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Welcome to the Balancing Act, the space where we talk
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about the highs, the lows, and the lessons that help
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us keep going. I'm your host, Niki Marie. Today's episode
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is a personal one. We're digging into something I've seen
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play out in classrooms and offices and yes, even in
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my own life, mental health, in the workplace and in schools.
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We're gonna talk about burnout, the pressure to perform, the
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pursuit of balance, and the resources that are out there
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when you feel like you're carrying more than you can handle.
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For me, conversations like this always tie back to legacy.
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A few weeks ago, I was featured in Voyage magazine
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where I shared my values and why building a legacy
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matters so deeply to me. I said something during that
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interview that still drives me today. I can't miss the
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opportunity to build a legacy name for myself. I'm pretty
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sure you've probably said that to yourself as well, that
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you can't miss the opportunity to build a legacy name
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for yourself. Well, that legacy isn't about perfection. It's about honesty,
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resilience and lifting others while you climb. So with that
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in mind, let's get in today's conversation. Let's kick things
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off with the highs. You know that feeling when all
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your hard work actually pays off, chasing that promotion, getting recognized,
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nailing your grades, and earning that degree, making your family proud.
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It feels good right. Those accomplishments are what keep us
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going even when things get really tough. But the lows
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they're real. Burnout doesn't just show up overnight. It sneaks in.
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You start feeling exhausted, even after sleeping. You stop feeling
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connected to your work or your studies, and even small
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tasks become overwhelming, and that joy of achievement, well, it
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starts to fade. And here's what makes it harder. Burnout
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is normalized in schools. We hear college is supposed to
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be stressful. At work, we hear that's just part of
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the hustle. But why should stress be the standard? Working
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in higher education, I often hear what students are really
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going through. One student once told me I'm not even
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excited about graduating anymore. I just want it to be over.
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And that moment stuck with me because education should be
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about growth and discovery, not just getting through it. It
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made me reflect on my own life. Just the other day,
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I told a coworker, I want to spend more time
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with my kids on the weekends, but by Friday, I'm
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so drained that I can't even enjoy the weekend. That's
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when it hit me. I wasn't living in balance. I
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was living in survival mode. And here's the truth. So
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many of us are stuck in survival mode without even
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realizing it. But life isn't meant to be something we
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simply pushed through. It's meant to be experienced, enjoyed, and
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lived with intention. When I shared my story and Voyage magazine,
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I opened up about how my faith and my life
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are what keep me ground. My family is my why,
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because the truth is, I know what it feels like
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to be weighed down, to feel like you're just trying
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to make it through the day. But even those heavy moments,
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I remind myself that I can't stop. For me, It's
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bigger than just surviving. It's about creating something that lasts.
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Something my children, my students, and even people that I
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may never meet can look at and say she didn't
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give up. She just kept going. That's what legacy is.
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It's not about perfection or having everything figured out. It's
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about the willingness to keep moving, to learn from the lows,
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to celebrate the highs, and to honor the lessons in between,
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Because those in between moments that's where growth happens. That's
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where resilience is built. And when you can look back
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and see how those experiences shaped you, that becomes part
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of your story, your purpose, your legacy. I want you
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to take a moment and ask yourself, am I working
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to live or just surviving to get by? That answer
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says a lot about where you are and where you
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might need support. Have you ever woke up feeling like
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you've been running a marathon in your sleep? Well, that's burnout,
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and it's even more than just tired. It's when your mind, body,
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and spirit are waving a white flag signaling that they've
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been carrying too much for too long. Burnout often hits
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the people who care the most, the ones who give
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their all to work, school, family, and everyone around them,
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sometimes forgetting to save any energy for themselves. At first,
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it might feel subtle, a lingering fatigue, hear, a little
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irritability there, But over time it builds like a storm,
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quickly gathering strength. You tell yourself, if I can just
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get through this week, I'll be okay. But that week
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turns into another, and suddenly months have gone by. You're
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running on empty. Your joy feels muted, and even the
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things you once love seem distant and or exhausting. It's
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the kind of exhaustion that rest alone doesn't fix. Because
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burnout isn't just physical, it's emotional and mental. It can
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make you feel disconnected from the people and passions that
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you usually are fueled by. And the scary part, it
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often disguises itself as dedication or ambition, convincing you that
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pushing harder is the solution, when really your mind and
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body are begging for a pause. The truth is, burnout
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doesn't just show up one day. It builds little by little.
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It starts when you skip lunch because you're too busy,
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when you stay up late finishing that one last thing,
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and when you keep saying yes even though your heart
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and body are begging for a break. You might notice
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that you've stopped enjoying the things that you used to
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be excited by. You might get irritable, disconnected, or feel
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like you're just going through the motions Physically Burnout shows
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as constant fatigue, headaches, sleepless nights, even body aches that
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don't seem to go away now. Mentally, it's that fog
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that makes it hard to focus. Emotionally, it's feeling empty
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even when you're supposed to feel accomplished. And here's the kicker.
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Burnout often disguises itself as ambition. But we push harder
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thinking we're productive, when really we're wearing ourselves down. The
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hardest part is that burnout can make you feel like
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you've failed, like you couldn't handle what life threw at you.
