Tired of Being Told to Relax? 3 Reasons Making Things Is a Better Cure for Corporate Burnout

You're home from an exhausting day of unnecessary meetings, constant Teams notifications, and email overload and all you want to do is unwind... like you've done every night for the past few years.

With endless shows and movies to stream immediately, you'll likely heat up (or order) some food and spend 30 minutes trying to figure out what you want to watch. You feel like you're relaxing and recharging while starting at the TV, but don't actually feel better the next day. Turning your brain off to watch Below Deck or Squid Game should let it rest, right?

When I was working 60+ hours per week, watching TV or playing video games seemed the obvious choice, but here are 3 reasons that Making Things has been a better cure for corporate burnout.

Reason 1: Surfing Streaming Options Is An Endless Loop

You're already burned out from work, so watching some Disney+ should help, right?

The problem is you've already done this every night after work for the last couple of years. Sure, you can keep up with the new shows for conversations with your coworkers you like, but then there is always a new show coming out next week. Streaming becomes something ELSE that you have to keep up with, killing the relaxing side of it.

Like me, you've done this already for a long time and nothing seems to have changed.

You're in an endless, repeating loop lying to yourself that "just finishing this one show" will actually help this time.

Reason 2: You Can't Hold A Netflix Series

What happens when you finally finish that new season?

Maybe you have a conversation at the coffee pot or before that meeting starts, but that's it. You have nothing to show for all the time you invested in the shows, which leaves that empty feeling in your gut. Replacing it with yet another show won't solve anything.

What you're actually looking for is a feeling of accomplishment that you can hold in your hands.

Reason 3: Unlock A Different Side Of Your Brain

You've solved constant problems at work, so why would Making Things be any different?

When you Make things, you solve your own problems your own way. No tickets to file, no requests to be approved, just you and how you want to solve things. You get to tap into your creative side, which uses a different side of your head than staring at spreadsheets all day.

Switching sides of your brain lets the other side rest while being productive.

Making Things puts you in a productive loop of solving problems, gives you something to hold after you're done, and taps your creativity.

I wish someone had recommended this to me years ago.