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The Gentle Path As An Antidote To Burnout
Finding a pace that works best for you takes effort but is worth it
An author’s life is supposed to be a creative one filled with muses, epiphanies and accolades. From toiling away in solitude staring at a blank page (or screen) to receiving awards in front of huge audiences, there are many things a writer fantasizes about in the days leading up to the publication of her book. The months that follow are supposed to be a time to celebrate success and inspire others with behind the scene life stories.
A year ago when my book Rewriting My Happily Ever After — a memoir of divorce and discovery, was published, I was hoping to fly high after the busy months spent writing a memoir about a difficult time of my life. However, I was unable to enjoy the excitement of my book launch because I was in extreme pain. While I continued to do whatever I needed to do to the extent possible given my limited mobility, it was weeks before I found relief. In the months following the release of the book, I resolved to understand my body better.
Although the exact physiological cause of my condition was identified, the most likely explanation was that I was suffering from burnout. Having spent most the preceding months getting everything ready to put my book into the hands of readers, I had neglected my…