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Thrive Remotely champions the sovereignty of remote and independent professionals, so we can thrive on our own terms.
The Body Kept Score Long Before "Burnout" Had a Name 🔥
Hello, ambitious humans,
Apparently, we've been ignoring our bodies since before burnout was even a word.
A century ago, they called it nervous exhaustion. Today, we call it "just a busy week."
Cute rebrand. Same warning signs.
The brain fog, the 3 a.m. wake-ups, the exhaustion no amount of caffeine can negotiate away.
This week, we're looking at what history can teach us about spotting those signals early, before our bodies make the decision to stop for us.
Because your body isn't trying to slow your success. It's trying to keep up with it.
— Ric & Shellie
P.S. Know someone who's treating exhaustion like a badge of honor? Send your unique referral link their way, before their body calls in sick. 🙌🏼
SOMATIC SOVEREIGNTY
Your Body Knows You're Burning Out Before You Do
by Jamie Leavitt
I'm awake at 3 a.m. again, my mind racing about a 26-country re-org. I was the remote HR lead. The project was behind when I inherited it, the plan kept changing, the deadline remained. Most days I worked 18 hours, because the work demanded it and I'd been programmed to "never let them see me sweat," even when the goals were unrealistic. Working from home, it was easy to never stop.
I was wired, always at my desk, gained a bunch of weight, and my shoulders held deep knots. I chipped a tooth grinding my teeth in my sleep. I got short with my family and friends. My memory slipped, and my critical thinking ran on fumes.
Doctors were cataloging these signals as far back as 1869, when George Beard named "neurasthenia," or nervous exhaustion. He blamed the telegraph. I had Microsoft Teams.
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS
Which body signal did you ignore the longest?
QUICK TAKES
Stay Away From Fire
MEME OF THE WEEK
The Field Report
What's real this week, the gap between freedom and follow-through, closing.
The Living Alone Factor
Two studies just landed with opposite verdicts on remote work and your mental health. One says the solo workday is wearing people down. The other says remote workers feel more connected than their onsite peers. We read both so you don’t have to. The numbers are below, and so is the part both studies missed.
THE VIBE
News to Use
🔆 Think bigger to achieve remote workplace success. Remote work isn’t failing. Office thinking is.
🔆 Is Going to an Office Really Better for Your Health Than Remote Work? What the Research Shows. Ultimately, the healthiest option depends on the individual and their needs.
🔆 AI Is Strengthening The Case For Remote Work Over Return-To-Office Mandates. AI investment is increasingly competing with office amenities as workers prioritize tools that help them stay productive wherever they work.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Doctor’s Orders: Tacos
Your body has been sending memos since 1869. Time to reply.
Grab a coworking seat, a taco lunch, or a blues dance. Try The Stranger Hour in Asheville, a networking experiment with zero networking. Nine cities. Pick one.
Your nervous system will thank you.
POLL – NEXT WEEKS TOPIC
Next week: Two Years of the Thrive Remotely Newsletter 🎉
What's your weirdest, most unexpected part of remote work?
This Week’s Partner
Fall’s best destinations are waiting
Mountain air, city lights or somewhere new? There's still time to make your fall plans take flight with Alaska Airlines. With hundreds of destinations, you can celebrate autumn to the fullest. See the fall foliage in Boston, sip cider in Seattle, or swap your flannel for a swimsuit and head to Hawai‘i.
With nonstop routes to over 100 cities across North America and beyond, getting to your fall destination is easier than ever. Whether you're chasing changing leaves or year-round sunshine, Alaska’s growing network means more ways to reach where autumn is calling.
Fares at great prices, so it's easier than ever to say ‘yes’ to a getaway before the season's gone.
Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
🌺 Find Joy in Your World Today
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