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The Recharge is the newsletter I wish I’d had long before I felt burned out.
Think of it as the big-sister-meets-best-friend digest that helps you navigate those periods of bone-deep exhaustion, stress, and malaise.
I’m not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be qualified in any of this advice from a medical standpoint. But I’ve been in your shoes—and chances are, if you’ve found your way to this page, you’re looking for empathy, not a prescription. (Or you’re just a really supportive loved one of mine who got roped into following yet another one of my side projects… 🫶).
To be honest, this newsletter is just as much for me as it is for you. Writing has always been therapeutic to me, and I’ve been itching for a way to connect with others who are processing thoughts and feelings around burnout, creativity, self-care, and what abundance actually looks like in this chapter of life.
So, welcome to the recharge. I hope you’re able to find a small dose of comfort in every edition and that it serves as a reminder that you’re not alone.
Hi there. I’m Lia—a writer (and former marketer) working on my first novel.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a type-A perfectionist and overachiever in every aspect of my life. I’m also well-versed in burnout after years spent pushing myself as hard as possible throughout high school, college, and my career, which has spanned everything from an attempt at professional acting and working as a production assistant on several off-Broadway shows to corporate roles at Scholastic and WeWork, and, most recently, a marketing leadership role at a hypergrowth early-stage startup called Teal. (Startups + type-A overachievers = perfect recipe for burnout, let me tell ya. More on that in the newsletter.)
Another thing I’ve loved for as long as I can remember: a good side project. Or a not-so-good side project, depending on who you ask. (I’ve since apologized to my younger sister for all those fake pen pal letters I wrote her back in the mid-’90s.)
Along the way, there’ve been family newsletters nobody read, websites created to help my classmates catch up on daily homework assignments if they were absent (also that nobody read), and blogs about my “year of yes,” adulting, and self-care (some of which people actually read).
But if I had to choose a favorite side project, it’d be The MarketHer, a newsletter-turned-website founded to help my colleagues at WeWork find new roles in the wake of the company’s first major round of layoffs. Covid hit shortly thereafter, and it felt important to keep the project going to help as many women as possible find work again. (You can read more about it in Marketing Brew here.)
For the second time in my life—the first being my post-WeWork chapter—I’m not sure what’s next professionally. And I’m learning to be ok with that. To focus on the now. To redefine myself as needed. To think about my career in a more non-linear way. To take all that I’ve learned and integrate it into my next opportunity, whatever that may be.
Some of the things that help me recharge:
❤️ Time with my husband and our puppy, Waffles
💪 Physical movement—especially long walks, hikes, yoga (both hot vinyasa and yin classes), Pilates, and LaGree (all about low-impact exercise these days)
🌲 Spending time outdoors. Nature’s such a balm, especially growing up in Colorado and now being based in Northern California
🛁 Long, hot bubble baths (I’m pretty sure I’m part fish…)
☕️ Writing in a coffee shop
📚 Reading (I could spend hours cozied up in a bookstore or library)
✍️ Journaling (even though I resist it, it always helps)
🍪 Cooking and/or baking and taking the time to enjoy the process (vs. strictly stressing out about meal prep)
🌱 Building out my family tree on ancestry.com. (I’ve nerded out over it for the past 6 months and am obsessed)
🎿 Skiing (when I can). I used to dread it growing up, but have come to appreciate it as an adult. My annual ski trip with loved ones is now a favorite weekend of the year.
💆🏻♀️ Acupuncture and massage. I was fortunate to have an acupuncturist I adored when I was living in LA, but I need to find someone new now that we’ve moved. Massages are a luxury I don’t always indulge in—but my body is SO thankful when I do.
Ok, enough about me. I’d love to hear about the routines, hobbies, and strategies that have helped you recharge. (Stay tuned for features on these in the coming months.)
Thank you so much for being here.
Very rough estimate
