Reset to Factory Settings

Have you tried turning it off and back on again?

I was laid off in December.

Layoffs, unfortunately, are so common these days. It’s never a good time to suddenly lose your job, but to lose it in December? There’s a special place in hell for people who decide to do layoffs around the holidays. In most cases, a company’s leadership team doesn’t just wake up one morning and decide to fire a bunch of people that day, so… it’s nasty work.

I digress. That isn’t what I want to write about today.

What I do want to write about is my reset to factory settings. You know when your phone or computer gets all borked and glitchy and you’ve tried everything to fix it, to no avail, and the last-ditch effort is to reset it to factory settings? And once you’ve done that, you have essentially a brand-new device — a blank slate that usually works better because it doesn’t have 100 apps on it? Yeah, that’s what the last few months have felt like for me.

This is the third time I’ve been laid off, so I’ve been through it before. This time feels different from the others, though, in all the best ways. Third time’s a charm, I guess.

I fell into the trap of always chasing the next best thing: the next job, the next promotion, the next pay raise. Right now, I’m thinking about the next best thing, but in a more curious and expansive way. What does work look like for me? How do I want to spend my days? How much is enough, so that I can happily achieve that and not burn myself out striving for more? What lights me up, and how do I do more of that in a way that is sustainable?

I couldn’t get around to even asking myself those questions if I didn’t uninstall everything first. As it turns out, there was so much reprogramming I had to do. I want to share some of my realizations.

Some of the things I reprogrammed, redefined, or reframed, and I’m sure some of these will become standalone posts at a later time:

My definition of productivity. Before, I had this urge (addiction?) to be productive at all times. Maybe it’s a product of being born and raised in the Northeast. Maybe it’s just my personality. I had to reassess the constant “go, go, go” and “time is money” mindset that seemed to be hardwired in my brain. I had to actively learn that rest is productive. Being bored, and carving out time and space to think, is productive.

Ignorance of my burnout warning indicators. Related to the idea of always being productive… that mode often leads to burnout. Being constantly exhausted because I’m “sooooo busy” is not a flex or a badge of honor. It’s a red flag, a check engine light, a flashing low battery message. I read The Cure For Burnout: Build Better Habits, Find Balance and Reclaim Your Life by Emily Ballesteros, and I audibly said “oh my god” during the entire chapter where she described burnout (chapter 1, probably?).

My perfectionist tendencies. I have always been one of those high achiever types. Because of that, I’m often very hard on myself. This break has really allowed me to try new things that I will inevitably mess up, because they’re new. I’ve had to accept that the first few tries might be messy. Or awkward. Or even bad. And that’s ok.

Some of the things I reinstalled and am actually using now:

Intentional slowness and mindfulness. I am now moving at a purposely slower pace so I can be more mindful of where I’m spending my energy. It allows me to choose what to do and not fall back into autopilot grinding mode. I’ve intentionally made room for stillness and quiet in a world of overstimulation. And I’ve realized that meditation isn’t about mantras and completely clearing your mind, but about being fully present in the current moment. My nervous system thanks me for this breakthrough.

More play and joy. I’m now really leaning into doing things just for the sake of it, because they make me happy. Joy is a reminder that I am not a robot. I can feel joy! I can create joy! Related to mindfulness, it’s realizing that joy comes in the small moments. The perfect pour of coffee. The flowers blooming in the yard (even though I later realized they’re weeds). Listening to music while doing my laundry. I’m going all in on romanticizing my life, because why shouldn’t life be enjoyable?

Self-care. Rest and relaxation are not things that need to be earned. I thought self-care was bubble baths and candles that were the rewards after exhaustion. Self-care is just… drinking water. Limiting screen time. Lying down on the floor because my bad back needs it. Loafing on the couch because it’s a rainy day and I just feel like doing that. I’ve been working on incorporating more self-care into my regular routine and not waiting until I’m burned out.

I recognize this for the privilege it is, and I am grateful for it. Not everyone can afford to take a break from full-time work (voluntarily or otherwise). But this hard reset has been life-changing, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me.

All I know is, I’ll be experiencing it with fresh perspective and with a lot less noise in my operating system.

P.S. – People wanted to purchase a paid subscription, but I haven’t turned that feature on. I am flattered and feel so supported, but I am way more comfortable giving people the option to “buy me a coffee” (i.e. a one-time payment instead of a recurring one). If you are so inclined, here’s the link to my Ko-fi!