Gary Ong | January 10th, 2022

Let’s talk about burnout. I’ve experienced burnout time and time again. It’s a common thing when you work at a startup, even when you are the leader at the top. Sometimes, it is especially true because you feel like you are responsible for everything.

You feel like you’re supposed to be the fountain of all creation in the company, the one that inspires, holds things together, and fixes things when they fall, all while being the hopeful-positive one even in the direst times. It’s a tall task, and eventually you feel like you’ve it your all. You’re dry, and there is no motivation left to do anything and no fuel left to give anything. Even banking in a hundred thousand dollar check feels laborious. Welcome to the land of burnout.

So, how do we rebuild from here? I can’t tell you the perfect solution or answer, but here is what I do: commit to doing one kind thing a day for every person that you meet. It can be something as simple as a mindful “good morning” that is not said in passing, or as complicated as covering for a coworker who has a family emergency. Do this for a couple days and you will start feeling better. Try it. I don’t know why it works, but I hope it works for you.

Image credit: Kelly Sikkema