Good move and a wonderful explanation of your thinking.
I’m a huge advocate of moving towards things when you can, not just away from what is bad. It gives direction. Here’s what works for me: fall in love.
Fall in love with your dog, a recipe, a piece of art, something you are writing, a place, the people around you. Do it over and over again, every day. Notice when you’re getting too busy or important to fall in love; that is the time to slow down. For me, this love is both why this world is worth saving and where I find creativity.
To echo others, I too have at times found the daily reports more than I could handle. I can’t know nor fix everything, so I look to reporters like you to help focus my attention. A weekly newsletter with details of how people are engaging and could further engage with the topic you are writing about is exactly what I want. I’ve lived decades of being pissed at inaction. I don’t need to be worked up, I need to see where leverage is making change and who has ideas to add to that momentum.
"You see the parallel to climate change, right? The rationale I’ve used to burn myself out is the same rationale the fossil fuel industry uses to burn up the planet. Downplaying and denying the pain extraction brings. Overplaying the ability to heal from its wounds..."
Daaaamn good point. Respect to you for recognizing this, vocalizing it, and changing the way you live to be consistent with your insight.
I feel this. As I'm about to turn 50, I'm now at that burnout phase you anticipated and trying to figure out (again) who I am and how I can make the most of the rest of my career/life in a way that brings me joy as well as achievement. You are well ahead of me in figuring this out in your 30s! But back when I ran a newsletter (on dead tree! by mail!) we published every two weeks and that was still a lot. So it makes perfect sense to cut back and try to do quality weekly work. Just don't get caught up in the idea that every week's newsletter has to be that much better because you're doing it less frequently! That's its own trap. :)
I totally agree with your assessment on burnout and decision to publish weekly. I really enjoy your HEATED newsletter … Thank you for fighting the good fight!
I recently cut back to publishing my own newsletter from 5 days to 4 days. It made a huge difference and I promised myself I'd go to 3 days if 4 started to feel like too much. We need more discussion — in many settings — of the idea that more is not always better.
I taught high school for over 30 years and whenever folks talked about lengthening the school day, I felt enraged. Optional extended day? sure. Summer enrichment? sure. But making children stay in school more than 7 hours a day is not about their needs.
I’ve loved reading your newsletter over the last couple of years Emily. You are an inspiration and I will continue to support you by subscribing. Please look after yourself. x
I have no idea how you’ve kept it up this long. I’m so glad you’re being honest with yourself. To be honest, I did notice it happening, and wondering how things were going. I would have tortured myself over a decision like this, but I think you’ve got it right.
If it means anything, I saw a friend yesterday that I hadn’t seen in a long time. We walked, we talked, and realized we’d both had complete melt downs at some point in the last few months.
Great move! Burn out is real - and avoidable. There are other ways to achieve and sustain. Your own advice of "drink water, break a sweat" just needs to guide you always. I so appreciate that sign-off of yours. Thankful for Heated's reporting. 2x/month would work too.
That's extremely encouraging that you've recognized the signs of burn out. A lot do not (particularly small organizations). I used to write daily and it's exhausting. I never felt I was doing my best work. So I think you'll find that your audience will stay, as in-depth takes they aren't seeing elsewhere are always more valuable than the same story reported by 20 different outlets. Good luck!
I'm literally twice your age and 1/100th as accomplished, but I have learned over the years that the stories that give me the most satisfaction are the ones that took the longest to do. It's time for some slow journalism for you (although weekly would *still* be too much for me). Congrats for recognizing early that you need to have time for your life. I will continue to follow you religiously as I always have.
Guys, your responses are making me ***emotional***! Thank you so, so much for understanding. It really means the world 🥺💚
Good move and a wonderful explanation of your thinking.
I’m a huge advocate of moving towards things when you can, not just away from what is bad. It gives direction. Here’s what works for me: fall in love.
