As always, let’s start with the numbers …

Physical Comics Read: 2 (37/39)
Digital Comics Read: 0 (469/471)
Trade Paperbacks/Graphic Novels Read: 5 (12/42)
Books Read: 3 (116/130)
Movies Watched: 2 (113/123)
TV Seasons Completed: 0 (83/90)
TV Shows Completed: 0 (35/37)
Podcast Episodes Remaining: 224

Another month of nothing.

I feel like most of this year has been me telling myself that I’m going to get more proactive when it comes to working on this, but then I come to this particular post and … nothing.

I know I shouldn’t be hard on myself because this is one of those ongoing “It’s about the journey” things, but I also can’t help but be bothered about “having something to show for it,” which has been one of the more annoying thoughts bouncing around my head every time I go to write on this blog. But then I also think about how work has been a busy mess since … well, since August, really, but especially in these last few months and then I cut myself slack and give myself credit for just simply making it through.

Burnout is, of course, a very real thing, but it’s also really strange. If you picture it in your mind, it’s probably something like being constantly exhausted and maybe even irritable, the types of things that you can fix with a good night’s sleep or something. Whereas I’ve definitely been feeling that way, I’ve also noticed that burnout comes with a lot of disassociation and distraction. During the last few months, I’ve had ideas for creative projects and even written down plans; I’ve also felt the rush of energy that comes from it. But then I find said energy plummet when the time arrives to actually put those plans into action; scrolling mindlessly through Twitter is less of an effort. The result? Pages upon pages of notes and plans and nothing to show for it.

Not that I have to have something to show for it; that’s just the voice of unrealistic expectations talking again.