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Burning out is easier than anyone thinks.

I had a time when my music was picked up by a European record label and distributed to clubs around the world. My shows were very much appreciated and my writing was moving literally thousands of units.

I should have been happy but I was depressed.

Very depressed.

Every time one of these things would come up…the hamster wheel would spin a little faster, I’d try harder and harder to keep up appearances…there were some shows where I could hold it together on stage, but I’d be in bed most of the day after…

Just plain worn out…and trying to hide it.

Some people would say …you’ve just got to carry on…and they meant well…but sometimes stopping to think is better than carrying on.

Recovering from burnout took about a year each time…but it doesn’t have to be that way.

To beat back burnout and the depression that goes with it…many people try self-medicating…but it is more constructive to…

1. Don’t be scared to say no. Stop and get the rest you know you need. Yes, there are ten thousand things that need your attention but you’ll deal with them better rested.
2. Let it be. Can you change it? If not, let it be. You have no power to force anyone else to change.
3. Hang out with people who care about you…not just about the things you can do for them. Yes, help other people…but you can’t help other people get healthy if you aren’t healthy yourself.
4. Use the blessings you are given to be a blessing.
5. Remember that your value to God does not depend on what you do…and grace is a beautiful thing.
6. Today is a new day. Take the opportunity to change. You can do it.
7. Laugh more. You know things are serious when you start taking yourself too seriously.

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Quote of the Day. “When ya start readin…ya start learnin…an when ya start learnin people expect ya ta do somethin with what ya learned…that’s why I watch tv…”-Jethro Barnswallow.