I used to think burnout happened after months of working too hard.
Now I notice it much earlier.
It begins the moment I ignore small signals.
Skipping breaks.
Holding my breath.
Thinking,
“I’ll rest after this.”
Again.
And again.
I’ve learned that recovery isn’t something I earn after exhaustion.
It’s something I practice before I reach it.
That one change has probably helped me more than any productivity advice I’ve ever read.