From the novel Already In A Meeting
Burnout that never stops: just until close
The one who can't stopJust this week. Just this month. Just until close. You have been saying it long enough that it has become a way of life with excellent billing records.
Marta
Lawyer, and Tom's partner
“Just this week. Just until close.”
What it looks like at work
1
“Just this week” has lasted two years.
2
You bill your life in six-minute increments, and rest feels unbillable.
3
Your phone comes to dinner. It also comes to the bath.
4
You would decline the word burnout like a meeting request.
The part behind it
Why a part of you does this
This protector keeps you moving because stopping feels dangerous. It wanted support so badly, for so long, that it stopped being able to accept any. Rest looks like a risk to it, so it books one more week. It has kept a lot of things standing. It deserves a break it can believe in.
“She would decline the word burnout like a meeting request.”Marta's inner meeting, from the book
Watch Marta's episode
One thing to try this week
When You Slip
From the book
- Ask yourself where you might be slipping right now. An old pattern returning, slowly. You probably already know.
- Think of one person you would trust to tell you when they see it.
- Ask them. Tell them what you are noticing, and that you would rather hear it from them than catch it three months too late.
Why it helps. Slipping is part of the work. Being seen early is what makes it easy to come back.
In the book
Marta is one of five people at Arco
Arco is a small wellness startup that has pivoted four times in eight months. Already In A Meeting is a short, funny novel about the people inside it, and the meetings running inside each of them, with real parts work underneath. What happens to Marta at the retreat is in the book.
Paperback and Kindle, and free on Kindle Unlimited.
Talk it through
Recognised yourself?
I'm Anna, the author. I work with this as an IFS coach, with professionals and leaders who are good at their jobs and tired of how much it costs them. The first call is free and lasts thirty minutes.
Running a firm full of people saying “just until close”? See how FINO works with teams →
The other four
The one who holds it togetherKate, Chief of Staff
The one with the new planDaniel, Founder and CEO
The one with three versionsPriya, Head of Marketing
The one who says fineTom, Engineering Lead
Seeing these patterns across your whole team? Already In A Meeting for teams →