Burnout, Rest, And Productivity In Your Brain

How to use rest to prevent burnout, achieve flow and boost productivity

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

For the greater part of last year, I was excited to write and publish. I was enjoying my work. But around October, everything started to feel different. I felt exhausted. I could no longer focus. I felt detached. Something was wrong.

I thought it was only a brief period of exhaustion. But it got worse. I would take days to write an article, and on many occasions, I would turn on my laptop, sit there, and just stare at it.

As days turned into weeks, I realized I was in a funk. I was going through burnout. I had pushed myself too hard for too long, without taking time to rest. I knew I had to make a change.

So, on November 17, 2022, I packed my bag and traveled to the village. I unplugged from work and spent two weeks with my parents. It turned out to be the right decision.

I came back feeling rejuvenated. I was alive once more. But I also realized just how much of a negative impact burnout can have on our health, happiness, and well-being.

Your body, brain, and burnout

Burnout is a sneaky little devil. It creeps up on you when you least expect it. You can go from feeling great…