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But the truth is, burnout isn't failure. It's your body's
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way of saying, hey, something's got to change, So pause,
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take that break, set boundaries without guilt, ask for help
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if you need it, because you can't pour from an
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empty cup, And burnout is your reminder that even strong
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people need rest. And you know what's powerful when people
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finally admit I'm burnt out. It's a simple statement, but
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it carries so much weight because admitting burnout means you're
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acknowledging that the pace you've been running at mentally, emotionally,
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and physically just isn't sustainable anymore. Burnout doesn't always start loud.
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Sometimes it looks like snapping out the people you love
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for small things, forgetting a appointments, or feeling numb instead
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of proud when you achieve something. It creeps in quietly
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until one day you realize you're not just tired, you're empty.
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So let's take a real example. Imagine a mother named Jasmine.
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She's struggling with a full time job, helping her kids
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with homework, keeping up with the bills, cooking, cleaning, and
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still trying to be emotionally available for everyone around her. Now,
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on paper, she's doing it all, but behind that she's exhausted.
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Just picture this. Every morning she wakes up already drained.
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She rushes to get the kids ready, skips breakfast, and
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tells herself she'll rest this weekend. But the weekend comes.
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Instead of resting, she's catching up on laundry or answering
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work emails because she doesn't want to fall behind. And
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one night, Jasmine sits in her car after d off
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her kids at soccer practice and she just cries. There's
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no music, no phone, just silence. That's burnout. It's that
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moment when your body and mind finally say we can't
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keep going like this. The impact can touch every part
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of her life. She might start feeling detached from her kids,
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even though she loves them deeply. Her performance at work
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might be slipping', not because she's careless, but because she's overwhelmed.
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She may even begin to doubt herself, wondering why she
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can't handle what used to feel easy. Burnout doesn't just
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drain energy, it drains joy. It replaces excitement with anxiety,
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connection with distance, and purpose with survival. The truth Jasmine's
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story is one that so many people especially can relate to.
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The constant juggling act, the endless to do lists, the
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pressure to hold everything together even when you're falling apart inside.
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But here's the thing. Burnout doesn't mean you're broken. It
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means you've been giving from a place of love for
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so long that your spirit is asking you to slow
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down and refill. The first step to healing from burnout
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isn't pushing harder. It's giving your self permission to pause,
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to breathe, to rest without guilt, to ask for help
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without shame. It's learning that rest isn't a reward that
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you haven't earned or that you have to earn. It's
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your right, So start small. Maybe it's five minutes of
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quiet before your bed, you know, before your day begins.
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Maybe it's saying no to one extra task this week.
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Maybe it's scheduling time for something that brings you joy,
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not just because it's productive, but because it's nourishing to you.
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I mean, healing begins when you stop treating rest as
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a luxury and start seeing it as essential. And remember this,
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You can't pour it into others when your cup is empty,
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but when you take time to refill it through rest,
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self care and boundaries, you show up stronger, calmer, and
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more present. You deserve peace just as much as you
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deserve purpose, So give yourself grace. The world will keep spending,
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but you only have one body, one mind, and one heart,
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so you have to protect it. You have to honor
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it and remind yourself daily it's okay to slow down.
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You're not falling behind. You're finding your balance again. That's
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what you're doing. You're finding your balance again. Resources for
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employees now, you can ask HR your human resource about
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employee assistance programs or EAPs. Many offer free counseling, coaching,
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and family support. You have to review your mental health benefits.
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Many assurance plans now cover teletherapy, mindfulness apps, and stress
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management tools. Advocate for flexible scheduling or hybrid options. If
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your workload feels overwhelmed, participate in workplace mental health trainings
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and stress management workshops. For students, you can use campus
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counseling centers and wellness services. They're often free or included
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in your tuition. Meet with academic advisors if you need
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help manage course loads or accommodations. You can also join
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peer support groups or wellness clubs for community and connection.
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Take advantage of mental health apps and mindfulness tools that
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many schools now provide at no costs. Now people will
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ask what kind of questions should I be asking? Whether
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it be my employer or at school. So the key
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questions to ask at work? What mental health resources are
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part of my benefits? How do I access the employee
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assistance program? Is flexible scheduling or hybrid work possible? And
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what is my company doing to support well being? For school?
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What support is available if I'm overwhelmed? How do I
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request academic accommodations. Who can I talk to for mentoring
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or peer support? Ord what wellness programs or services are
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included with tuition, and as always, there are emergency and
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support hotlines. Sometimes pressure feels heavier than what we can
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carry alone. If you are someone you know is struggling,
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here are the numbers you can call right now. You
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can dial nine eight eight anytime in the US for
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free twenty four to seven crisis support crisis text line.
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You can text Hello h E L l O to
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seven four one seven four one to connect with a
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trained crisis counselor you can also call one eight hundred
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sixty six y two Help H E L P or
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one eight hundred sixty six two four three five seven
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for treatment referrals and mental health resources. Remember, asking for
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help doesn't make you weak, it makes you wise. Pressure
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may be part of life, but you don't have to
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face it alone. Support is out there and your well
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being is worth protecting. Let's talk about pressure because pressure
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is often the root of burnout. You know, for students,
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it's the weight of grades, scholarships, internships, and trying to
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make your family proud. For professionals, it's deadlines, quotas, proving
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yourself and job security yay. So pressure to perform that
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invisible weight that makes you feel like you always have
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to be on, whether it's at work, at school, at home,
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or even online. The world tells us that our value
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comes from how much we achieve or how productive we are.
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We live in a culture that praises the hustle but
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rarely celebrates the rest, and that constant push can quietly
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chip away at your confidence, your peace, and even your joy.
