Checking in from Burnout

It’s been a long time since I’ve written regularly. Years.

Back in December, I put in my notice of resignation, two years later than I should have. I’ve been burnt out as a teacher for two years, burnt out from the state of the world for about a decade, and burnt out from the hustle for even longer.

I wanted to check in with you all and see how you are doing. Have you written anything since last you saw me in your inbox? If not, this is a safe place to say so. You can build up a goal using the questions below or just sit with that confession (as I’m more likely to do).

I’m desperate for some REST, which I haven’t really had since 2016. I’m hoping that with rest, I can rediscover my love for writing, but I also know that it’s OK to rest without expectation of any sort of output whatsoever.

So I’m sharing this old post, specifically these questions, as a way of setting goals for myself, but don’t feel like you need to participate. Do tell me how you’re doing. I definitely miss spending time with the writing community, and I’d love to support you from my side of the keyboard.

Here are the questions:

  1. Where are you at with your writing right now? Are you certain? Uncertain? Bruised? Overwhelmed?
  2. What is your goal for this season you’re currently in? Is it a S.M.A.R.T. goal?
  3. What would the midpoint look like for that goal? How would you know that you’re halfway there?
  4. What would half of that look like, the quarter point?
  5. What are your daily or weekly goals? If being a “daily doer” hasn’t worked for you, take any daily goal you set for yourself and turn it into a weekly goal.
  6. Now cut that daily or weekly goal in half.

I’m going to take some time to answer them for myself in the comments. Then I’m going to share some encouraging quotes that I’ve been letting feed into my spent soul. That post will go live on Wednesday, so check back in or subscribe to get it in your mailbox.

Uncertainty and Overwhelm in Writers

One thought on “Checking in from Burnout”

  1. Lara says:
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    Lara's avatar
    1. Where are you at with your writing right now? Are you certain? Uncertain? Bruised? Overwhelmed?
      • Thanks to an external motivator, I revised an old picture book, and I feel pretty good about that right now. I am poking at my 2018 WIP by trying to think of it daily, but I am still stuck on the middle and the end. I do think I had a bit of a breakthrough with the theme, though, which I’m holding onto.
    2. What is your goal for this season you’re currently in? Is it a S.M.A.R.T. goal?
      • My goal is to just survive the last month of teaching. In June, I’d like to pick up my 2018 WIP again and make progress on it. In the meantime, I’m working through Writing the Breakthrough Novel Workbook as a way to let it percolate in my mind before I have more time to get back to drafting. None of that is specific or measurable. A SMART goal would be for me to finish the workbook exercises by Father’s Day, June 15th.
    3. What would the midpoint look like for that goal? How would you know that you’re halfway there?
      • There are 34 exercises in the book. I’m wanting to do 3-4 each day, but I know I will miss many days while school and my kids’ afterschool activities keep going. The halfway point would be #17, which I’d like to finish before June 7th.
    4. What would half of that look like, the quarter point?
      • Half of 17 would be finishing through exercise 8. I’d like to have that done by May 27 (day after Memorial Day)
    5. What are your daily or weekly goals? If being a “daily doer” hasn’t worked for you, take any daily goal you set for yourself and turn it into a weekly goal.
      • On days when I can do them, I’d like to do 3-4 exercises, but at least 1 most days. I recognize that’s a fluid goal, but that’s where I’m at. I need to be patient with myself and not a perfectionist.
    6. Now cut that daily or weekly goal in half.
      • At least 1 exercise every other day.

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