Hey Reader,

Happy Friday. I hope it's been a great week for you and that you've got some fun plans for the weekend. Would love to hear about them! (hit reply and tell me!)

I'm going to keep it short today, but it's going to be a little deep because it's about something I know we're ALL dealing with right now in some capacity.

Whether it be from the news, social media, your job, your social life (wait those exist?), family, and so much more. It's a real thing and we're all fighting it.

Sometimes burnout does not come from hating what you do, but from caring about too many things at the same time.

The World Health Organization describes burnout as the result of chronic stress that has not been successfully managed. And while they define it around work, I think most of us know that feeling does not clock out at 5 p.m. anymore.

Especially if you work in social or do creative work.

If you're like me, your brain is never fully off. I'll be out with friends and suddenly thinking about a video idea or with family and half my brain is coming up with a new concept for a Manychat automation. I've caught myself playing with my 9 month old and some annoying little voice is wondering if that moment could be content.

I HATE that. But I know we've all been there.

So I’ve had to train myself to create separation.

After 5:30 p.m., my phone goes on Do Not Disturb. That’s my boundary. Unless it’s family or a real emergency, I’m unavailable. DO NOT CONTACT.

I’ve also found a weird amount of peace in refurbishing old furniture. My wife and I love working on projects after our son goes to bed, or I’ll work on something while she gets her own time. It gives my creative brain somewhere to go that is not tied to performance. And have you EVER tried working with your hands? It's amazing and SO therapeutic.

I think that’s the trick though. You have to find something that pulls you out of the machine. Working out. Reading. Walking. A hobby. Time with people who don’t care about your metrics. Something that reminds you that life is not only the work you’re doing.

Because caring is good, but caring about everything at full volume will wreck you to a pulp.

So this weekend, find one thing that gives something back. Not something productive. Not something impressive. Just something that makes you feel like a person again.

Have a great weekend.

And seriously, hit reply. What are you doing this weekend?