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I mean, from an early age, we're taught to chase success,
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the perfect grades, the perfect body, the perfect career, and
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when you finally get there, the goal post moves again.
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Suddenly you're asking what's next instead of celebrating how far
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you've come. That feeling of never quite arriving can be
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existing exhausting, leaving you on autopilot, running on deadlines and
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expectations instead of purpose. The pressure comes from everywhere. Your
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boss expecting more, your family looking up to you, your
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peers posting their highlight reels on social media, and let's
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be real, sometimes the biggest pressure comes from within. You
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might find yourself working longer hours, saying yes to everything,
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or constantly comparing your pace to someone else's progress, and
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over time that way can start to feel like it's
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defining your entire life. The danger is that performance pressure
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tricks you into thinking that's slowing down means you're falling behind.
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But here's the truth. You're supposed to live life at
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full speed all the time, right, Actually, you're not supposed to.
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The danger is that performance pressure tricks you into thinking
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that's slowing down means you're falling behind. But here's the truth.
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You're not supposed to live life at full speed all
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the time. Ambition is healthy, yes it is, but not
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if it costs you your peace, your relationships, or your health.
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So what can we do when that pressure creeps in?
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You can start by pausing and asking yourself, who am
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I doing this for? And really sit with that question,
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because so often we're chasing goals to please others, to
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meet expectations, or to keep up with everyone else, and
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in the process we lose sight of what truly matters
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to us. Reconnect with your own values, make sure you
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set boundaries that protect your time, your energy, and your
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peace of mind. Celebrate the small wins and not just
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the big ones, because progress isn't always measured by achievements alone.
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Sometimes it's measured by growth, by resilience, and by the
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courage to keep going even when it's hard, and remember this,
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True success isn't about doing it all. It's about doing
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what matters to you with intention and presence. You are
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more than your output, more than your accomplishments, more than
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the roles others expect you to. You are allowed to rest,
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You are allowed to reflect, You are allowed to just be.
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You are allowed to also say no, to pause, to
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put yourself first without shame, without guilt, and without apology.
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But here's the secret. Performing at your best doesn't come
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from constantly running or trying to keep up. It comes
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from showing up fully, intentionally, and peacefully. It comes from
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honoring your limits while stretching your potential. It comes from
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living life on your own terms, with purpose and presence,
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instead of letting pressure dictate your pace. So pause, breathe,
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and ask yourself again, who am I doing this for?
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And let that answer guide your next step. Remember, real
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success is not about how fast you move, but how
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aligned your life is with what truly matters to you. Fact,
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many college students feel burnt out, with numbers ranging from
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twelve percent to over seventy percent. More than half of
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college students report academic burnout, and about one in five
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say their symptoms are severe. Among employees, more than half
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report higher stress today than just five years ago, with
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job and security being one of the biggest factors. Many
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companies offer employee assistant programs, yet only five to seven
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percent of employees actually use them. Now, let's get into
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something that we all chase but rarely feel like we've mastered,
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and that's balance. Everyone talks about work life balance like
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it's a destination, like if you're just gonna arrange your
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schedule perfectly and everything will fall into place. But the
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truth is, balance isn't a fixed point you reach. It's
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it's more like a rhythm. It's not about dividing your
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time evenly between work, family, rest, and play. It's about
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being fully present wherever you are, giving your energy to
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the things that matter most in each moment. Some days
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your energy might need to go toward work or school.
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Other days your focus needs to shift to family, faith,
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or your own mental health. And that's okay. Balance is
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not static. It shifts as life shifts, right. The problem
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is we often guilt ourselves for not doing everything perfect.
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You spend hours working toward your goals and then feel
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guilty for missing quality time with family. You take a
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quiet moment for yourself and then feel guilty for not
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being productive. That always happens to me, and that cycle
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of guilt and self judgment leaves us mentally drained and
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emotionally exhausted. The pursuit of balance, it starts with self awareness.
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It begins by pausing and asking yourself, what do I
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truly need today? Maybe it's peace and quiet, a few
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minutes to journal or meditate. Maybe it's movement, a walk,
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a workout, or dancing to your favorite song, or maybe
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listening to the Balancing Act. Maybe it's connection with people
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who uplift and inspire you rather than drain your energy.
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When you start honoring those needs instead of pushing them aside,
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you begin to live with intention rather than reaction. Balance
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also means setting boundaries that protect your energy. You don't
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have to say yes to everything or everyone. Saying no
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isn't selfish, it's self care. It's how you perceive the mental, emotional,
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and physical space you need to show up fully think
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about think about this. When you over commit, it might
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be present physically, but your mind and heart are elsewhere.
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When you honor your limits, you show up as your
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best self. You know, calm, focused and fully engaged. Another
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important part of balance is redefining what success looks like.
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Balance isn't about doing it all. It's about making space
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for what matters most. Sometimes that means choosing rest over
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extra work. Sometimes it means celebrating small victories instead of
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waiting for the big ones. Sometimes it means taking time
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to reflect, to recharge, or even to fail without judgment.
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Ooh fail. Listen. Life is messy, and balance allows us
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to navigate that mess with grace rather than guilt. So
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just remember that balance isn't perfection. It's permission, permission to
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pivot when life changed, permission to pause when you're overwhelmed,
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Permission to breathe and adjust when things don't go as planned.
