A Lesson From Burnout
The Past 4 Years in a Nutshell: After moving to Madrid, life has been full of challenges. From living in a country that doesn’t speak my language (hello, Spanish classes!) to achieving financial independence, juggling a full-time master’s program, working a demanding job, launching a side hustle, dealing with family drama, and just trying to live my life—let’s just say, it hasn’t been easy. Throughout it all, I’ve focused on healing, building self-awareness, and understanding myself better. It’s been a journey of setting boundaries, improving communication, facing traumas, and breaking family patterns.
Finding Joy Again: Before we talk about burnout, I want to share how I feel now. For the first time in a long while, I feel truly alive, present, and passionate about life. Everyday tasks like cooking, organizing, and working no longer feel like chores—they bring me joy and fulfillment. This shift in my mindset has brought a renewed energy into my life, and I’m tackling my responsibilities with enthusiasm. I’ve rediscovered my joie de vivre (that French saying for joy of life), and it’s making all the difference.
The Real Work Begins: Life is constantly changing, and so are we. It’s important not just to understand what we like or don’t like, but to learn how to navigate life’s changes in a way that works for us. Through this newsletter, I’ll be sharing stories and tips on how to do just that—without feeling overwhelmed. How we react to life’s surprises is just as important as what those surprises are. It’s all about finding what serves us and knowing how to get back up when life knocks us down.
A Lesson from Burnout: This isn’t my first burnout, and it might not be my last. But this time, I made the conscious decision to fully recharge and focus on the aspects of life that had been neglected: spending quality time with family and friends who feel like family, being home and revisiting things I loved doing while growing up, traveling and actually taking a proper vacation, releasing myself from the constant pressure of dieting, and allowing myself to go with the flow without over-planning. The key is to figure out how to get out of burnout before it gets too deep, or even to create a life where we remove pressure in areas so we don’t have to reach burnout at all. The emptiness I felt inside isn’t something I want to experience again. A way to quickly catch burnout, at least for me, is when I find myself easily distracted by everything and anything, or when everything starts to feel like a chore.
Moving Forward Together: We all face different challenges, and life isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s crucial to be mindful of where, how, and with whom we spend our energy. This awareness helps us maintain balance and control, even in the face of uncertainty. As we move forward together, I’ll continue to share my journey, offering insights and tips that have helped me along the way.
Before We Wrap Up: I’ll end each newsletter with something for you to reflect on or try out in your own life. This week, take a moment to consider: Where do you draw your energy from, and how can you spend it in a way that serves you best? Block out some time for this in the coming week. It can be something as small as enjoying a cup of coffee before everyone wakes up or organizing a hike this weekend.