Well, Rebecca took a pain killer right before the show (that's where we're at). But this week, we're talking about dealing with chronic illnesses, both mental and physical, especially in the workplace. We discuss the struggle of working through pain in high-stress job hellscapes because we're sometimes afraid to take time off.

We also talk about the invisible illnesses others don't see and how it sucks to feel judged or second-guessed by others in your life when you're ill (managers, parents...even friends).

Plus, we've been dissociating with the new Hello Kitty game, and let us tell you: even the Sanrio Hello Kitties are burnt out on their pretend island (editor's note: Retsuko is, in fact, a red panda).

If you take anything away from this episode, let it be the reminder that you come first. Take that vacation. Pick up the paint brush. Take a mental health day. Set that boundary.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Hello Kitty Island Adventure game for Nintendo Switch
• 2022 work stress study: "Work stress and loss of years lived without chronic disease: an 18-year follow-up of 1.5 million employees in Denmark"
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) article on the early warning signs of job stress

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

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Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music