My List Of Anti-Burnout Favs

Straight up, the past few weeks have been a time.

(I hope I am not alone in feeling like there is just something in the air or water or energy right now!)

So, while I am usually a very motivated person who easily jumps from task to task,

I have recently had more fatigue and difficulty focusing than I have ever had in my life.

(Perhaps I have finally girlbossed too close to the sun, and I am finally having a little bit of a ✨burnout✨ episode. Ya girl needs to give herself some space to rest!)

So, while I strive to give myself more space to allow my body and mind to take the time it is literally demanding out of me lately,

I thought this would be a great time to share some of the things that have been helping me feel more like myself again.

(This email doesn’t have any real advice or tips about burnout — because, to be honest, I am in no position to offer sound advice on that topic right now).

Sometimes, you just need to let yourself feel your feelings and rest. It’s not glamorous or fun, but tbh it’s all I’ve got rn, so we are gunna go with it.

So, without further ado, here is my list of favs that have been helping me reconnect with my creativity after a period of burnout:

Claire’s list of anti-burnout favourites

#1 — Feminist romance novels

After joining a book club with my gal pals last year, my love of reading has blossomed into an all-encompassing hobby that has taken over my life.

(I’m not kidding, I have read and/or listened to over 60 books already this year, and I am not slowing down anytime soon)

So, as I have become a feral bookworm, I have finally identified the genre of book that I love the most:

Contemporary romance with an empowered female lead.

Despite the fact that I have been struggling to focus on my work, reading has been a gentle and kind reprieve from the stress that I have been heavily leaning on to rest and recover.

So, if you are looking for a few great romance books to add to your to-read pile, here are a few of my favourites that I go back to time and time again:

🧪 Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Hi, hello, this is possibly my favourite book of all time???

Ali Hazelwood is a powerhouse romance writer known for creating “STEMinest” love stories that feature female leads who work in science labs who fall in love with hot, tall, broody academic men.

Yes, I know, it’s the greatest thing ever.

Love On The Brain is the story of a neuroscientist working at NASA with her supposed “arch nemesis” from grad school.

This book is as adorable and enjoyable as it sounds, and I cannot recommend it enough.

📚 The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

If you are an enemies to lovers fan, you need to read this book like right now.

Recommended to me by my Carly, this book about two characters who work together at a publishing house that are up for the same promotion is absolutely CHEF’S KISS 🧑‍🍳💋

Multiple times while reading this book, I actually audibly gasped.

The writing is amazing, the characters are so real, and the slow burn of the characters figuring each other out is so rewarding it blew my mind.

🔮 Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

There is no way around this one — this book is one of the most sexually empowering novels I have ever read.

Telling the story of a bisexual PhD candidate who accidentally falls into a fake dating scheme,

(One of my favourite romance tropes hehe)

This book is so well-written and has a strong feminist point of view that it took my breath away.

The characters are amazing, the story is lovely, and the smut is smutty — it’s a perfect 10/10 book for anyone looking for an easy read that hits hard.

🐉 The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Finally, as a book I just finished recently, Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient was so delightful and wonderful that I cannot stop talking about it.

Following the story of a woman on the autism spectrum who hires an escort to teach her how to be better at physical intimacy,

(Yes, it sounds like a silly rom-com premise, but it hits so hard I promise)

This book somehow is perfectly light-hearted and wonderful while also drawing attention to how neurodivergent people are treated differently in our society.

(It’s also wonderfully smutty as well, and the main characters are so well-written they feel like real people).

#2 — Every song on the The Tortured Poets Department

Next, if you know anything about me, then you know that I am a feral Taylor Swift fan.

(So feral that I am flying internationally to see the Eras Tour in a few weeks OMG I am so excited!)

So, unless you have been living under a rock, you are likely aware that she recently released a new album called The Tortured Poets Department,

Which, surprise, I am obsessed with.

As the only music I have been listening to for the last month or so, my favourite songs off of the album that I keep going back to when I am feeling down are:

Guilty As Sin? (Maybe my fav TS song of all time??)

But Daddy I Love Him (Certified BANGER)

Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me? (Feminine rage, but as a song)

I Look In People’s Windows (This song just has good vibes)

#3 — My Spotify daylist titles

Finally, even though I have been a bit down lately,

Nothing makes me laugh harder,

(Or feel more seen)

Then looking at the title of the Spotify Daylist.

Here are just a few of the daylist titles I have had over the past few weeks that have made me laugh:

I literally don’t know what this could possible mean but I cannot lie I giggled

Bed rotting?? Overthinking?? Yeah OK Spotify stop creeping my evening routine jeez

I can’t even be surprised by this one lol this is so accurate and real it is concerning

Thank you for your patience

No special or inspiring ending here — just wanted to say thanks for being here and thanks for giving me the space to write different types of content.

I’m still working back up to being my usual productive self — so thanks for the patience while I wind back up.

More of the usual content will be coming your way soon (ish).

Until next week!