After Burnout

Your smartwatch is gaslighting you

Your watch can track your sleep, but it can't tell you you're burning out

May 8 • Kelly Vaughn

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April 2026

Breaking out of the "brain fry" spiral of AI

If you're going to use AI, you can avoid letting it fry your brain

Apr 15 • Kelly Vaughn

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February 2026

Shortening the spiral

The goal isn’t eliminating self-critical thoughts, it’s shortening how long they stay

Feb 20 • Kelly Vaughn

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January 2026

The mental math of taking time off

I know I’m allowed to take the time. I just don’t always believe it

Jan 20 • Kelly Vaughn

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December 2025

The week where time stops making sense

Planning, discomfort, and the strange quiet after burnout

Dec 27, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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This year had other plans for me

A reflection on missed goals, unexpected progress, and letting go of the timeline I thought I was on

Dec 21, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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On unlearning the myth of total control

Luck, context, and the quiet pressure we place on effort

Dec 14, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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The surprisingly freeing joy of being bad at something

On rediscovering the joy of being a beginner again

Dec 2, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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September 2025

You’ll be shaky before you’re steady

Burnout makes you crave instant stability. But confidence takes time, and that’s the real work

Sep 8, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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August 2025

The mental cost of a reorg: who am I here anymore?

What hurts more than a layoff? A reorg that leaves you wondering if your work (and your identity) still matter

Aug 25, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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Why AI and “helpful” tech are making us helpless

The convenience of technology is eroding key skills

Aug 18, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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Is your wellness app making you anxious?

How wellness apps use the same psychological mechanisms that create burnout in the first place

Aug 11, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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