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It's about feeling aligned with your values, your priorities, and
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your true needs. It's about listening to yourself, trusting yourself,
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and giving yourself the grace to live intentionally. Because when
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you find your rhythm, that unique flow that works for you,
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you don't just survive your days. You start living them
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fully with awareness and purpose. You show up for your work,
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your family, your goals, and most importantly, yourself. You begin
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to notice the little moments, the quiet sunrise, the laughter
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of a loved one, the satisfaction of completing a task
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that truly matters, and they start to feel bigger, richer,
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and more meaningful. Like today recording this podcast from the
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Nasau Community College Radio station WHPC, and this is probably
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the longest I've ever been at this station. But I'm
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doing this for me, But I'm also doing this because
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I want to give advice or offer advice to others
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who love to listen to podcasts. Balance is the key
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that turns motion into meaning, stress into clarity, and exhaustion
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into energy. It's not about doing more, and I don't
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feel like I'm doing more right now. I feel like
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I got my piece right here, especially those who are listening.
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But being fully present, intentionally engaged, and grounded in each
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moment is what makes me happy. It's about giving yourself
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permission to rest without guilt, to say no when needed,
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and to prioritize what truly matters, which again is this
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podcast The Balancing Act, Ties lows lessons. And you know
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the magic of balance is that it transforms how you
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experience life. Challenges become opportunities for growth, setbacks become lessons,
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and your energy becomes a source of power rather than depletion.
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When you live in this rhythm, you move through life
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with grace, resilience, and a deeper connection to yourself and
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those around you. Happiness is not a matter of intensity,
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but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony. As I mentioned before,
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balance isn't just about surviving today, it's about investing in tomorrow.
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And I just want to do a quick recap of
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what are some practical things that we can do when
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it comes to boundaries. So how do we actually find balance?
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Balance isn't one size fits all. For some, it's shifting
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down work at six pm, like shutting everything down. For others,
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it's saying no to that extra class or project. Balance
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isn't perfection, it's creating space for your mental health to breathe.
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So some practical tips set boundaries protect your time outside
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of work or school. An example would be turning off
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email notifications after six or politely declining extra tasks that
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interfere with your personal time or schedule. Do not disturb
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blocks on your calendar for breaks and self care like
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come on, definitely need to do that, and check in
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with yourself daily. Ask yourself, am I okay, what do
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I need right now. Examples could be spending five minutes
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each morning journaling your mood or stress level, or let's
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say during lunch, pause and ask yourself, am I tired?
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Do I need a walk? Do I need a snack?
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Or you can also use a mood tracking app to
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stay aware of your emotional state. I mean, they have
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so many things on these devices now. But also redefine productivity,
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so rest does count. And examples would be, you know,
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give yourself permission to take a nap or to take
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a break, or to do something that again gives you
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pressure a pleasure without guilt. Another example rest or recovery time.
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Add it to your to do lists. Celebrate the small
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winds like taking that walk or drinking enough water. That's
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something that we definitely need to do more of. I
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actually have been soa free for almost two months, and
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just small little things changing my diet can definitely help.
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You know, just the things that you take into your body,
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and it's not even just the things that you eat,
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it's the things that you watch on TV. Anything that
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feeds your mind, your body, your soul in a positive way,
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it's always gonna help. You can also use some resources,
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you know counseling centers, maybe trusted friends or mentors. Make
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an appointment with your school's counseling center, you know, especially
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during the times that maybe you're going through exams or
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whatever that looks like for you. You know, schedule some
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coffee chats or some shopping times if it doesn't make
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you feel guilty, because you know, sometimes spending money can
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definitely make people feel guilty. In the end, as I
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I said in my voyage interview, I share that my
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goal is to inspire others while continuing to build my
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own legacy, and that legacy isn't just rooted in what
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I accomplish, but in how I live, how I lead,
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and how I take care of myself. Along the way,
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I really want people to see that resilience doesn't mean
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pushing through at all costs. It means knowing when to pause,
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when to ask for support, and when to rest so
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you can rise again. Ress is not a weakness. Me
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going through my postpartum I really had to learn that
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I just needed to rest, and I also needed to
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admit to myself that I needed help. But rest is
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not a weakness, It's a strategy. Asking for help doesn't
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make you less capable. It makes you human. And if
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I can model that for others, I know, Oh I'm
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doing more than just reaching my goals. I'm creating space
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for others to believe that they can do the same
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in a healthier and more sustainable way. Today's question is
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what does balance look like for you right now? And
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what's one small step you can take this week to
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protect your mental health? And I again want to tie
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this back to my voyage article. I'm proud of that
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in that interview, I said I can't miss the opportunity
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to build a legacy name for myself. That wasn't just
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about career or success. It was about purpose, about building
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something that lasts beyond me. When you think about balance,
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think about legacy and what kind of story are you
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writing for yourself? Will your story be one of exhaustion
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and burnout or one of resilience, healing and impact. I've
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had to learn to give myself grace, and I'm going
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to ask the same of you. Give yourself grace, rest
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when you need, to ask for help when you need it,
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and never forget your mental health isn't a luxury, It's
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part of your legacy. This has been the balancing act
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with Nicki Marie. If today's episode resonated with you, share
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it with a coworker, classmate, or friend, and don't forget
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to subscribe so you don't miss the next conversation until
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next time. Keep balancing, keep learning, and keep protecting your peace.
