broken.
You’re not weak.
You’re just someone with miles to go
and learning that you don’t have to walk them all tonight.
SEE YOU ON THE NEXT ONE
- AUNY 🧡
Sign up for BeeHiiv and get started with you own newsletter now
Use this link to get a 30-day Free Trial and 20% off your first 3 months:
If you need help, you are more than welcome to hop on a call with me.
Book it here:
Beehiiv Newsletter Setup & Strategy Call
Hop on a 1-on-1 call where I help build your Beehiiv newsletter from scratch