You're right, it's not nothing. Also, maybe just talking with a friend or two will open you to new ideas. Perhaps a complete reset is due. Maybe talk through things that interest you, things that are completely different from what you've done for work over the years. It sounds like it's time to try something new, even if it's a complete change of direction.
That advice is vague, I know, but without more details of what Ernie is interested in, it has to be vague. Still, what is Ernie interested in? It might be time to explore something completely different. Your brains and experience will carry you forward, no matter what you do. It just may look like a strange path when you first set foot on it.
Hey Jess, thank you for this. The crazy thing is... it's burnout because my genuine answer to what I'm interested in is "I don't know anymore."
Even the thought of a complete reset both terrifies and excites me. I know my experience will change in some way, but you're right that that path might look quite unusual. I need to sit with the discomfort of not knowing what's next while staying open to unexpected directions, which is already a challenge I'm facing.
If you can, have chats with friends who know you best. Kick around ideas that relate to things you really like in this world. I'm not saying your goal has to be "do what you love and you'll never work a day..." I've always thought that approach is a little too idealistic. For most of us, we do well if we do something that is productive and that we don't hate, and that thing then lets us fund whatever we want to do in life that we really DO love.
I know what this is like. I got laid off... 3 times? At least three I can think of off the top of my head in the course of my career. And it left me feeling a bit rudderless each time. But then new paths opened up when I was willing to pivot a bit. This also reminds me a bit of my nephew. He's done with college and looking at next steps/what he wants to do. It reminds me of him because he's talking to everyone he can. He talked to Marc and me. He talked to my older brother, because he had a successful management career and has coached employees. He talked to his friends' dads who have had productive careers. He's looking in lots of directions, just to see what clicks.
And maybe talk to your ex? "If you didn't know what I'd done already in my career but just knew me as a person, what things do you think I might enjoy?" He might have some great insights. And trust me, whoever you ask, friends will be happy to have the chat. If you set no particular expectations, it can be fun. You're just exploring and value their input. Who wouldn't like that?
I hear you. Although I’m grateful to still have a job (for now) I get the whole burnout on life. The creative and driven artist in me left a long time ago and now I’m just… tired. I’ve been putting off on playing 33 mainly because of the storyline.. I don’t think my anxiety can handle it.
The game is something worth playing for the story alone.
I'm going to give a hot take, and that is to **spoil it for yourself first**, because there are a lot of spoilers that, if you're not ready for them, you'll become a heaving emotional mess. Get it spoiled by watching YouTube videos or reading summaries, and then when you play the game, you know what you're getting into. Again, hot take.
I think there's a reason people retired at 50. For those of us who can't (hi!) it's literally impossible to find anything engaging. It's not you, it's life.
Ugh. Right? It really isn't a personal failing - the systems and expectations around work have shifted dramatically, but we're still expected to find individual solutions to what are, in reality, structural problems.
You're right, it's not nothing. Also, maybe just talking with a friend or two will open you to new ideas. Perhaps a complete reset is due. Maybe talk through things that interest you, things that are completely different from what you've done for work over the years. It sounds like it's time to try something new, even if it's a complete change of direction.
That advice is vague, I know, but without more details of what Ernie is interested in, it has to be vague. Still, what is Ernie interested in? It might be time to explore something completely different. Your brains and experience will carry you forward, no matter what you do. It just may look like a strange path when you first set foot on it.
Hey Jess, thank you for this. The crazy thing is... it's burnout because my genuine answer to what I'm interested in is "I don't know anymore."
Even the thought of a complete reset both terrifies and excites me. I know my experience will change in some way, but you're right that that path might look quite unusual. I need to sit with the discomfort of not knowing what's next while staying open to unexpected directions, which is already a challenge I'm facing.
If you can, have chats with friends who know you best. Kick around ideas that relate to things you really like in this world. I'm not saying your goal has to be "do what you love and you'll never work a day..." I've always thought that approach is a little too idealistic. For most of us, we do well if we do something that is productive and that we don't hate, and that thing then lets us fund whatever we want to do in life that we really DO love.
I know what this is like. I got laid off... 3 times? At least three I can think of off the top of my head in the course of my career. And it left me feeling a bit rudderless each time. But then new paths opened up when I was willing to pivot a bit. This also reminds me a bit of my nephew. He's done with college and looking at next steps/what he wants to do. It reminds me of him because he's talking to everyone he can. He talked to Marc and me. He talked to my older brother, because he had a successful management career and has coached employees. He talked to his friends' dads who have had productive careers. He's looking in lots of directions, just to see what clicks.
And maybe talk to your ex? "If you didn't know what I'd done already in my career but just knew me as a person, what things do you think I might enjoy?" He might have some great insights. And trust me, whoever you ask, friends will be happy to have the chat. If you set no particular expectations, it can be fun. You're just exploring and value their input. Who wouldn't like that?
I hear you. Although I’m grateful to still have a job (for now) I get the whole burnout on life. The creative and driven artist in me left a long time ago and now I’m just… tired. I’ve been putting off on playing 33 mainly because of the storyline.. I don’t think my anxiety can handle it.
The game is something worth playing for the story alone.
I'm going to give a hot take, and that is to **spoil it for yourself first**, because there are a lot of spoilers that, if you're not ready for them, you'll become a heaving emotional mess. Get it spoiled by watching YouTube videos or reading summaries, and then when you play the game, you know what you're getting into. Again, hot take.
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I think there's a reason people retired at 50. For those of us who can't (hi!) it's literally impossible to find anything engaging. It's not you, it's life.
Ugh. Right? It really isn't a personal failing - the systems and expectations around work have shifted dramatically, but we're still expected to find individual solutions to what are, in reality, structural problems.