i encourage you to examine that feeling, where you heard that message, and if you apply that standard to others. when my mental illness got to a point where i was less productive at work, it forced me to unpack my internalized ableism and belief that productivity = worth. i still struggle in my relationship with rest and work, but quitting my job at the time was the single best decision i have ever made for my mental health.
i would have given anything to quit while having the financial support you have. it will probably be hard to not have a schedule and to learn how to rest again and to process the feeling of being a burden in a relationship… but it’ll give your body a chance to heal and your mind to reset and your heart to receive support from others. it’s difficult to extract ourselves from hustle culture.
recommended reading: Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
Jun 26, 2024
Related Recs
💭
A couple of months ago I fell into the rabbit hole of productivity. I was listening to motivating podcasts and was actually getting more productive up to a certain point where I started getting burnt out and was experiencing a horrible surge of IBD symptoms.
Every time I gave myself some form of rest I'd feel guilty and be invaded by the voices of boss ladies telling me to get out of bed and do something. Though I'd end up getting up everytime, I was forcing myself to do work I didn't want to do and a result, I became a more irritated and tired person. Unbeknownst to me, I was becoming bed-ridden due to my autoimmune disease and was forcing myself to work through it.
Outcome: My body crashed on me as soon as I finished the term and I didn't get the result I wanted (I got a good GPA overall, but my CGPA is still at a C+ with no chance of raising it again)
This term started and I only have 1 subject and my thesis left and I decided to give my body the chance to rest and detach myself from outcomes since nothing I can do will raise my CGPA to a B.
Outcome: I ended up highly fatigued and can barely get up and do anything. Don't get me wrong, I am doing well in that class I'm in and I got a good chunk of my thesis done, but nonetheless I was exhausted.
I was bedrotting for weeks under the guise of letting go of control and letting the world take me where it wants me to take. At the end I became empty with no energy to do things I actually want to do.
This got me wondering: To what extent should we be productive and when do we give ourselves rest? How do we become productive without burning our bodies out? How do we give ourselves rest without slipping into bed-rotting? How do we get up and become productive after weeks of slump without forcing our bodies to do things it doesn't want? How do we convince a productivity junkie that they need rest and actually enjoy the rest?
How does one get out of this cycle?
Mar 7, 2025
😃
This is my recommendation. Seeing your job as a separate negative entity is bad for your mind. It is easy to stress over showing up on time, doing well, but it can help to enjoy your job while your there, whether it be the people, the mission, the environment, or its contribution towards you and your future. My job right now isn't the best ever, but it's funding my goals, like going to the gym, sweet treats, and education. When I go to work, I realize I am still me there, I can still daydream and enjoy the day. And when I am off, my day is filled with even more purpose because what I do is entirely decided by me. It helps to pre-plan things I truly want to do. In the moment, having free time after work can just feel exhausting, so writing out "I need/want to go on a walk or visit a coffee shop" helps a lot. It may seem unappealing but once you get yourself doing what you really want to do, it feels amazing. trying to change your lifestyle can be very hard, but baby steps make all the difference. Personally, just going to the gym after work does really make me feel better. One day, I left work so exhausted and pissed off just because of coworkers and exhaustion. But I forced myself to go to the gym and felt glad that I didn't let outside circumstances hold me back from my other goals.
Pretty much what I am saying is you have to consciously do everything, whether it is planning your after-work activities or enjoying your day at work.
Work in society is programmed to be 'bad' in our minds but it doesn't have to be.
Obviously you may not feel great every day or even after a while of trying to make changes, but ultimately working towards improving your own mental health will always be worth it, even if you know you may fall back into stress a month later. Just keep pushing!
May 28, 2025
🛌
not urself* but a day or two of pay to have a moment to breathe. the most important thing with a job u hate is to keep every other aspect of ur life as healthy as within ur means. sleep as well as u can and keep good sleep hygiene, eat as well as you can, make sure youve got good gut health and digestion(all ur energy and brain power relies on good sleep and good food), its hard but try to ask for help from ppl in ur life when u need support
having cool coworkers helps destress about shitty things that happen @ work but if ur outta luck and they all suck just complain to anyone willing to listen-its best to get the bad thoughts and feelings out so u dont build up that resentment but also helps u gain some perspective of ‘oh im not crazy this job really does fucking suck’
Jun 24, 2025
Top Recs from @capyboppy
after five years of grad school and subsequent job search, i can finally say i have successfully changed careers 😭 i start my new job counseling kids at a community mental health clinic on Monday. yesterday was my last shift at the grocery store that was an escape from my horrible corporate job and a sustaining force throughout grad school. it’s so bittersweet to leave the sweetest coworkers i’ve ever had and the most fun i’ve had at work. it’s immeasurably healing to quit a job for only good reasons. my coworkers got me a cake, everyone wrote notes in a card, and the goodbyes throughout the day made my heart swell. i even got to tell the good news to my favorite instacarter 🥺 after i clocked out for the last time, my friends joined me for gelato at the cafe and we strolled the store for a final time, this time as simply a loyal customer.
Jun 14, 2025
🍊
pifyi desktop babyyyy
Jun 16, 2025
Apr 8, 2025