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Unto the balls to balls
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Welcome to the Balancing Act, the space where we talk
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about the highs, the lows, and the lessons that help
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us keep going. I'm your host, Niki Marie. Today's episode
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is a personal one. We're digging into something I've seen
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play out in classrooms and offices and yes, even in
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my own life, mental health, in the workplace and in schools.
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We're gonna talk about burnout, the pressure to perform, the
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pursuit of balance, and the resources that are out there
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when you feel like you're carrying more than you can handle.
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For me, conversations like this always tie back to legacy.
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A few weeks ago, I was featured in Voyage magazine
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where I shared my values and why building a legacy
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matters so deeply to me. I said something during that
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interview that still drives me today. I can't miss the
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opportunity to build a legacy name for myself. I'm pretty
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sure you've probably said that to yourself as well, that
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you can't miss the opportunity to build a legacy name
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for yourself. Well, that legacy isn't about perfection. It's about honesty,
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resilience and lifting others while you climb. So with that
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in mind, let's get in today's conversation. Let's kick things
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off with the highs. You know that feeling when all
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your hard work actually pays off, chasing that promotion, getting recognized,
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nailing your grades, and earning that degree, making your family proud.
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It feels good right. Those accomplishments are what keep us
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going even when things get really tough. But the lows
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they're real. Burnout doesn't just show up overnight. It sneaks in.
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You start feeling exhausted, even after sleeping. You stop feeling
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connected to your work or your studies, and even small
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tasks become overwhelming, and that joy of achievement, well, it
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starts to fade. And here's what makes it harder. Burnout
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is normalized in schools. We hear college is supposed to
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be stressful. At work, we hear that's just part of
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the hustle. But why should stress be the standard? Working
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in higher education, I often hear what students are really
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going through. One student once told me I'm not even
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excited about graduating anymore. I just want it to be over.
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And that moment stuck with me because education should be
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about growth and discovery, not just getting through it. It
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made me reflect on my own life. Just the other day,
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I told a coworker, I want to spend more time
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with my kids on the weekends, but by Friday, I'm
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so drained that I can't even enjoy the weekend. That's
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when it hit me. I wasn't living in balance. I
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was living in survival mode. And here's the truth. So
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many of us are stuck in survival mode without even
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realizing it. But life isn't meant to be something we
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simply pushed through. It's meant to be experienced, enjoyed, and
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lived with intention. When I shared my story and Voyage magazine,
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I opened up about how my faith and my life
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are what keep me ground. My family is my why,
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because the truth is, I know what it feels like
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to be weighed down, to feel like you're just trying
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to make it through the day. But even those heavy moments,
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I remind myself that I can't stop. For me, It's
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bigger than just surviving. It's about creating something that lasts.
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Something my children, my students, and even people that I
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may never meet can look at and say she didn't
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give up. She just kept going. That's what legacy is.
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It's not about perfection or having everything figured out. It's
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about the willingness to keep moving, to learn from the lows,
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to celebrate the highs, and to honor the lessons in between,
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Because those in between moments that's where growth happens. That's
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where resilience is built. And when you can look back
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and see how those experiences shaped you, that becomes part
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of your story, your purpose, your legacy. I want you
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to take a moment and ask yourself, am I working
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to live or just surviving to get by? That answer
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says a lot about where you are and where you
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might need support. Have you ever woke up feeling like
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you've been running a marathon in your sleep? Well, that's burnout,
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and it's even more than just tired. It's when your mind, body,
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and spirit are waving a white flag signaling that they've
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been carrying too much for too long. Burnout often hits
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the people who care the most, the ones who give
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their all to work, school, family, and everyone around them,
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sometimes forgetting to save any energy for themselves. At first,
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it might feel subtle, a lingering fatigue, hear, a little
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irritability there, But over time it builds like a storm,
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quickly gathering strength. You tell yourself, if I can just
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get through this week, I'll be okay. But that week
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turns into another, and suddenly months have gone by. You're
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running on empty. Your joy feels muted, and even the
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things you once love seem distant and or exhausting. It's
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the kind of exhaustion that rest alone doesn't fix. Because
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burnout isn't just physical, it's emotional and mental. It can
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make you feel disconnected from the people and passions that
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you usually are fueled by. And the scary part, it
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often disguises itself as dedication or ambition, convincing you that
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pushing harder is the solution, when really your mind and
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body are begging for a pause. The truth is, burnout
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doesn't just show up one day. It builds little by little.
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It starts when you skip lunch because you're too busy,
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when you stay up late finishing that one last thing,
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and when you keep saying yes even though your heart
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and body are begging for a break. You might notice
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that you've stopped enjoying the things that you used to
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be excited by. You might get irritable, disconnected, or feel
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like you're just going through the motions Physically Burnout shows
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as constant fatigue, headaches, sleepless nights, even body aches that
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don't seem to go away now. Mentally, it's that fog
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that makes it hard to focus. Emotionally, it's feeling empty
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even when you're supposed to feel accomplished. And here's the kicker.
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Burnout often disguises itself as ambition. But we push harder
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thinking we're productive, when really we're wearing ourselves down. The
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hardest part is that burnout can make you feel like
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you've failed, like you couldn't handle what life threw at you.
