Story time,
I once rage-quit a job because of a text.
I had spent 2.5 years building a music venue from the ground up. Live music used to inspire me—until it didn't. Emails gave me anxiety. I felt stuck, undervalued, and couldn't see a path forward. Burnout had me in a chokehold, but I didn't realize it at the time.
Then, one day, I texted my boss a simple question.
Her reply? "I don't know, isn't that YOUR job?"
Me:
This was the first text I'd sent since she left me to manage everything while she vacationed in Greece for three weeks. That response felt like a digital slap in the face.
I tried to cool off. Didn't work. So, I quit. Over text.
Not my proudest moment, but I learned a lot: - Burnout sneaks up on you. If you ignore the signs, it will catch up.
- Leaving a job doesn't have to be messy. I later met with my boss, smoothed things over, and created a proper transition plan.
- Your reputation matters. Even after all that, my boss became a great reference and we stayed on good terms.
I've learned the hard way that if you don't prioritize yourself, burnout will do it for you—and trust me, it'll be a sh*tty time. Like, worse than showing up to the DMV without an appointment.
Some things that work for me: - Therapy: Everyone should have a space to vent, process, and get out of their own head. 10/10 recommend.
- Checking in on my health (without the hassle): I used to only get checkups annually (if that), but now services like LifeForce offer in-depth health insights and optimization plans, while Hers provides online assessments for stress, sleep, and even weight loss medication—helping me stay on top of my health without the long doctor wait times.
- Leaning on our community (The A-List Alliance): Sometimes, you just need to hear "same" from people who get it. Whether it's work stress, big career moves, or just life, having that support system is huge. (btw, if you haven't joined our community yet, get on it here.)
- Staying hydrated: It's too easy to forget to drink enough water when life gets hectic. My trick? Make it fun. A Stanley tumbler keeps my water cold all day, and NativePath's Hydrate variety pack adds a little flavor and electrolytes—because plain water gets boring fast.
- Scheduled breaks: No "just one more email" traps. I add it to my calendar so that I actually take them.
- Mindfulness apps: Our TALA community has been raving about Finch, and I get why—total Tamagotchi vibes. Plus, Headspace meditations help me reset during the day, and their sleepcasts knock me out when my brain won't shut up.
- Moving my body: Having a regular exercise routine (even if it's just a 10-min walk) keeps me from feeling like a sentient pile of stress.
- Meal prepping saves my future self: When life gets busy, my past self already made sure I have something decent to eat pats self on back. Meal services can also be a good option—Factor was my fave of the bunch.
And let's not forget about your team—if they're also running on empty, everything starts to crack.
 | | That's why my co-founders and I try to build a work environment where people don't feel like they have to choose between being productive and taking care of themselves. Here's what's worked for us: - Offer flexibility (and actually mean it). People have lives outside of work—doctor's appointments, school drop-offs, mental health days. Give them the space to manage it without guilt.
- Autonomy = trust. No one likes being micromanaged. Clear expectations + freedom to get the work done = happy, motivated teams.
- Keep comms clear (without constant pings). We balance real-time and async communication with Slack for quick updates, Loom for detailed walkthroughs, and Fellow to document key decisions so nothing gets lost in translation.
- Offer benefits that actually support people. Payroll, health insurance, and team perks? We handle all of that through Gusto so our team never has to stress about the basics. But beyond that, things like mental health coverage, parental leave, and professional development stipends show employees they're valued beyond just their work.
- Make fair pay a priority. We regularly review salaries against market rates and have open conversations about compensation—because people should want to stay, not feel stuck.
Taking care of yourself isn't a luxury—it's the only way to keep showing up for your work, your team, and yourself without burning out. But let's be real…money also plays a big role in how secure, confident, and stress-free we feel. ✅ Coming Up Next Tomorrow, I'm breaking down 5 legit ways to make more money—whether that's negotiating a raise, starting a side hustle, or making your money work for you. Here's to getting paid what you're worth. Dolla', dolla' bills y'all, —Joanna  P.S. Get real talk, career advice, and insider resources from ambitious pros who get it. Join our private Slack community here → | | | |
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