You Don't Need a Win. You Need a Break.
For when you're exhausted, and know deep down that another win isn't the cure.
Recently, I told you that you don’t need a break, you need a win. That’s true if you're convinced your actions don't matter. A small win is the best medicine to prove your agency.
But what if you have been getting wins, yet feel a deep exhaustion?
Then you’re facing another beast entirely.
Burnout.
I used to be a big gamer. My teen years? Spent farming epics in World of Warcraft. Until last year, gaming was how I’d wind down. But yesterday, I fired up Resident Evil 4 Remake, got past the first village… and quit. That’s like 15 minutes.
The steady progress of ticking off game "checkboxes" now feels empty. It's a burden, because another task always pops up.
And that’s the difference between discouragement and burnout. One feels like you can’t move, the other like you can’t stop.
Discouragement is a crisis of momentum: it’s caused by a lack of positive feedback, and the cure is to prove you still have agency
Burnout is a crisis of energy: the cure isn’t another win, but true rest, a break from what’s causing the depletion
But what is true rest for a solo builder whose mind is always running?
It’s not just stopping. It’s intentionally filling the tank. If you’re struggling for energy, try this:
Actively disconnect: Don’t just close the laptop. Cut work off completely. Stop the notifications.
Force a reboot: there’s time for productivity later. Do something that replenishes you creatively.
Build systems for rest: True rest is a sustainable habit. Set a hard stop to your workday. Schedule one evening a week for nothing related to your business. Build rest into your system, just like you build features.
The solo journey is a marathon. You can't sprint the whole way.
See you next Saturday!