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But the truth is, burnout isn't failure. It's your body's
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way of saying, hey, something's got to change, So pause,
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take that break, set boundaries without guilt, ask for help
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if you need it, because you can't pour from an
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empty cup, And burnout is your reminder that even strong
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people need rest. And you know what's powerful when people
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finally admit I'm burnt out. It's a simple statement, but
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it carries so much weight because admitting burnout means you're
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acknowledging that the pace you've been running at mentally, emotionally,
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and physically just isn't sustainable anymore. Burnout doesn't always start loud.
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Sometimes it looks like snapping out the people you love
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for small things, forgetting a appointments, or feeling numb instead
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of proud when you achieve something. It creeps in quietly
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until one day you realize you're not just tired, you're empty.
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So let's take a real example. Imagine a mother named Jasmine.
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She's struggling with a full time job, helping her kids
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with homework, keeping up with the bills, cooking, cleaning, and
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still trying to be emotionally available for everyone around her. Now,
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on paper, she's doing it all, but behind that she's exhausted.
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Just picture this. Every morning she wakes up already drained.
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She rushes to get the kids ready, skips breakfast, and
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tells herself she'll rest this weekend. But the weekend comes.
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Instead of resting, she's catching up on laundry or answering
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work emails because she doesn't want to fall behind. And
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one night, Jasmine sits in her car after d off
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her kids at soccer practice and she just cries. There's
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no music, no phone, just silence. That's burnout. It's that
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moment when your body and mind finally say we can't
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keep going like this. The impact can touch every part
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of her life. She might start feeling detached from her kids,
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even though she loves them deeply. Her performance at work
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might be slipping', not because she's careless, but because she's overwhelmed.
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She may even begin to doubt herself, wondering why she
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can't handle what used to feel easy. Burnout doesn't just
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drain energy, it drains joy. It replaces excitement with anxiety,
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connection with distance, and purpose with survival. The truth Jasmine's
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story is one that so many people especially can relate to.
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The constant juggling act, the endless to do lists, the
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pressure to hold everything together even when you're falling apart inside.
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But here's the thing. Burnout doesn't mean you're broken. It
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means you've been giving from a place of love for
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so long that your spirit is asking you to slow
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down and refill. The first step to healing from burnout
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isn't pushing harder. It's giving your self permission to pause,
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to breathe, to rest without guilt, to ask for help
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without shame. It's learning that rest isn't a reward that
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you haven't earned or that you have to earn. It's
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your right, So start small. Maybe it's five minutes of
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quiet before your bed, you know, before your day begins.
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Maybe it's saying no to one extra task this week.
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Maybe it's scheduling time for something that brings you joy,
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not just because it's productive, but because it's nourishing to you.
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I mean, healing begins when you stop treating rest as
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a luxury and start seeing it as essential. And remember this,
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You can't pour it into others when your cup is empty,
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but when you take time to refill it through rest,
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self care and boundaries, you show up stronger, calmer, and
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more present. You deserve peace just as much as you
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deserve purpose, So give yourself grace. The world will keep spending,
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but you only have one body, one mind, and one heart,
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so you have to protect it. You have to honor
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it and remind yourself daily it's okay to slow down.
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You're not falling behind. You're finding your balance again. That's
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what you're doing. You're finding your balance again. Resources for
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employees now, you can ask HR your human resource about
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employee assistance programs or EAPs. Many offer free counseling, coaching,
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and family support. You have to review your mental health benefits.
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Many assurance plans now cover teletherapy, mindfulness apps, and stress
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management tools. Advocate for flexible scheduling or hybrid options. If
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your workload feels overwhelmed, participate in workplace mental health trainings
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and stress management workshops. For students, you can use campus
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counseling centers and wellness services. They're often free or included
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in your tuition. Meet with academic advisors if you need
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help manage course loads or accommodations. You can also join
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peer support groups or wellness clubs for community and connection.
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Take advantage of mental health apps and mindfulness tools that
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many schools now provide at no costs. Now people will
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ask what kind of questions should I be asking? Whether
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it be my employer or at school. So the key
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questions to ask at work? What mental health resources are
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part of my benefits? How do I access the employee
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assistance program? Is flexible scheduling or hybrid work possible? And
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what is my company doing to support well being? For school?
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What support is available if I'm overwhelmed? How do I
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request academic accommodations. Who can I talk to for mentoring
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or peer support? Ord what wellness programs or services are
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included with tuition, and as always, there are emergency and
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support hotlines. Sometimes pressure feels heavier than what we can
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carry alone. If you are someone you know is struggling,
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here are the numbers you can call right now. You
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can dial nine eight eight anytime in the US for
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free twenty four to seven crisis support crisis text line.
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You can text Hello h E L l O to
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seven four one seven four one to connect with a
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trained crisis counselor you can also call one eight hundred
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sixty six y two Help H E L P or
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one eight hundred sixty six two four three five seven
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for treatment referrals and mental health resources. Remember, asking for
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help doesn't make you weak, it makes you wise. Pressure
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may be part of life, but you don't have to
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face it alone. Support is out there and your well
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being is worth protecting. Let's talk about pressure because pressure
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is often the root of burnout. You know, for students,
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it's the weight of grades, scholarships, internships, and trying to
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make your family proud. For professionals, it's deadlines, quotas, proving
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yourself and job security yay. So pressure to perform that
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invisible weight that makes you feel like you always have
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to be on, whether it's at work, at school, at home,
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or even online. The world tells us that our value
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comes from how much we achieve or how productive we are.
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We live in a culture that praises the hustle but
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rarely celebrates the rest, and that constant push can quietly
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chip away at your confidence, your peace, and even your joy.
