The Internet Never Disappoints and today is no exception.
I am a visual learner and often prefer cartoons or doodles explaining ideas. I came across the image below from @adamtots and I hollered.
When I think back, I’m not sure if it was a howl of laughter or pain from the accuracy. Either way, I wasn’t alone. I posted it on my IG stories and asked if folks felt the same or if they couldn’t relate. 56 people said this was their life. No one said they couldn’t relate.
This is a big deal. Sure this IG poll doesn’t have the power to make any sweeping conclusions but let me tell you, I have a lot of friends who would jump at the opportunity to be contrarian & break away from the pack. 0 people said they couldn’t relate. Not one.
I want to be shocked, but everywhere I look, people are talking about stress, exhaustion, and burnout. We’re collectively experiencing this because of the global pandemic. Whether you went full lockdown in March or flirted with death until late April, you couldn’t escape the tendrils of coronavirus reaching out to affect some part of your life. Now stretch this situation out until September… How’s that for letting the stress build?
I co-host Dope Labs Podcast & our latest episode focused on burnout with guest expert, Dr. Anne Helen Petersen. She wrote Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, and proposed precariousness as the foundation of burnout. Precarity is this feeling of insecurity and unsurety about a lot of things - your finances, your place in society & the world, your ability to take care of yourself, your ability to provide for and protect your loved ones.
We only had 30 minutes for this episode, but trust - I had a lot of feelings about this one. I’m a Black woman in this economy, during this pandemic, and in this political climate. How could I not? I’ve been reading a couple of things (in addition to Petersen’s book) that really hit this point home.
I have been trying to be more aware of my own burnout.
When am I experiencing it?
What is triggering it?
What can I proactively do to prevent a total spiral?
The presidential debate was last night and even though I refused to watch it live, I couldn’t escape the commentary at every turn on the internet earlier today. It just hits different when it’s your humanity being debated and referenced as an optional talking point. Don’t @ me.
One of my small interventions on days like this is to escape into some tunes. And I have to be VERY careful about exactly what I’m listening to. You can’t listen to Jeezy when you’re already riled up. So catch some of my favorite songs (for right now) below.
On Repeat
Gone by Alex Isley
Between the Lines by Gwen Bunn
Craters by Chante Cann & PJ Morton
Better Than I Imagined feat H.E.R. by Robert Glasper
Collide by Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG
Like I Want You by Giveon
I’m also escaping into a little fantasy on my journey to lighten the load. Yep, streaming platform binge, and I’m not apologizing. You’re going to thank me anyway.
I’m watching The Vow on HBO and HONEY!! This thing is wild. It’s like multilevel marketing on steroids. But the steroids actually turn out to be ketamine. I can’t explain it. You just have to watch.
You might as well consider me the queen of HBO, because I’m also deeply invested in Lovecraft Country with Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollet, and Aunjanue Ellis. One of my favorite critics has a podcast that recaps each episode of the show. It’s called Black Girl Watching. You’ll need it because every Sunday night after the show I feel like I was swept up in a tornado.
Have you experienced burn out? What did you do to lighten up? Have suggestions? I wanna hear ‘em. Write me back!