Fall in love with your dog, a recipe, a piece of art, something you are writing, a place, the people around you. Do it over and over again, every day. Notice when you’re getting too busy or important to fall in love; that is the time to slow down. For me, this love is both why this world is worth saving and where I find creativity.
To echo others, I too have at times found the daily reports more than I could handle. I can’t know nor fix everything, so I look to reporters like you to help focus my attention. A weekly newsletter with details of how people are engaging and could further engage with the topic you are writing about is exactly what I want. I’ve lived decades of being pissed at inaction. I don’t need to be worked up, I need to see where leverage is making change and who has ideas to add to that momentum.
"You see the parallel to climate change, right? The rationale I’ve used to burn myself out is the same rationale the fossil fuel industry uses to burn up the planet. Downplaying and denying the pain extraction brings. Overplaying the ability to heal from its wounds..."
Daaaamn good point. Respect to you for recognizing this, vocalizing it, and changing the way you live to be consistent with your insight.
As a subscriber, it's more important to me that you get healthy and stick around long term to report, than to churn out content daily.
Burnout AKA Moral Injury, is serious, and I hope you recover and work around it or after solving it.
I'm fine being inspired or pissed once a week by HEATED.
I feel this. As I'm about to turn 50, I'm now at that burnout phase you anticipated and trying to figure out (again) who I am and how I can make the most of the rest of my career/life in a way that brings me joy as well as achievement. You are well ahead of me in figuring this out in your 30s! But back when I ran a newsletter (on dead tree! by mail!) we published every two weeks and that was still a lot. So it makes perfect sense to cut back and try to do quality weekly work. Just don't get caught up in the idea that every week's newsletter has to be that much better because you're doing it less frequently! That's its own trap. :)
Dear Emily,
I totally agree with your assessment on burnout and decision to publish weekly. I really enjoy your HEATED newsletter … Thank you for fighting the good fight!
Love, Dennis
Take care of yourself first! (feeling less guilty about letting multiple issues pile up anyways)
This is a great decision.
Please take care of yourself. We readers aren’t going anywhere. Sending positive, healing vibes in your direction.
I recently cut back to publishing my own newsletter from 5 days to 4 days. It made a huge difference and I promised myself I'd go to 3 days if 4 started to feel like too much. We need more discussion — in many settings — of the idea that more is not always better.
I taught high school for over 30 years and whenever folks talked about lengthening the school day, I felt enraged. Optional extended day? sure. Summer enrichment? sure. But making children stay in school more than 7 hours a day is not about their needs.
I’ve loved reading your newsletter over the last couple of years Emily. You are an inspiration and I will continue to support you by subscribing. Please look after yourself. x
I have no idea how you’ve kept it up this long. I’m so glad you’re being honest with yourself. To be honest, I did notice it happening, and wondering how things were going. I would have tortured myself over a decision like this, but I think you’ve got it right.
If it means anything, I saw a friend yesterday that I hadn’t seen in a long time. We walked, we talked, and realized we’d both had complete melt downs at some point in the last few months.
I guess what I’m saying is, it going to be OK.
Great move! Burn out is real - and avoidable. There are other ways to achieve and sustain. Your own advice of "drink water, break a sweat" just needs to guide you always. I so appreciate that sign-off of yours. Thankful for Heated's reporting. 2x/month would work too.
That's extremely encouraging that you've recognized the signs of burn out. A lot do not (particularly small organizations). I used to write daily and it's exhausting. I never felt I was doing my best work. So I think you'll find that your audience will stay, as in-depth takes they aren't seeing elsewhere are always more valuable than the same story reported by 20 different outlets. Good luck!
I'm literally twice your age and 1/100th as accomplished, but I have learned over the years that the stories that give me the most satisfaction are the ones that took the longest to do. It's time for some slow journalism for you (although weekly would *still* be too much for me). Congrats for recognizing early that you need to have time for your life. I will continue to follow you religiously as I always have.