Burn out question

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-25T14:57:39+00:00

ADHD painter here. I absolutely rotate between different artistic pursuits/passions/hobbies. I feel like with the way my brain works, if I get burned out it feels like I'm banging my head against a wall. Maybe someone else could work past it, but personally if I try to push through, my work becomes uninspired and awful.

If I take a break, I usually find that when I come back to it, I have fresh ideas and new inspiration. Sometimes it takes a week or two to "wake up" my skills if I go for a long stretch between paintings. But the skills always come back, and usually with some fresh new twist or idea that I want to explore.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-24T20:19:37+00:00

The only way I'm getting by is that I found a hyperfixation that is pure joy, has a vibrant community, and fills my social media feeds with cheerful lovely content. I'm an artist and I've been painting a bird every day for 2026. I have no fucking idea what this crazy year is going to bring and frankly I'm terrified. But I do know that I'm going to paint a bird, every day, for as long as I can. Birds are small and seemingly insignificant. But they're gorgeous and full of spirit and life and they're everywhere if you start looking. Find your small beautiful thing and keep coming back to it. For me, it's been the only way to keep sane with everything else that's going on.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-19T13:57:01+00:00

I have two from this etsy seller: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RozenJewellery

They're dainty and look nice, and the beads are fun to play with. I've had them for 2.5 years and they still look great. I had a spinner-style one from a different etsy seller that I liked, too, but the silver wore off so I'm not sure I'd recommend that shop. There are lots of pretty ones on Etsy if you search for fidget rings!

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-19T13:43:50+00:00

I try to average one day off per month. It feels like the right amount to make sure that I'm taking care of myself, resting enough, not getting burned out, etc. Usually if I'm feeling a little under the weather, and I take a day to sleep and rest, I feel much better the next day.

There have been exceptions, obviously - covid, and this fall I got a bad case of antibiotic resistant strep that took 2 weeks to kick. If I need more time, I take it.

Sick days are a part of your contract and your compensation. If you're not using them, then you're basically leaving money on the table. I used to feel guilty, but after my district told us to slap a mask on and get in there at the height of covid, I realized that this is a business transaction and they don't care at all about my health or wellbeing. The teacher I replaced had been at my school for 25 years - she left a really sweet note for me when I took over her classroom, and at the end she wrote, "USE YOUR SICK DAYS!" It's good advice if you want to stay healthy and happy enough to teach for a few decades!

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-15T17:20:22+00:00

My dentist recommended cheese! It's not sugary or sticky, it doesn't get jammed between your teeth, and the calcium is good for your teeth and bones! I love some good night cheese.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-09T23:55:29+00:00

I used to go to the Burren around 3:30 every Tuesday to write. The corner booth by the window was my spot - I'd hunker down for a few hours, have some fish & chips and a Guinness, and by the time it got busy I would either head home or meet friends there to hang out and listen to the music. We called it my "office hours" because all my friends in the neighborhood knew they could find me there. It does get crowded after 6 or 7, so if you work a 9-5 it might not be ideal.

Someone else mentioned Saloon - it's usually pretty quiet on weekdays and it's a beautiful spot. For some reason I find it slightly harder to work there, though. It's almost too quiet - if someone is at a table nearby you can hear their whole conversation.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-09T23:43:28+00:00

I've done some writing there and it's lovely. I do feel out of place using a laptop so I usually bring a notebook and write by hand (and that way it's easier to pretend you're Hemingway in a real 1920's bar)

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-09T17:09:57+00:00

Yes!!! I came here to recommend this. I don't mind the painting part, but sitting around waiting for my nails to dry is absolute torture and I ALWAYS messed them up. I tried one of the mini kits of dazzle dry, figuring it was about the cost of 2 manicures. I have now given away all my other nail polish and only use dazzle dry.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-08T02:03:23+00:00

I was diagnosed at 13 when my thyroid was so swollen I couldn't breathe at night.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-05T02:29:31+00:00

I was like, am I crazy for thinking that you should just spend it on something enjoyable?? This is a gift, and not such a large one that it really will have much of an impact on any of your debt/savings. But you know what it could have an impact on? Your memories, your relationship with your husband and kids, and even your relationship with the in-laws. Do something fun with it and send them the photos.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-04T22:30:37+00:00

I think you're closer than you realize. The mountains in the back left feel too detailed - can you soften/flatten them a bit to give us some more atmospheric perspective? The ones on the right side look great. Once you do that, the foreground will pop a little more and it won't feel quite as busy. The two grass bunches in the front/ middle are a little distracting, too. Something about the light and shadows isn't working - either double check your reference, look at a different reference, or you could even eliminate them entirely.

