Burnout Isn’t Laziness. It’s Your Life Getting Too Flat.
Last year, in an effort to mix up my routine and step away from constant goal-chasing, I put “farmers’ market” on my calendar the way other people put workouts on theirs.
Most Saturdays, I’d linger longer than necessary, standing in the Colorado sun with a tote bag on my shoulder, warming my face after a long week. Flaky pastry. An iced latte. The same vendors. The same loop through the stalls.
It sounded silly until I realized it worked. Every Saturday gave me something to look forward to that wasn’t tied to productivity or performance. Motivation came back, not because I pushed harder, but because my week finally had some texture.
I don’t think motivation disappears because we’re lazy, but rather because life gets flat. Here’s what actually helps.
5 Tips for Avoiding Burnout
1. I plan life, not just goals.I still set goals, but I don’t let them dominate my calendar. I plan weekend trips, farmers’ market dates, free local events, dinner parties at home, and little things I can look forward to that have nothing to do with productivity. Motivation shows up way more reliably when your schedule includes joy, not just ambition.
2. I cook food that makes me feel human.Trying new recipes is one of my favorite ways to reset my brain. Lately, my fiance and I have been cooking a lot from the cookbook Half Baked Harvest by Tieghan Gerard. I like food that feels comforting and worth the effort, even on an ordinary night. Cooking is a reminder that progress doesn’t always come from pushing harder. Sometimes it looks like a good meal and a full plate.
3. I switch creative lanes.When writing feels heavy, I take photos. When editing feels endless, I learn a new board game. When my brain refuses to cooperate, I stop asking it to and let my hands do something instead. Creativity doesn’t disappear when motivation dips. It just wants a different outlet—and maybe a snack.
4. I let myself get lost in other people’s stories.A library book. A new TV series. Anything with a plot that isn’t mine. New stories pull me out of my own head and remind me there’s more happening than whatever I’ve been overthinking. Inspiration tends to show up when I stop staring directly at it.
5. I build momentum through variety, not pressure.Motivation sticks around when my days have flavors. A walk here. A good meal there. Maybe a yoga session in between. A plan that feels small but exciting. I don’t need every day to be productive; I just need it to feel intentional. Quiet progress still counts.
Avoiding burnout isn’t about doing less. It’s usually a sign that something in our life needs to feel lighter, more human, or more fun.
I don’t stay motivated by grinding harder or filling every empty space with productivity. I stay motivated by paying attention—by noticing what gives me energy and building my days around that instead of fighting it.
Motivation isn’t something I chase anymore. It’s something I create by making room for a life that actually feels worth showing up for.