#BreakThings: Burnt Up

07.07.21

“By now, burnout is a given.”

I never imagined when I left the Legislature in April that I would still be burnt out in July. But I am.

It reminds me of that quote, “Adulthood is just saying, ‘next week things will slow down,’ week after week, until you die.”

We’re all so depleted post-pandemic, I’m not sure one summer can be expected to provide relief. Maybe we need to stop thinking it will and accept that it will take longer to rebuild and recharge than any of us imagined. We need to be more gracious with ourselves, because we’ll all recover in our own time, at our own pace.

One Vacation Thing // What’s the difference between a trip and a vacation?

For many of us, we plan trips, not vacations. So The Atlantic is here to walk you through the process of planning a great vacation and actually enjoying it. Because being able to travel and rest is a learned skill.

One Work Thing // How long should you wait for a response to an e-mail? Two days? Three? And when you finally reach your breaking point, how do you follow up the right way?

The Everygirl tackles these questions and more. Because no one wants to be a pest, but when you need an answer, you need an answer.

One Casual Thing // Never underestimate the power of the perfect ‘throw on’ dress. This Daily Ritual boxy t-shirt dress is the ultimate in ‘f**k it, I just need to put on clothes’ attire. Works with sneakers and a ball cap. Works with sandals and a necklace. Works over a swimsuit at the lake. The dress just works.

One Dinner Thing // These Peanut-Sesame Soba Noodles are the perfect entree or side dish for a summer meal. I load up the veggies (more carrot, chopped broccoli, and lots of cilantro), add extra peanuts, a hint of chili crunch, and serve them at least once every two weeks.

Leftovers are not a thing with this dish, so I cut the recipe in half to serve two people. Your other option is to make everything separately (veg, noodle, sauce) and wait to put it all together until you’re ready to eat. Otherwise the peanut sauce does not reheat well when attached to the noodles and veggies.

One Last Thing // No worries if not.