Is this the start of a burnout, or am I just shifting my priorities? (Long-time overachiever slowing down)
Hey everyone,
I’m trying to make sense of a recent shift in my mindset and wanted to see if anyone has experienced something similar.
Historically, I’ve always been a very ambitious, high-achieving person—even when it comes to my hobbies. For context, I’m a passionate scuba diver and recently started a course to become an assistant instructor. I’ve also been on the board of my diving club. But lately, I’ve hit a wall.
Suddenly, I feel this intense need to completely disconnect. I’m starting to question why I’m putting so much effort, energy, and stress into a hobby. I’ve lost the desire to attend weekday training sessions, and the thought of the extra responsibilities just feels heavy.
Instead, I've found myself craving simplicity. I’ve started listening to classical music to unwind, and I’m focusing much more on just being present and connecting with my children.
At the same time, I recently changed roles at work. I was in my previous position for 8 years and it was starting to feel incredibly boring, so I took on a new professional challenge.
I don't feel depressed or anything like that. But I’m wondering: is this the beginning of some kind of burnout? Or is it just a natural shift in priorities as I get older and realize I don't need to turn every single passion into a second job?
Has anyone else transitioned from being an "overachiever in everything" to just wanting peace and simplicity? How did you handle it?