Hey Friends…
We are back!
After an unplanned eight-month break, Busyness & Burnout has officially returned. I promised I would eventually share what happened, and the time has finally come.
This issue is about beginning again, the boundaries I’m taking with me, and learning that changing the plan doesn’t mean I’ve failed.
Let’s get into it.
A difficult client experience became the final brick on top of a wall that had been building for much longer than I realized.
In this episode, I’m talking about the business blowup that made me question everything, the boundaries I failed to protect, and why constantly “making it work” eventually stopped working for me.
I’m also sharing what the past eight months have looked like and why I’m choosing to begin again—even though everything isn’t perfect.
Because sometimes the project isn’t the whole wall. It’s simply the brick that makes it collapse.
→ Listen Here
Being resourceful is a gift. But when does flexibility turn into overextension?
This week’s blog explores why being capable of handling something doesn’t automatically make it sustainable—and how our habit of always “making it work” can quietly lead us toward burnout.
It’s a reminder that helping doesn’t have to mean rescuing, boundaries have to survive discomfort, and your business is supposed to support your life—not consume it.
→ Read Here
Right now, I’m traveling and preparing to speak at the AIGA DEC Conference about mindfulness in the classroom—which I’m really excited about.
When I return, I’ll be getting ready for another return: Spartan racing.
Yes, I have decided to voluntarily climb, crawl, carry heavy things, and probably question my life choices while running around a Baseball Stadium. Fun!
Alongside training, I’m doing client work and preparing for school to begin in a couple of weeks.
So yes, there are a lot of moving parts right now—but they’re moving.
Here’s what else I’ve been up to:
Back to recording new conversations for the podcast (and if you’re interested in joining the conversation, click here)
My workout load has doubled as I prepare for my Spartan race, which means recovery has become just as important as training.
I may have a workout scheduled, but if my body is extremely sore or something doesn’t feel right, I adjust.
That might mean moving the workout to another day, lowering the intensity, or taking the rest day my body is clearly asking for.
And honestly? That requires me to let go of my ego a little bit.
I don’t have to work out every single day to prove that I’m committed. Resting doesn’t mean I’m falling behind. Recovery is part of what will make me stronger and help me arrive at the starting line ready.
The funny thing is, since I stopped forcing the schedule and started listening more closely, I can already feel myself getting stronger.
Sometimes honoring the goal means being willing to change the plan.
When you’re tempted to push through simply because something is on the schedule, ask yourself:
Am I avoiding this because it feels challenging, or does my body genuinely need recovery?
Will pushing through help me grow, or will it make recovery harder tomorrow?
What would adjusting—not abandoning—the plan look like today?
The goal isn’t to use “listening to your body” as an excuse to avoid every uncomfortable thing.
It’s to learn the difference between discomfort that helps you grow and a warning that asks you to slow down.
That awareness takes practice.
Take a look at what you planned for the rest of today.
Choose one thing and ask:
Does this still make sense for the energy and capacity I have right now?
If the answer is no, change it.
Move it to another day.
Make it smaller.
Ask for help.
Or let it go completely.
You are allowed to adjust the plan without turning it into a judgment about your discipline, productivity, or worth.
The plan is supposed to support you—not control you.
Hit reply to say hello, share what resonated, or tell me what you’re learning to adjust in this season.
Find me here:
You don’t need a perfect plan to begin again.
You’re allowed to listen, adjust, rest, and keep moving forward in a way that supports the person doing the work.
Until next time,
— Sydnea
P.S. If the episode or blog resonated with you, forward this to someone who is always finding a way to “make it work.” They may need the reminder that they’re allowed to change the plan, too.
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