Mar 30, 2021

Why does ‘achieving burnout’ feel like some demented badge of honor?

One of our primary misconceptions about burnout is that it’s this extreme, “capital-B Burnout” situation. And if that’s true, then it follows that only extreme effort could truly get us there.

Having kids, working full-time, volunteering, training for a half marathon, and planning fun stuff for the family—all at the same time. Never using your vacation days this 100% used to be my sister, btw).

When I compare my work / life—client juggling, content creation, running a company by myself, watching SVU on my lunch breaks… it just always feels like I’m doing *so little* compared to other entrepreneurs.

Like I don’t **QUALIFY** for burnout.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t get burned out. I do—often, and easily.

This extreme burnout thinking does us a disservice in so many ways.

For one thing, it erases the “little-b: burnouts that are just a normal, cyclical part of everyday life as an HSP (and, I would argue, just being a human in general, but whatever ).

And if we’re not attending to those “little b’s,” caring for them every day… well, then we’re DEFINITELY on the express train to Capital B-town.

I’m exploring this (and a lot more) in the HSP course I’m creating for entrepreneurs. Stay tuned. 👀

Samantha Pollack

About Sam

Samantha Pollack is a Copywriter & Creative Director who works with ethically minded, mission driven businesses who are actively trying to reshape our culture (and possibly tear down the patriarchy). She’s also the founder of The Highly Sensitive Business Owner, a 12-week online program that helps HSPs & neurodivergent business owners create healthier, more sustainable systems in their work.

Sam also writes about feminism, privilege, pop culture, entrepreneurship, the creative process, and whatever else is on her mind. She currently lives in Asheville, NC.

Emails for cult thought leaders.

(Personality included.)

Want to learn how to craft emails that inspire action and engagement WITHOUT the “tried and true” (cough: patriarchal) norms we’ve all been taught?

I’m doing it, and I can show you how to do it, too.

(But sometimes, I also like to write about the books I’m reading, or the creative process, or the entrepreneurial experience, or why I hate Steve Jobs, or how I met my BFF. I’ll send you emails like that, too.)

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