Looking Back on the Critical First Move I Made to Defeat My Own Burnout (7 Years Later)
At a Glance
Today, we’re talking about—burnout.
More specifically, we’re talking about the first steps I took to remove myself from my own burnout and transform my life.
You’ll learn how to take the first step out of burnout as well as some key lessons to keep your creative life moving in the right direction.
Let’s discuss!
Seven Years. No Soda.
Sometimes the catalyst for big change in our lives is something small and right in front of us.
It feels like a lifetime ago and yesterday at once… …March, 2017.
Burnout hit me like a truck.
I was overweight (and my heaviest ever).
I was unhappy (with neglected relationships).
I was broken (from running myself ragged).
Today, I’m not the same person.
Change started with letting go.
I gave up my greatest vice—soda.
Soda had been slowly taking its toll on my body and my choices.
How could something so simple be killing me?
I was always tired.
I was always waiting for the next drink.
The brown, bubbly sugar drink had its hooks in me deep.
I regularly stopped on my way home from work for one of those 32oz "Big Gulps.” Back out again a few hours later for more.
I was addicted to Soda.
I realized the only way to get control back of my life was to stop—not just halfway, but totally and completely.
I needed to let go of something that defined the “old” me. That's just what I did.
On March 19, 2017—I stopped drinking soda.
But that one decision took everything I had.
Did soda completely cause my burnout?
“No.”
It was the fuel that burned me out faster.
Something amazing happened though when I removed it from my life. I made better choices.
Just as soon as I made one positive decision, I made another... and another. Until one day, I was on the other side of burnout—happier, centered, and 75lbs lighter.
It took time. The initial changes were fast (a matter of weeks), but the changes that stuck took months (and years) to take hold. I became more self-aware, creative, empathetic, and wellness-minded. Those were the changes that meant most to me.
No One Starts at Burnout.
No One Needs to End There Either.
I became a different human.
One capable of fighting back against burnout.
7 Lessons I’ve Learned in 7 Years Since Burnout
In the time since I gave up soda, I’ve learned a lot. Letting it go created momentum in my life. The ripples of that single step pushed me to understand burnout and how it affects us.
I read books. I experimented. I asked questions.
These are some of the lessons I’ve taken on the journey that helped me the most.
Lesson #1 — No one starts at Burnout
Lesson #2 — Everything worth having takes time.
Lesson #3 — Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Time + Effort does.
Lesson #4 — Trauma feels very cutting in the moment, dulls over time.
Lesson #5 — Burnout isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something new.
Lesson #6 — You don’t need to figure out everything right now. Just the first step. Then the next.
Lesson #7 — Burnout will try to come back into your life. But understanding who you are and who you want to become will always help you fight back.
Why I Do What I Do
Someone asked me recently, “Why do you do it, Mike?”
The answer is simple—I don’t want any Architect, any Creative, any person to go through what I did.
And for those who do, I want to help them get to the other side, capable of so much more.
I look back on the past few years with real pride. I’ve helped thousands through my writing, drawings, podcasts, webinars, 1-on-1s, in-person talks, and socials to improve the quality of their lives.
I never looked at the course of my life in High School or College and thought, “Mike, you’re going to burn out, change your life, and then help others change yours. Yep, that’s the ticket!” Never thought that, no. But I also feel like some paths aren’t revealed to us until we’re ready to walk down them.
This is my path. I’m here to help.
How I Can Help YOU
I love helping creatives figure out how to do more of what they love in their lives, free of the chains of burnout. Here are 4 ways I can help you do just that.
LinkedIn (Easy Mode)
Follow me on LinkedIn. Over the past year or so, I’ve been writing every weekday to share my ideas about work/life balance, burnout, and creative life. Click the 🔔 and hang out every weekday at 8am ET to get your dose of Creativity Self-Care.
Newsletter (Normal Mode)
Follow posts like this on my weekly newsletter SideNotes. If you are finding this for the first time, sign up here. If you think a friend could benefit from posts like this, forward it on!
Coaching (Advanced Mode)
Starting April 1, I’m launching 1-on-1 coaching. If you’re struggling to find balance in your own life, I’ve been there, and I can help. I’m not a therapist. But I’m someone who has gone through burnout and done the work to transform my life on my own. I can help you do the same.
Interested in coaching? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or an email!
Workshops (Coming Soon)
At the beginning of 2024, I mentioned that I’d been working on developing a mini-course based on my popular Burnout seminar. As of now, I’m targeting a May 2024 Release. More on this soon!
Final Thoughts
Do I ever think about having another cool, refreshing Root Beer (my favorite soda) with my next meal?
Um, abso-f*cking-lutely.
But I'm good.
I'll keep living my life from the driver's seat.
Vrrrooom. 🚗💨
TL; DR
Burnout is a solvable problem
The first step can lead to amazing transformation
Time + Effort will build momentum in your life
Burnout can be the beginning of something new
I can help you figure out what that is and how to start moving towards it
Quote of the Week
Motivation for the days ahead of you.
“Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.”
— Anonymous
That's all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
