Quitting and running away doesn’t work
Are you getting burned out? Is your dream job killing you? Want to run away to a tropical island or pursue your bucket list? What if I told you that you didn’t need to do that – and it may not actually help. Helen Zhao did just that: she quit her dream job, looking to heal burnout and find happiness beyond work. What she discovered was very different.

I was checking off destinations so that I could wear the number of places I’d been like a badge of honor. Then my life would be as worthwhile as the travel influencers I envied, I thought.
- Cut back and shift focus
She found herself burning out while traveling. She eventually slash the remaining 34 countries on her 50 country bucket list in half and focused on quality over quantity. What was the point of seeing so many places if I didn’t truly enjoy them?
Prioritizing well-being meant letting go of metrics you think define your self-worth. She began to measure success through the moments she felt truly alive, at peace, and connected with others, instead of the quantifiable accomplishments that might make my resume and online bio more impressive.
- Ignore FOMO, prioritize joy
Stop rushing through things that meet your metrics of being more ‘successful’. Instead of stressing through a day trip to say she had been to a specific famous place, she sat at a cafe reading things she enjoyed. She slept in after a long night with friends with a slow breakfast instead of going on an island tour. She began to enjoy everything more.
- Stop trying to monetize/multitask what you’re doing
During the first part of her travels she was constantly trying to formulate pitches and story ideas from her travels. She was still multitasking work.
Instead, she pursued fun topics she didn’t have time to study while working full time: history, politics, real estate investing. She learned to develop an identity completely disconnected from work.
- Don’t forget
After she returned home, she started getting sucked back into workaholism. She made time for journaling, walks, and meditation. Instead of worrying about burnout or feeling worthless/unaccomplished while spending this time, she embraces that time to figure out what’s next.
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