After Burnout

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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AI promised efficiency. Instead, it’s making us work harder.

AI tools were supposed to free up our time—but they’re increasing our cognitive load and making us less productive. Here’s what’s really happening (and…

Aug 4, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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July 2025

My A+ dropped to an A-

Healing perfectionism, one skipped run at a time

Jul 28, 2025 • Kelly Vaughn

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