Current events grew bleaker, and so did my mental health as I stayed on the digital front line of every story. White supremacists descended on Charlottesville; a silent gunman opened fire on a Las Vegas concert; millions of women,, shared intimate accounts of sexual harassment and assault. My dreams were plagued with AR-15s and leering men, and still I declined to deal with my health and fatigue.
My last day at my job was July 4, or as my friend jokingly called it, “Malia Freedom Day.” It took quitting to finally understand that prioritizing my health is more than a sign of strength—it is essential. With distance, I see that working around the clock and never unplugging is unsustainable for anyone, not just me.
If you’re feeling burned out and thinking of quitting, here are some of the lessons I’ve learned that might help you make sense of your options and prepare for what’s next.Up front: Taking this hiatus has drained my bank account and cut into my parents’ retirement savings. I am anxious about this every day. But I could no longer ignore my burnout, not with a disability so closely tied to it. I needed help and was privileged to have my family’s financial and emotional support.
Quitting is not financially feasible for everyone, but if you have the ability to ask for assistance or to save in advance, do it. The time you take to heal is worth the cost.Once you quit, it is tempting to fill your calendar with appointments. There are so many people to see, so many activities you didn’t have time for before. But the need to recover from burnout is legitimate, and for me, treatment involved turning down the noise.
I deleted social media from my phone. I disabled notifications. I stopped reading the news, setting alarms, wearing makeup, and listening to music while walking or waiting. I stayed home instead of traveling. I slept and cooked. I started journaling. I spent hours alone grappling with my thoughts and anxieties. I got a psychologist. Essentially, I created my own medical leave, but one far more constructive than my first.
Thanks for providing a space to share. Now, go take a walk! Enough tweeting.
maliagriggs 'It took quitting to finally understand that prioritizing my health is more than a sign of strength—it is essential. With distance, I see that working around the clock and never unplugging is unsustainable for anyone, not just me.' Wish this was on a needlepoint stitch.
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