Becoming Less Crispy
“The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”
— Mark Twain
Such a simple quote with so much power and insight behind it. Powerful enough to hang on my wall and meaningful enough to make me pause several times a year to reflect on my “why.”
Today is one of those days.
It’s my birthday — a day I refuse to work, refuse to be an adult, and absolutely refuse to take on responsibilities. Thanks to the magic of auto-posting, this blog can go live while I enjoy the water, good company, and rest.
Today I’m surrounded by people who love me, quirks and all. This year has turned out completely differently than I expected — personally and professionally — but taking this time for myself to simply be is exactly what I need.
Thinking About My “Why”
I’m spending the day reflecting on the second half of Mark Twain’s quote: the day you find out why.
To do that, I need open space — to think, to feel, and (dare I say it) to dream.
As a therapist, the past months have been intense, surreal, and sometimes baffling. Transitioning to fully online therapy wasn’t difficult since I was already there in many ways. But the content of sessions — the anxiety, despair, and uncertainty — weighed heavier than ever before.
When I logged off each day, I felt it in my bones. Things felt different, heavier, bleaker.
Add in some major curveballs in my family, a few health issues, and a career shift on the horizon… and yep, you guessed it — I was feeling crispy.
“Crispy” is my word for being almost burned out. The point where you’re not on fire yet, but you can feel the heat.
Crispy enough to skip writing in July despite my commitment to weekly blogs.
Crispy enough to actually start enjoying Instacart and DoorDash.
Crispy enough to dive into work without diving into healthier coping skills.
And definitely crispy enough to take a three-week adventure to spend time with the people I love most — all of whom live far from me.
What Does Burnout Look Like for Clinicians?
Great question. According to Psychology Today, you might be burned out if you:
Drag yourself into work most days
Repeat the same interpretations again and again
Give advice as a shortcut instead of helping clients discover their own growth
Begin sessions late or end them early
Find yourself spacing out or feeling less empathy
Feel relieved when clients cancel
Haven’t read anything psychology-related in a while
Fantasize about a simpler job — or even selling drinks on a beach in Fiji (I still might!)
Do any of those sound familiar?
As clinicians, we’re experts at helping others recognize the signs of burnout — yet we’re often terrible at acknowledging our own.
“If I can just catch up…”
“If I can just get through this week…”
“If I can just have one weekend to veg out…”
Sound familiar?
Functioning Doesn’t Mean You’re Not Burned Out
Are we okay? Absolutely. We’re masters at compartmentalizing and functioning.
Can we keep it up forever? Absolutely not.
Sorry to shatter the illusion of control, but at the end of the day, we’re still human. And we are just as susceptible to burnout as anyone else.
No shame. No failure. No judgment. Just truth.
How I Fought Burnout as an Online Therapist
After just one week away, something shifted.
Even though I still did a little work (yes, I know — work in progress!), my sleep improved, my caffeine intake dropped, and I laughed harder than I had in years.
Part of that was being with people who’ve known me for 30+ years.
Part of it was accepting that no matter how driven, stubborn, or independent I am, everyone needs a break. Especially now.
Then what? How do we, as therapists, recover, heal, and grow while diving back into the muck with clients?
That, my friend, is a conversation for next week.
Next time, we’ll talk about how to recover from burnout without needing to move to Fiji — and how rediscovering your “why” can help you thrive again. Because Mark Twain’s quote isn’t just about being born — it’s about remembering why you’re here.
Being known for who you uniquely are at your core is a freeing experience. It takes bravery and vulnerability — but it’s possible.
Thank you for spending part of my birthday with me.
Always remember to take care of you. You are worth it.
If burnout has dimmed your sense of joy, my free Perfectionism Workbook can help you rediscover balance, rest, and purpose.
If you’re ready to dig deeper into your story and start showing up as your most authentic self, therapy can help.
I offer online therapy for helping professionals, busy professionals, and therapists who are ready to reconnect with their worth and live with greater balance and clarity.
Learn more about online therapy with Melissa Russiano or schedule a free consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
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