It’s now been roughly two months since I started full-time work again.

So I think I’m at an appropriate point to reflect on how I’m going with my “rebuilding from burnout” plan.

As I’ve previously set out my Four Pillars approach, I’ll address my reflections under those parameters.

✅ Financial 🏦

It feels good to be earning a wage again after so many years.

Money coming in after years of it simply going out takes a weight of the shoulders.

But at what expense? 🤔

Putting it delicately, this is not the long-term place for me.

The culture is very different to what I’m used to working in in years past and that’s a reflection of the personalities that abound.

Simply, I don’t agree with how some things are done here, but after reflection, I’ve decided to stick it out for a year.

That’s assuming I don’t get the tap on the shoulder before that, but until then I’ll simply treat it as an income generator while I focus on other more long-term pursuits.

✅ Health & Fitness 💪

What health and fitness??!!

A sad consequence of returning to full-time work is that the time I have spent on ensuring my health and fitness is maintained has been drastically reduced.

I always knew that would occur but I’m concerned that there are nights where I don’t even feel like doing a 10 minute session.

This has been my major worry and I think it’s simply a case of reframing things in my mind so i think about the adverse consequences of not doing 10 minutes a night. I tend to feel guilt with some things so may as well extend it to exercise as well.

✅ Technology 🧑‍💻

I’m satisfied with how I’m keeping up-to-date with technology.

Currently, I’m studying automation workflows and I try and do a bit each night after I come home from work.

Between automation and learning more about AI, I feel I’ll be in a good place for when I launch my own venture at some point in future.

Until then, I’ll just maintain the consistency and keep the progression at a steady pace.

And finally …

✅ Social Relationships 🥰

This has been my most difficult pillar to rebuild, for a number of reasons:

🔑 Work is currently all-consuming as I try and bed myself down there

🔑 Between trying to fit everything in on weekends, I’m finding I’m time-poor

🔑 I’m realising I don’t really like people as much as I thought 🫤

A consequence of recovering from trauma is that you tend not to accept fake values or people as easily as you might once have.

One’s tolerance to deal with such individuals wanes over time and in such cases, you find yourself quickly cutting all ties.

After all, time is the most precious commodity of all.

However, this has left me in a quandary, in that I’m now seeing less of the people I want to, since work is consuming nearly all my time, but I’m not meeting new people.

And the type of people I need to meet are those I can learn from so I can progress outside ventures, as well as … well … someone I can share myself with.

For years I looked after most people and was the go-to person.

But now … well … let’s just say it would be nice if I had a go-to person in private life.

Despite eventually wanting a business that serves a number of customers/clients, I really only want three key people in life.

A best friend … an intimate partner … and a mentor.

If i were to rank myself on how I’m going with my four pillars, I’d give myself a 6 out of 10.

Plenty of room for improvement and I have to apply myself a bit harder to get to about 7 or 8 out of 10.

The honeymoon period is over.

Expecting big improvement on next report card!