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I mean, from an early age, we're taught to chase success,
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the perfect grades, the perfect body, the perfect career, and
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when you finally get there, the goal post moves again.
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Suddenly you're asking what's next instead of celebrating how far
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you've come. That feeling of never quite arriving can be
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existing exhausting, leaving you on autopilot, running on deadlines and
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expectations instead of purpose. The pressure comes from everywhere. Your
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boss expecting more, your family looking up to you, your
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peers posting their highlight reels on social media, and let's
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be real, sometimes the biggest pressure comes from within. You
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might find yourself working longer hours, saying yes to everything,
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or constantly comparing your pace to someone else's progress, and
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over time that way can start to feel like it's
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defining your entire life. The danger is that performance pressure
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tricks you into thinking that's slowing down means you're falling behind.
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But here's the truth. You're supposed to live life at
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full speed all the time, right, Actually, you're not supposed to.
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The danger is that performance pressure tricks you into thinking
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that's slowing down means you're falling behind. But here's the truth.
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You're not supposed to live life at full speed all
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the time. Ambition is healthy, yes it is, but not
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if it costs you your peace, your relationships, or your health.
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So what can we do when that pressure creeps in?
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You can start by pausing and asking yourself, who am
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I doing this for? And really sit with that question,
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because so often we're chasing goals to please others, to
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meet expectations, or to keep up with everyone else, and
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in the process we lose sight of what truly matters
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to us. Reconnect with your own values, make sure you
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set boundaries that protect your time, your energy, and your
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peace of mind. Celebrate the small wins and not just
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the big ones, because progress isn't always measured by achievements alone.
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Sometimes it's measured by growth, by resilience, and by the
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courage to keep going even when it's hard, and remember this,
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True success isn't about doing it all. It's about doing
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what matters to you with intention and presence. You are
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more than your output, more than your accomplishments, more than
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the roles others expect you to. You are allowed to rest,
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You are allowed to reflect, You are allowed to just be.
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You are allowed to also say no, to pause, to
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put yourself first without shame, without guilt, and without apology.
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But here's the secret. Performing at your best doesn't come
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from constantly running or trying to keep up. It comes
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from showing up fully, intentionally, and peacefully. It comes from
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honoring your limits while stretching your potential. It comes from
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living life on your own terms, with purpose and presence,
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instead of letting pressure dictate your pace. So pause, breathe,
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and ask yourself again, who am I doing this for?
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And let that answer guide your next step. Remember, real
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success is not about how fast you move, but how
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aligned your life is with what truly matters to you. Fact,
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many college students feel burnt out, with numbers ranging from
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twelve percent to over seventy percent. More than half of
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college students report academic burnout, and about one in five
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say their symptoms are severe. Among employees, more than half
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report higher stress today than just five years ago, with
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job and security being one of the biggest factors. Many
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companies offer employee assistant programs, yet only five to seven
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percent of employees actually use them. Now, let's get into
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something that we all chase but rarely feel like we've mastered,
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and that's balance. Everyone talks about work life balance like
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it's a destination, like if you're just gonna arrange your
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schedule perfectly and everything will fall into place. But the
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truth is, balance isn't a fixed point you reach. It's
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it's more like a rhythm. It's not about dividing your
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time evenly between work, family, rest, and play. It's about
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being fully present wherever you are, giving your energy to
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the things that matter most in each moment. Some days
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your energy might need to go toward work or school.
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Other days your focus needs to shift to family, faith,
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or your own mental health. And that's okay. Balance is
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not static. It shifts as life shifts, right. The problem
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is we often guilt ourselves for not doing everything perfect.
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You spend hours working toward your goals and then feel
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guilty for missing quality time with family. You take a
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quiet moment for yourself and then feel guilty for not
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being productive. That always happens to me, and that cycle
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of guilt and self judgment leaves us mentally drained and
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emotionally exhausted. The pursuit of balance, it starts with self awareness.
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It begins by pausing and asking yourself, what do I
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truly need today? Maybe it's peace and quiet, a few
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minutes to journal or meditate. Maybe it's movement, a walk,
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a workout, or dancing to your favorite song, or maybe
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listening to the Balancing Act. Maybe it's connection with people
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who uplift and inspire you rather than drain your energy.
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When you start honoring those needs instead of pushing them aside,
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you begin to live with intention rather than reaction. Balance
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also means setting boundaries that protect your energy. You don't
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have to say yes to everything or everyone. Saying no
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isn't selfish, it's self care. It's how you perceive the mental, emotional,
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and physical space you need to show up fully think
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about think about this. When you over commit, it might
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be present physically, but your mind and heart are elsewhere.
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When you honor your limits, you show up as your
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best self. You know, calm, focused and fully engaged. Another
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important part of balance is redefining what success looks like.
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Balance isn't about doing it all. It's about making space
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for what matters most. Sometimes that means choosing rest over
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extra work. Sometimes it means celebrating small victories instead of
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waiting for the big ones. Sometimes it means taking time
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to reflect, to recharge, or even to fail without judgment.
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Ooh fail. Listen. Life is messy, and balance allows us
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to navigate that mess with grace rather than guilt. So
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just remember that balance isn't perfection. It's permission, permission to
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pivot when life changed, permission to pause when you're overwhelmed,
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Permission to breathe and adjust when things don't go as planned.
