you're burnt out.

you, me and everyone else.

Source: Isel

hey you!

Just kidding, you’re definitely not burnt out. Unless you opened this looking for signs… in which case, sorry, yeah. You might be.

Let’s do this: bagels pop up, farmer’s market, podcast rec, jobs, and a chance to ask a hiring manager your burning questions. Plus, I wrote an essay, it’s at the bottom if you're up for god ol’ introspection.

Enjoy it all!

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joys

for those moments, your gut likes

Source: Hashisha Raíssa

events

Sunday, May 25: Grønt Marked in Frederiksberg - Høst is making its debut. 🥐 Fresh bread, fresh pastry, gorgeous faces. 🤍

Next weekend, May 30 - June 1: Apollo Bagels 🥯 pop-up at Apollo Bar, Nyhavn. Three days only. Pre-order required (yeah, weird - but, bagel!).

My interests revolve around other food groups as well, I promise 🍞 🥖 🫓

recs

If you watch the HBO’s show The Last Of Us - and join the conversation grumble around not being able to binge it.. I might have something that softens the blow. The creators of the show actually do a podcast!

Each podcast episode is released with the show episode, so you can listen after watching. Not the other way around unless you’re unhinged..

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📬 Q&A w/ a Hiring Manager

What do hiring managers actually care about?

David, a fellow expat and a man behind Jobs in English, has offered to answer some of your burning questions about hiring in Denmark. Think CV tips, what stands out (and what doesn’t), or how to approach switching careers and more.

David’s built and led teams in various industries for over 15 years. He knows a thing or two about landing and switching roles and how to spot talent. He’s simply the kind of person you want in your corner.

How it works:
- Send your question (by replying to this email, DM or comment)
- I’ll pass it on to David
- He’ll impart his wisdom
- I’ll share the TLDR - anonymously - in the next batch for all of us to learn

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jobs

for those moments, your gut gets filled with stuff it likes

Source: Lilith

Assistant Store Manager at JOE & THE JUICE (link)

Food Tour Guide at Eating Europe Food Tours (link)
Paid Media Specialist at Danske Bank (link)
Windows SME via RED (link)

Graphic Design Intern at Cardlay (link)
Product Design Intern at Wallhack (link)
Client Support Student Assistant at Njord (link)
Student Assistant IT/Operations Department at NN07 (link)

Commercial Excellence Consultant at ProMeasure Consulting (link)
Board Game Artist & Product Owner at MOOD (link)

Creative Producer at Naked Copenhagen (link)
Tech Product Manager at Karnov Group (link)
Supply Chain Manager at ATLANT 3D (link)
Senior QA Project Manager at Radiometer (link)

Director, Investor Relations, Client Advisory at Urban Partners (link)
Regional Operations Manager at Greystar (link)
Head of Program - Regulatory & Policy at Mærsk (link)
Chief Sales Officer at WM Consulting (link)

Project Lead / Co-Founder for New Fashion Brand (link)

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As always, a disclaimer: AFAIK, none of the jobs require Danish language proficiency; apply if you have at least 80% match. Good luck!

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are you burnt out, then?

Show me someone over 30 who’s not burnt out, and I’ll show you a - well, I’d like to talk to them, if possible?

In March last year (wow, longer ago than it feels), I said it out loud for the first time. Over dinner, to my friends: I’m burnt out. And looking back, yeah, I was. Not just from work, but from life.

I made a few changes since then. I didn’t follow any script, though, just listened to my gut, so if it feels messy and random, it’s… on purpose? First, I deleted TikTok, started this newsletter and joined a start-up incubator. But then, on top of that, a couple of weeks ago, I lost my job.

Yikes. Now, I have a tendency to risk-manage, so just know I’m actively holding back from launching into a whole spiel about how I’ll go back to freelancing soon, or start a company, blah blah blah… all in an attempt to gain back society’s approval.

And can I just say - what a perspective shake-up? But weirdly, not a terrible one.

That’s the biggest plot twist here. Opting to be happy in this state of not-knowing is something I truly haven’t seen coming. Layoff? Yeah, I’ve seen that coming. But being job-free and happy?! (I wish I could say this phrase without ageing myself) I don’t know her.

Like when my friend announced prolonging her stay-at-home mum period, I was quite baffled. Why would anyone want to do that?

Coincidentally, she had the same job as me, and a reaction to a role of designer comes a bit of an “ooh” and “wow” from people, which now, looking at it.

I guess not everyone wants or needs their self-worth tied to a job?

Well, all I can say is - I see it now.

Also, I understand this sounds super privileged; yes, yes, yes - I’m very well aware this is a bubble not everybody gets to live in. But don’t bubbles deserve dedicated writing from time to time?

Running a household, caring for kids and/or pets, doing projects (paid and not), and not dying over something only shareholders mostly care about is actually pretty neat.

Betty Friedan must be turning over in her grave right now.

Don’t get me wrong—it’s not like any of us (my friend, me, even the ballerina farm girl) find deep fulfilment in housework.

Happier, Betty?

When you’re finally free to do what you’ve longed to - but never had time for because the money-making work took priority - this might just happen: You start doing things that bring you closer to your happy place.

And I think that is what’s happening to me now.

To close off this burnout-to-happy arc: I’m certain I’m not the only one experiencing layoffs. Heck, there’s a whole substack dedicated to the talented people that were laid off. So here’s a little something that helped and is actionable. Other than doing internal work (blah!), of peeling my sense of worth off my job title.

What’s made just as much of a difference, if not more, is learning to take myself as seriously as I’d take a job. Same respect, same attention, same showing up.

So, yeah if this is old news to you, congrats. But if my realising stuff Kylie Jenner style (I cringe at my own phrases!) helps even one person, the oversharing was worth it. 🫶✨

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All typos are intentional to make sure you’re paying attention.