Buzz
It’s highly probable that you, along with nearly everyone you know, are currently grappling with some level of burnout. Balancing work, financial obligations, the ongoing pandemic, economic instability, and an uncertain future can make it feel nearly impossible to pause and recharge. This week, we’re joined by journalist and author Anne Helen Petersen to explore actionable solutions to this widespread issue.
Join us as Anne shares her expertise on identifying burnout symptoms and outlines the necessary steps we must take, both personally and collectively, to steer toward a healthier path. Her upcoming book, Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, is set to release in September.
Catch this episode of The Upgrade above or tune in on popular podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and NPR One.
Key Moments from This Week’s Episode
Insights from the Anne Helen Petersen Interview
How the obsession with productivity interferes with everyday tasks:
Many millennials I’ve encountered have spent their lives striving to be productive and maximize their work hours. As a result, tasks like running errands are seen as unproductive because they take time away from work. Even though activities such as dropping off shoes at the cobbler or sharpening knives are essential parts of life, they’re often resented when the mindset is that any time not spent working is wasted. This mindset can extend to socializing or other non-work activities, making them feel like unproductive distractions.
What inspires hope for shifting away from the culture of hyper-productivity:
It doesn’t have to remain this way. If we can envision—or even recall—a time not too distant when our relationship with work was different, when we had a safety net to depend on, it’s possible to imagine change. There are global examples of economies where instability isn’t the standard, and that offers a glimmer of hope.
How to begin identifying your own burnout and creating more room for yourself:
For a deeper dive into combating burnout, we encourage you to listen to the full episode.
Do you have suggestions or ideas for future episodes? Interested in being featured on the show? Call us at 347-687-8109 or send a voice message to [email protected].