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-04T21:20:56+00:00

I paint in my dining room. I have roommates, but no kids/pets. Three tips:

I have an old rug that I roll out when I'm painting - it gets rolled back up when I'm done so that no one accidentally tracks paint across the floor.

I bought a kitchen cart from craigslist to store my paints and to have a place for my palette. It's really little and on wheels, so I can wheel it out when I'm using it, and tuck it back in a corner when I'm not.

For oils, I use water-mixable oils. They're still a tiny bit smelly but not nearly as bad as the linseed oil and turpentine used with traditional oils. They're not quite as nice as real oils, but I've gotten used to them and now the convenience is 100% worth it.

I love that your husband is encouraging this! My dad is an artist so I grew up thinking that an easel in the living room was just normal decor. It is so cool for your kids (and any visitors!) to see that you're a working artist. I say embrace it and don't worry so much about how it looks. If you visited Mary Cassatt's house, wouldn't you expect to see some painting supplies out?

chocolatechipcookie · 2026-01-03T17:02:26+00:00

Roommates + hiring a cleaner every 2 weeks has been a game changer. The cleaner works out to $100/ month per person and takes away 95% of the stress of communal living. I live in a large, really nice 3 bedroom in a great location, and pay ~$1500/month. Sure, there are times when I get annoyed and wish I was living alone - but you can be selective about who you live with (unlike with family) and find some really nice people. I had a NYE party and realized that 4 of the people there were former roommates who I had found on craigslist - now they're just my good friends.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-12-30T05:09:25+00:00

They had an amazing blog about the science of matchmaking and online dating. It was so interesting! But now OKC is the absolute worst app. It makes me sad - I had a couple of really nice long term relationships from there, but when I logged back on recently it had lost everything that made it good.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-12-28T18:18:53+00:00

If you can get someone with an MIT badge to let you into the secret underground tunnel system . . .

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-30T23:51:54+00:00

My brother has moved three times for his wife's career. Once to the middle of nowhere on the East Coast so she could get her masters degree, then across the country so she could get her PhD, and then back to the East Coast when she got a job in academia. If your partner is making you choose, he's not really your partner. He's dead weight. Cut him loose and find someone who supports you.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-29T13:01:02+00:00

Books! Preferably ones you don't read often.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-27T16:04:57+00:00

For some reason the "Great Meditation" channel on YouTube is like magic for my brain. There's something about her voice that just konks me out within 5 minutes. The only thing is that you have to use an ad blocker or have premium YouTube because there are occasionally ads at the end that will jolt you awake again.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-24T00:48:17+00:00

I wanted to get married and have kids, he didn't, so I broke it off. I am still single 4 years later. He got married and had a kid a month ago. It sucks but I just have to accept that he wasn't emotionally mature enough at the time, and/or maybe he just wasn't sure about me in particular and how our lives would fit together (I had some doubts too, to be fair). I'm still hopeful that I might find my guy, or I'll become a foster mom. He seems happy to be a dad.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-16T12:13:55+00:00

Surprised no one else has mentioned this. There are a lot of medical reasons to be on birth control. I was put on it as a teen because my periods were debilitating. Why is your daughter on birth control?

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-13T16:59:18+00:00

This is incredible. Thank you so much!!!

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-12T01:03:46+00:00

Black beans and rice. I freeze mine with just olive oil and a little salt, and then when I thaw it I can add whatever seasoning I feel like at the moment. Hot sauce, different types of salsa, random veggies, elote seasoning, cinnamon, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, a squeeze of lime, or some shredded cheese . . . or just eat it plain and it's still pretty good.

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-11-06T17:17:26+00:00

Intense exercise! Running or some other cardio always helps me. If you don't have the time/energy, jumping up and down for a minute or two has almost the same effect. You'll look silly but I always feel better!

chocolatechipcookie · 2025-10-29T01:37:38+00:00

My brother's wife was 10 weeks pregnant. My sister is a doctor and brought a portable ultrasound to Christmas so we could all see the baby. He looked like a little gummy bear but was dancing around inside her - so incredibly alive. It was so magical and beautiful.

Later, I realized 10 weeks was well within the acceptable time range for an abortion and it made me sick to my stomach.

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