Handling Overwork? Easy Peasy. But the Lows? That's Where the Plot Thickens!

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: yes, overwork is exhausting. Yes, it makes your brain feel like mashed potatoes left out in the sun. And yes, it turns your once energetic “Let’s DO this!” into a barely audible “Lemme just nap under this desk real quick.”

But you know what? Overwork, for all its teeth-gritting drama, comes with a weird badge of honor. Society claps for it. Your inbox respects it. Even your smartwatch is like, “You’re crushing it, queen.”

But the lows? Oh no. No standing ovation there. Just tumbleweeds, existential dread, and three-day-old hair buns.

Let’s talk about those lows—the moments when you’ve finished sprinting the productivity marathon and you’re just... floating. Rather sinking. Or standing in the shower staring at the wall for 27 minutes wondering if you’ve ever actually been good at anything or whether your plant is silently judging you.

Overwork is a speed bump. The lows are potholes filled with emotional quicksand.

Overworking is kind of like ordering spicy food. Painful? Sure. But expected. You saw the little red chili symbol and still said, “Should be fun.” But those low days? They sneak up like a rogue wave. One moment you're typing like a caffeinated wizard, and the next you’re questioning the point of it all while contemplating if you've seen better days.

The hardest part? These lows often come after you’ve been your absolute best. You crushed deadlines, inspired a few people on LinkedIn or office (and made them jealous), and even remembered to hydrate. But then... nothing. Flat. Empty. Uninspired. Like someone unplugged the charger of your soul.

So what do you do when the sparkle vanishes and life feels like a poorly written soap opera?

1. Name it. Shame it. Frame it.

Call it what it is: a low. Not laziness. Not failure. Not proof you’re secretly mediocre. Just a low. A natural dip in your emotional WiFi signal. And like your actual WiFi, it will reconnect. Probably after you stop whining about it.

2. Do absolutely nothing. On purpose.

Yup, you heard me. Awaken your inner sloth. Let your productivity brain throw a tantrum in the corner while you lie flat like a loaf of bread. Let the silence speak. Then listen to your body say: “Thanks for not making me run 18 tabs in the background today.”

3. Make peace with your unproductive self.

You are not your output. You’re not a coffee-fueled robot (though honestly, that would explain a lot). You are a human being, complete with a pulse, passions, and a periodic need to cry ugly for no apparent reason. All normal.

4. Laugh. At yourself. At life. At the fact that your goals are terrified of your to-do lists.

When the lows hit, humor is your flotation device. Laugh at how serious you took that one email. Giggle at your three-hour scroll through “motivation quotes” that made you want to nap more. Humor softens the fall and lets you bounce instead of break.

5. Remember: the comeback is built during the calm.

No one rises from burnout mid-sprint. The greatest comebacks aren’t crafted in the fire—they’re molded in the ashes. So if you’re in a low, maybe you’re not lost... maybe you’re marinating. Like a future best-seller or a perfectly fermented pickle. Same vibe.

Your reminder to Chill.

Overwork can be managed with coffee, bullet journals, and the occasional inspirational Spotify playlist. But the lows? They require gentleness. Humor. A total surrender.

You’re not broken. You’re just tired. The world won’t end if you don’t optimize your Monday. And sometimes the most productive thing you can do... is nothing. Or watch a video that makes no sense. Or take a nap while cuddling a stuffed animal named ChimPanda.

So next time a low hits, don’t panic. Don’t spiral. Just say:

“Oh, it’s you again. Cool. Let’s vibe.”

And vibe, you shall. 💛