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It's about feeling aligned with your values, your priorities, and
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your true needs. It's about listening to yourself, trusting yourself,
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and giving yourself the grace to live intentionally. Because when
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you find your rhythm, that unique flow that works for you,
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you don't just survive your days. You start living them
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fully with awareness and purpose. You show up for your work,
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your family, your goals, and most importantly, yourself. You begin
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to notice the little moments, the quiet sunrise, the laughter
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of a loved one, the satisfaction of completing a task
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that truly matters, and they start to feel bigger, richer,
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and more meaningful. Like today recording this podcast from the
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Nasau Community College Radio station WHPC, and this is probably
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the longest I've ever been at this station. But I'm
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doing this for me, But I'm also doing this because
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I want to give advice or offer advice to others
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who love to listen to podcasts. Balance is the key
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that turns motion into meaning, stress into clarity, and exhaustion
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into energy. It's not about doing more, and I don't
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feel like I'm doing more right now. I feel like
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I got my piece right here, especially those who are listening.
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But being fully present, intentionally engaged, and grounded in each
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moment is what makes me happy. It's about giving yourself
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permission to rest without guilt, to say no when needed,
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and to prioritize what truly matters, which again is this
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podcast The Balancing Act, Ties lows lessons. And you know
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the magic of balance is that it transforms how you
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experience life. Challenges become opportunities for growth, setbacks become lessons,
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and your energy becomes a source of power rather than depletion.
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When you live in this rhythm, you move through life
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with grace, resilience, and a deeper connection to yourself and
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those around you. Happiness is not a matter of intensity,
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but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony. As I mentioned before,
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balance isn't just about surviving today, it's about investing in tomorrow.
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And I just want to do a quick recap of
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what are some practical things that we can do when
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it comes to boundaries. So how do we actually find balance?
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Balance isn't one size fits all. For some, it's shifting
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down work at six pm, like shutting everything down. For others,
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it's saying no to that extra class or project. Balance
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isn't perfection, it's creating space for your mental health to breathe.
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So some practical tips set boundaries protect your time outside
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of work or school. An example would be turning off
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email notifications after six or politely declining extra tasks that
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interfere with your personal time or schedule. Do not disturb
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blocks on your calendar for breaks and self care like
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come on, definitely need to do that, and check in
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with yourself daily. Ask yourself, am I okay, what do
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I need right now. Examples could be spending five minutes
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each morning journaling your mood or stress level, or let's
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say during lunch, pause and ask yourself, am I tired?
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Do I need a walk? Do I need a snack?
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Or you can also use a mood tracking app to
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stay aware of your emotional state. I mean, they have
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so many things on these devices now. But also redefine productivity,
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so rest does count. And examples would be, you know,
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give yourself permission to take a nap or to take
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a break, or to do something that again gives you
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pressure a pleasure without guilt. Another example rest or recovery time.
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Add it to your to do lists. Celebrate the small
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winds like taking that walk or drinking enough water. That's
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something that we definitely need to do more of. I
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actually have been soa free for almost two months, and
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just small little things changing my diet can definitely help.
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You know, just the things that you take into your body,
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and it's not even just the things that you eat,
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it's the things that you watch on TV. Anything that
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feeds your mind, your body, your soul in a positive way,
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it's always gonna help. You can also use some resources,
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you know counseling centers, maybe trusted friends or mentors. Make
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an appointment with your school's counseling center, you know, especially
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during the times that maybe you're going through exams or
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whatever that looks like for you. You know, schedule some
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coffee chats or some shopping times if it doesn't make
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you feel guilty, because you know, sometimes spending money can
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definitely make people feel guilty. In the end, as I
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I said in my voyage interview, I share that my
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goal is to inspire others while continuing to build my
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own legacy, and that legacy isn't just rooted in what
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I accomplish, but in how I live, how I lead,
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and how I take care of myself. Along the way,
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I really want people to see that resilience doesn't mean
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pushing through at all costs. It means knowing when to pause,
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when to ask for support, and when to rest so
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you can rise again. Ress is not a weakness. Me
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going through my postpartum I really had to learn that
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I just needed to rest, and I also needed to
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admit to myself that I needed help. But rest is
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not a weakness, It's a strategy. Asking for help doesn't
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make you less capable. It makes you human. And if
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I can model that for others, I know, Oh I'm
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doing more than just reaching my goals. I'm creating space
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for others to believe that they can do the same
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in a healthier and more sustainable way. Today's question is
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what does balance look like for you right now? And
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what's one small step you can take this week to
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protect your mental health? And I again want to tie
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this back to my voyage article. I'm proud of that
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in that interview, I said I can't miss the opportunity
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to build a legacy name for myself. That wasn't just
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about career or success. It was about purpose, about building
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something that lasts beyond me. When you think about balance,
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think about legacy and what kind of story are you
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writing for yourself? Will your story be one of exhaustion
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and burnout or one of resilience, healing and impact. I've
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had to learn to give myself grace, and I'm going
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to ask the same of you. Give yourself grace, rest
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when you need, to ask for help when you need it,
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and never forget your mental health isn't a luxury, It's
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part of your legacy. This has been the balancing act
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with Nicki Marie. If today's episode resonated with you, share
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it with a coworker, classmate, or friend, and don't forget
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to subscribe so you don't miss the next conversation until
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next time. Keep balancing, keep learning, and keep protecting your peace.
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Unto the balls to balls
