Burnout retrograde
jasonleow • 13 Apr 2025 •
Two weeks since I started on my burnout treatment.
Ate more magnesium. Slept more. Napped more. Stopped grinding. Feeling more rested. The flu virus running through the family seems to have ran itself out. Things seems to be stabilizing. Physically, I can feel my body returning.
But the motivation isn’t back.
It’s easy to start panicking at this point, but I’m probably being impatient again.
The body might recovered, but burnout often runs much deeper inwards. That battered mind might need more time.
In fact, right now the more I feel physically rested, the more I feel mentally tired. It’s burnout retrograde. Things get worse before they get better.
This is when just resting the physical body isn’t enough.
You need something more to truly rest inwardly.
You need something more to re-light that inner fire.
Something inspiring perhaps.
Hard to say what it might be.
Could be a book.
A movie.
A random tweet.
Or a conversation.
I might need a while more… Cover for me.
Comments
I think that’s why even though I hardly have time for twitter, i continue to spend 30min a day on it… cos it’s my inspiration source!
You might need fun but mentally-engaging activities. Do you play chess? Maybe solve a jigsaw puzzle? Hang out with people who can inspire you. Hang out with people who can inspire you not to be like (maybe unambitious govt employees 😜)