Burn Bright, Burn Out: The Cycle of Overworking and Slumping

You're either already seated at the *Burnout Table* or you're dragging

your chair over—so let me pull it out for you. Welcome! Join me, along

with 81% of 18–24-year-olds, 83% of 25–34-year-olds, and 66% of

employees who are all desperately seeking a break. Today, we’re diving

into the dreaded burnout phase—because, let’s be honest, we’re all just

one bad Monday away from a full existential crisis.

The Circle of Dread™

I get it—you think balancing work, family, university, and personal life is a

great idea. You envision a perfect 360-degree harmony where:

✅ Work is thriving

✅ Family feels loved and appreciated

✅ You’re not on the verge of failing

✅ You haven’t mysteriously gained or lost 5kg overnight

But somehow, it never works out that way, does it? Instead, it’s more like

a chaotic rollercoaster, where one area thrives while the others

crumble like a poorly built Jenga tower.

Let’s cut the nonsense (I’d say BS, but I’m not sure what’s blog-

appropriate). Before you read any further, this is NOT one of those

“10 Ways to Cure Burnout Instantly” posts. I’m not here to sell you a

fake remedy or a poorly researched life hack. Instead, this blog

is a safe space —a place where you, my fellow overworked silly goose,

can find something to relate to, just kidding hacks are below.

My Latest Attempt at Productivity (Spoiler: It Was a Disaster)

Today, I tried my do-it-all-in-one-day approach—my usual go-to and

my well-known downfall. Here’s how that went:

- Studied for a Zoology test (which felt like deciphering ancient spells

—seriously, who named an 8-inch marine animal Cephalopoda

Nautiloidea?)

- Applied for multiple jobs (because being broke is a personality trait at

this point)

- Took my 2007 Renault for a roadworthy test (it barely passed, just like

me in university)

- Spent time with family (while internally panicking about everything

else).

- Cooked, cleaned, and pretended I’d go to the gym (spoiler: I did NOT

step foot in the gym)

- Juggled all of this while maintaining a long-distance relationship

(because why not add emotional stress to the mix?)

And now, as someone teetering on the edge of financial ruin with a

sprinkle of academic despair, I will gaslight myself into believing that

tomorrow I’ll be just as motivated.

How to (Maybe) Avoid Burnout

Since I clearly need help, I’m taking AI’s advice on burnout prevention

—because if robots can optimize their energy, maybe I can too.

Key Prevention Strategies:

Recognize Stress Early – If you feel like a zombie, it’s time to pause.

Set Boundaries – Say no. Seriously, say it.

Maintain Work-Life Balance – Make time for hobbies, naps, and staring

at the ceiling.

Practice Self-Care – Eat something that isn’t instant noodles.

Take Regular Breaks – Because working non-stop is a scam.

Build a Support Network – Surround yourself with people who remind

you to chill.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve learned just one thing from this blog, let it be this: You are not

alone in your burnout. Take a deep breath, keep pushing, and let’s

continue convincing ourselves that there’s a reason for all this chaos.

Stay tuned for more Tumultuous Topic Tuesdays with Tess —because if

I’m going to spiral; I might as well blog about it.