{"id":17125,"date":"2025-08-04T17:35:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T22:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/?p=17125"},"modified":"2026-03-15T16:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T21:48:18","slug":"why-this-simple-change-sets-you-free-before-you-burn-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/why-this-simple-change-sets-you-free-before-you-burn-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Why This Simple Change Sets You Free Before You Burn Out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What good is achievement if you burn out?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-image-1609\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/1200px-Zeeboid_burnout-copy-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Burnout when no play\" class=\"wp-image-1609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/1200px-Zeeboid_burnout-copy-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/1200px-Zeeboid_burnout-copy-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/1200px-Zeeboid_burnout-copy-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/1200px-Zeeboid_burnout-copy.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ll never forget this line in High School Valedictorian Sherin George&#8217;s speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cFor the past four years, while ya\u2019ll were out experiencing the world, growing into your own person, making connections with others, I spent the majority of my time in my room, studying, alone, or just in my own world.\u201d &nbsp;<\/strong>Dallas Morning News (DMN), Metro Section, 6\/25\/2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Sherin\u2019s father, Sunny, set a high bar early that she should follow him and her two brothers as Valedictorian of the high school class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cSunny George and his wife, Shibu, didn\u2019t settle for their children simply trying their best.&nbsp; They only accepted them being the best.\u201d&nbsp;<\/strong> DMN, 6\/25\/2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>What early price has Sherin George paid with her&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>soul<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>joy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>relationships<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cWe weren\u2019t allowed Cartoon Network.&nbsp; The only things we were allowed to do when we weren\u2019t at school had to do with learning.&nbsp; We grew up at a young age.\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp; DMN, 6\/25\/2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t know about you, but this sounds like the Alligator Alcatraz of child rearing.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-1615\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/child-rearing-from-the-past.jpg\" alt=\"Burnout begins in childhood\" class=\"wp-image-1615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/child-rearing-from-the-past.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/child-rearing-from-the-past-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-a-great-way-to-burn-out\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">A great way to burn out<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No Cartoon Network<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No play days<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No free days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Think I\u2019m overreacting?&nbsp; Here\u2019s more from her Valedictorian speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cI\u2019m one of the least qualified people to give you advice on how to live a happy, fulfilling life.\u201d&nbsp;<\/strong> Dallas Morning News, 6\/25\/2017.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-1617\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/valedictorian-300x236.jpg\" alt=\"Valedictorian burnout\" class=\"wp-image-1617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/valedictorian-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/valedictorian.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\">The dog always wins\/Maria Barnout<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s downright depressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sherin George just emptied her <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/pain-relief-found-klavans-great-good-thing\/\">sadness<\/a> right in front of the Poteet senior class, along with their families and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m not picking on this young teenager\u2019s accomplishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only one out of every 1,348 students in Texas claims Valedictorian status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, achievement at the cost of burnout leads to misery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-reorder-free-time-ahead-of-focus-time\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Reorder free time ahead of focus time<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dan Sullivan, founder of <em>The Strategic Coach,<\/em>&nbsp;argues that free days are more crucial than focus days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His premise is that scheduled free time should come first over scheduled focus time because free time is really a precondition for success and not a product of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Free time or free days&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>energize creativity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>infuse vision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>settle the soul<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Free days are the fuel for rejuvenation, which, according to Merriam-Webster, means \u201cto make young or youthful again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-1623\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"770\" height=\"416\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/free-time.jpg\" alt=\"free time douses burnout\" class=\"wp-image-1623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/free-time.jpg 770w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/free-time-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/free-time-768x415.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\">Free time douses burnout while fueling success<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Why are Mark Zuckerberg (41) and Elon Musk (54) rocking and rolling with innovative ideas, products, and services?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because they are \u201cyutes\u201d first (<em>My Cousin Vinny<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-medium wp-image-1625\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"295\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/My-Cousin-Vinny-295x300.jpg\" alt=\"Play keeps burnout away\" class=\"wp-image-1625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/My-Cousin-Vinny-295x300.jpg 295w, https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/My-Cousin-Vinny.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><em>My Cousin Vinny<\/em> 1992<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Play is the beginning of a fruitful life at home, school or business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sullivan believes an optimum formula for <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/how-to-be-successful-with-a-long-and-happy-life\/#more-3005\">success<\/a> is to literally schedule<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>free days with no school or business activity at all<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>buffer days with planning away from work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>focus days for all-out execution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And notice the order!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Free days first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-no-play-no-life\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">No play no life<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I noticed this post (edited) on LinkedIn from Rebecca Thomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>&#8220;Today is bittersweet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Today is my last day with a company that I thought I could call home for a very, very long time. No, my position is not being eliminated, my company is not closing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I made the difficult decision to move on from something that I loved.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Because it was killing me. &nbsp;Killing my work\/life balance. &nbsp;Killing my time spent with my husband. &nbsp;Killing my passion for the industry that I&#8217;ve been successful in for well over a decade.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And it&#8217;s not the company&#8217;s fault; its mine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For the last 15 years, I&#8217;ve never been able to turn myself off. &nbsp;I&#8217;ve prioritized my work over my home life. &nbsp;I&#8217;ve prioritized early mornings over late night discussions. &nbsp;I&#8217;ve prioritized long meetings over long hugs. &nbsp;I&#8217;ve prioritized deadlines over my own health. &nbsp;I&#8217;ve prioritized the short term goals over long term dreams.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And then it hit me. I&#8217;m working my life away. Literally.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>My health has rapidly declined. &nbsp;I went through a divorce at age 26.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I worked so many hours that I forgot my ADT code at home.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I stayed at work so long that I missed my grandmothers birthday, and it was the last one she ever had.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I let my job rule every decision I made.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>So I took back the ability to say &#8216;No&#8217;.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>My scheduled play time is ping pong with elementary kids where I volunteer at Highland Park Presbyterian Church on Wednesday nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The kids remind me to loosen up and not take myself seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you balance your schedule?<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What good is achievement if you burn out? I&#8217;ll never forget this line in High School Valedictorian Sherin George&#8217;s speech.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"Why This Simple Change Sets You Free Before You Burn Out","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[110],"tags":[111],"class_list":["post-17125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-burnout","tag-burnout"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why This Simple Change Sets You Free Before You Burn Out - Steve Blaising<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Don&#039;t burn out! 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