A candid weekly look at navigating burnout, rebuilding, and finding my next chapter.
This past week felt like a quiet turning point.
Not because everything suddenly got easier — it didn’t — but because something important shifted. For the first time in a while, I wasn’t just coping with burnout. I was creating again. Building. Shipping. Sharing things with the world. And that matters more than I can fully explain yet.
The Emotional Undercurrent
I won’t sugarcoat it: loneliness and uncertainty were still very present this week.
There were days where thoughts about my ex resurfaced harder than expected. Days where I woke up without a clear sense of purpose. Days where the lack of a job, a relationship, or a defined role in someone else’s life made everything feel heavier.
Sundays in particular continue to be challenging — especially without football as a built-in structure — and visits to the nursing home can still be emotionally draining in ways that linger long after I leave.
But what stood out this week wasn’t just what was hard — it was what counterbalanced it.
Building Again (and Loving It)
Two things happened this week that reminded me who I am when burnout loosens its grip:
🚀 Did I Do That? — From Idea to Testers
I spent significant time fixing bugs, improving stability, and preparing Did I Do That? for testing on both Android and iOS. Getting it running in the iOS simulator after hours of fighting with tooling was a huge win — the kind that only developers truly appreciate.
Seeing real people test something I built — and report issues I could fix — made the work feel real. Purposeful. Alive.
This wasn’t forced productivity. I genuinely wanted to work on it.
🌌 StarGaze Weather — A Spark of Inspiration
Later in the week, inspiration struck again. I vibe-coded a new web app — StarGaze Weather — designed to help determine whether conditions are good for stargazing.
I didn’t overthink it. I just built it.
Even better: I wrote a blog post announcing it during the Broncos game, and it brought a noticeable spike in readers. That feedback loop — build → share → connect — lit something up in me that’s been dormant for months.
Structure Is Still the Secret Sauce
One thing this week reinforced very clearly:
I do best when my days have shape.
Gym days continue to be anchors for both my physical and mental health (even if I’m still learning not to push too hard too fast). Starbucks afternoons help when isolation creeps in. Evening routines with familiar shows and games provide comfort rather than avoidance when they’re intentional.
I’m also realizing that much of my identity has historically come from taking care of others — family, partners, work responsibilities. Without that external pull, I’m having to learn how to build purpose for myself.
That’s uncomfortable. But necessary.
I’m seriously considering volunteering — possibly at a local animal shelter — as a way to reintroduce meaning that isn’t tied to productivity or employment.
Signs of Real Recovery
Looking back, there are subtle but important signs that burnout recovery is happening:
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I’m sleeping better overall, even if falling asleep can still be tricky
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Creative energy is returning organically
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Motivation is coming from curiosity, not guilt
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I’m shipping things again — not just thinking about them
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The emotional fog lifts more often, even if it still returns
This doesn’t feel like “I’m fixed.”
It feels like I’m rebuilding.
Looking Ahead
Next week, my focus is simple:
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Continue testing and preparing Did I Do That? for release
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Keep StarGaze Weather lightweight and fun
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Maintain gym consistency without overdoing it
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Add structure to open days instead of drifting through them
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Explore volunteering as a new source of purpose
- Continue to apply for jobs
I’m still surviving in many ways — but I’m no longer only surviving.
And that feels like real progress.
One week at a time.
One thing built at a time.
One spark of momentum at a time.
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