Burnout and the Reset: Embracing Change and Finding Motivation

How the End-of-Year Funk Sets the Stage for Progress

Merry almost-New-Year, folks. I’m sitting here, sipping coffee and staring out the window, thinking about the whirlwind that was 2024.

And honestly? I’m feeling it. The burnout. The “ugh, what’s the point” vibe. That heavy mix of too much holiday food, reflux that’s absolutely killing me, a mountain of reflection, and a to-do list so long it feels like it was designed to break me.

But here’s the thing—I’ve been here before. This stage? It’s not just normal; it’s necessary.

It’s the calm before the storm. The moment where you’re not sure if you’re moving forward or falling apart. But instead of destroying everything in its path, this storm brings clarity, resets your focus, and lights that spark of motivation that you thought was gone.

Burnout Sucks, But It’s a Crucial Part of the Process

Every year, like clockwork, I hit this funk.

You know the one: “Did I even do anything this year? Should I be doing more? Is eating my weight in cookies every holiday really the tradition I want to keep?”

It’s like an annual existential crisis that sneaks up on you somewhere between Christmas cookies and New Year’s champagne.

And while it’s tempting to slap a motivational quote on it and try to power through, that’s not the answer.

Burnout is the universe yelling at you to slow the hell down. It’s not a sign of failure; it’s a sign you’ve been pushing too hard for too long.

It’s the built-in pause button we all need but never want to hit. But you know what? That pause is where the magic brews. It’s in those moments of rest and reflection that you start to see things clearly again.

Reflecting on the Year

So, here’s one thing I’ve been doing: journaling.

Not some perfect, poetic crap. Just messy, stream-of-consciousness brain dumps that get the clutter out of my head. 5 min rant every day.

Recently, I decided to throw those entries into some AI program for fun, just to see what patterns popped up. And damn, it hit me like a truck.

Every time I wrote about feeling stuck or spinning my wheels, it was followed by a major breakthrough.

Weeks of blah. Self-doubt. Frustration. Feeling like I was going nowhere fast.

Then boom—momentum. Creativity. Progress.

It’s like a stock hitting rock-bottom support and then skyrocketing to a new high. Frustrating in the dip, but oh-so-rewarding on the bounce.

Looking back, I realized those down times weren’t wasted—they were the setup for something better. The quiet before the comeback.

Skip the Resolutions—Seriously

I’ve done the New Year’s resolutions thing forever. You know the drill: grand plans to crush it in the gym, dominate at work, or finally learn the guitar.

Most of them flop by February.

So this year, I’m trying something different. Instead of obsessing over what I want to add to my life, I’m focusing on what I want to subtract.

What sucked the life out of me in 2024? What was a complete waste of time? What do I never want to deal with again?

It’s about clearing out the junk, not piling on more. Because sometimes, the best way to move forward is by lightening the load.

You don’t need a list of shiny new goals; you need a list of the things you’re done putting up with.

The Funk Is Where the Magic Happens

This end-of-year funk isn’t just some annoying roadblock. It’s a reset in disguise.

Think of it as shedding old skin—letting go of what didn’t work and making room for what will.

If you’re feeling stuck right now, lean into it. Don’t fight it, and definitely don’t try to rush through it.

Let it clear the way for whatever’s next. As some business guru probably said or I made it completely up, “Success isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting back up and trying again.”

The lull before the breakthrough? It’s part of the process. You can’t skip it. You can’t avoid it. And if you embrace it, it might just lead to something amazing.

Negative Visualization: Stay with Me

Alright, here’s a concept that might sound a little… dark.

It’s called negative visualization, and it’s exactly what it sounds like.

Instead of focusing on what you’re grateful for, you imagine the worst-case scenario. Like, your loved ones gone. Your finances wiped out. Life as you know it—gone.

Yeah, it’s morbid. But hang in there.

When you come out of that dark headspace, you appreciate what you’ve got so much more. Suddenly, your annoying coworkers don’t seem so bad. Your messy house? A blessing you’re lucky to have.

It’s a weird trick, but it works. It forces you to see the value in what’s already there. And sometimes, that’s all you need going into a new year.

Phase out the bad and focus more on appreciating the good vs adding on new things you clearly suck at. That’s the key here.

What I’m Taking Into 2025

Here’s the deal: I’m done with resolutions, for now anyway. This year, I’m focusing on what I’m not bringing into 2025.

The habits that drained me. The projects that went nowhere. The mindset traps that held me back.

For example, Last year was an amazing year for the stock market, but not for me. My day trading funds would have been better off sitting in the S&P untouched. I was outperformed by the damn market and I carded probably 100 hours trading where as if I just left it in the SPY and spent 0 hours, I would have done Way better. So stupid.

So day trading has been nixed in 2025′.

I’m doubling down on what lights me up and cutting out the rest. It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress.

And sometimes, the best progress starts with saying, “Nope. Not doing that again. Well not this year anyway”

The End-of-Year Lesson

If you’re in a funk right now, don’t fight it. Use it.

Let it clear out the mental clutter. Reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what you’re ready to leave behind.

And maybe, just maybe, skip the resolutions this year. Instead, focus on the don’ts.

What drained you? What held you back? What are you ready to let go of?

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about some shiny, new plan. It’s about embracing the messy, imperfect process of life and figuring that out.

Here’s to the reset.

Let’s crush it in 2025.