I’m Burnt Out and I’m Not Sorry
Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I’m exhausted. Like, physically and mentaly drained. And I’m not even talking about some deep, existential crisis. No, this is about something much simpler: I’m just too busy. And I think you probably are too.
It was about three months ago, over coffee at the place on 5th, when my friend Lisa looked at me and said, ‘You know, Sarah, you’re always running around like a chicken with its head cut off.’ And I laughed, because, honestly, who hasn’t heard that one before? But then she got serious. ‘I mean, when’s the last time you just… did nothing?’
And that’s when it hit me. I couldn’t remember. I mean, I think it was maybe last summer, but even then, I was probably checking my email or something. So, I decided to make a change. A committment, if you will. To do nothing. And let me tell you, it’s harder than it sounds.
Why We’re All So Busy
Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Sarah, you’re just lazy.’ But hear me out. I’m not talking about binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through Instagram for hours on end. I’m talking about actual, intentional, doing-nothing. And it turns out, there’s a reason we’re all so busy.
I did some research—well, okay, I asked around—and it turns out, we’ve kinda made busyness into a status symbol. Like, if you’re not busy, you’re not important. And that’s just… ridiculous. I mean, when did we decide that our worth is tied to our productivity? It’s like we’re all in this weird competition to see who can be the most overworked, and honestly, I’m over it.
But here’s the thing: busyness isn’t just annoying, it’s also bad for us. Like, really bad. According to some study I read—okay, fine, it was a latest news today headlines article—being too busy can lead to all sorts of health problems. Stress, anxiety, even heart disease. And that’s not even mentioning the toll it takes on our relationships. I mean, when’s the last time you had a meaningful conversation with someone that wasn’t about work or errands or… more work?
The Art of Doing Nothing
So, I decided to try this whole ‘doing nothing’ thing. And let me tell you, it was a struggle. I mean, I’m used to always having something to do, you know? But I started small. Like, instead of checking my email first thing in the morning, I’d just sit there and… not. And it was weird. And kinda awesome.
Then, I started doing it for longer periods. I’d go for a walk and not listen to a podcast or music or anything. I’d just… walk. And look at stuff. And think. And it was amazing. I started noticing things I’d never noticed before. Like, the way the light hits the buildings in the afternoon, or how many different kinds of dogs live in my neighborhood. It was like I was seeing the world for the first time.
And the best part? I started feeling better. Like, actually, genuinely better. Less stressed, more present, more… happy. It was like I’d been holding my breath for years, and finally, I could exhale.
But What About All the Stuff That Needs to Get Done?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Sarah, that’s all well and good, but what about all the stuff that needs to get done? The errands, the chores, the work?’ And to that, I say: fair point. But here’s the thing: doing nothing doesn’t mean you stop doing everything. It just means you stop doing something. And that’s okay.
I mean, think about it. If you’re always busy, always doing, always go-go-go, then you’re never really giving yourself a chance to rest. To recharge. To just be. And that’s not sustainable. It’s like trying to run a marathon without taking any water breaks. You’re gonna burn out. And fast.
So, instead of trying to do it all, I started prioritizing. Figuring out what really needed to get done, and what could wait. And you know what? The world didn’t end. In fact, it got a little bit better.
The Power of Saying No
And that brings me to my next point: the power of saying no. Because here’s the thing: we’re not always busy because we have to be. Sometimes, we’re busy because we choose to be. We say yes to every invitation, every request, every thing. And before we know it, we’re drowning in a sea of our own making.
So, I started saying no. To things I didn’t really want to do. To things that didn’t serve me. To things that would just add more stress to my already overloaded plate. And it was liberating.
I mean, I’m not saying you should become a hermit and never leave your house again. But maybe, just maybe, you should think twice before saying yes to that thing you don’t really want to do. Because every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else. And that something else might be your sanity.
A Personal Story: The Time I Did Nothing
Let me tell you about last Tuesday. It was a normal day, as far as Tuesdays go. I had a million things to do, a million places to be, a million people to see. But I decided to do nothing. And I mean nothing.
I woke up, made some coffee, and just sat there. I didn’t check my email. I didn’t scroll through social media. I didn’t even turn on the TV. I just… sat. And it was amazing.
I started to notice things. Like, the way the sunlight streamed through the window, or the sound of the birds outside. I thought about stuff. Like, deep, meaningful stuff. And it was refreshing.
And you know what? The world didn’t end. In fact, it got a little bit better. Because I was present. I was there. And that’s a rare and beautiful thing.
The Bottom Line
So, here’s the bottom line: we’re all busy. Like, ridiculously busy. And it’s taking a toll on us. On our health, our relationships, our sanity. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Doing nothing isn’t a sign of laziness. It’s a sign of self-care. Of prioritizing your well-being over the never-ending to-do list. And it’s something we should all do more of.
So, go ahead. Try it. Do nothing. And see how it feels. I think you’ll be surprised.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll even like it.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson is a lifestyle writer and self-proclaimed doing-nothing expert. When she’s not writing, she can be found sitting on her couch, doing absolutely nothing. You can find her on Twitter at @sarahjohnsonwrites.
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