Hey BON Fam,

As we step further into 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on how BON came to life. Last year was a whirlwind: ideas, late nights, breakthroughs, and ironically, a hard lesson in burnout itself.

So how did we finish 2024? Keep reading.

Research & Writing the Manuscript

Our fourth quarter started with a stack of books, endless Google Docs and cups of tea that went cold before we had time to drink them. We spent long hours digging into burnout research, interviewing professionals and piecing together the first draft of Burned Out Nation. It felt exciting, like we were finally giving structure to something so many people silently struggle with.

Brand Identity and Playbook Design

Once the manuscript started taking shape, we turned our focus to branding BON visually and emotionally. A brand is not a tattoo. So what should BON feel like? How do we make it warm, relatable and empowering? We played with colors, fonts and messaging, refining what would eventually become the soul of BON’s identity.

At the same time, we drafted the BON Playbook, a guide designed to help individuals recognize and recover from burnout. Page by page, we worked to create something practical, something people could turn to when they felt exhausted and overwhelmed.

Launch & Learn, the Hard Way

December packed with momentum. We launched the BON Newsletter (this very email you are reading) to connect with our growing community. We also developed the BON Assessment Test, a tool designed to help individuals measure their burnout levels and get personalized recommendations for recovery.

But here’s the plot twist: we got burned out, too!

Somewhere between the deadlines, the late-night text messages and the constant pressure to create something meaningful, we missed the warning signs in ourselves. We were exhausted, irritable and running on fumes. It was quite ironic: here we were, building a movement to fight burnout, while completely ignoring our own limits.

So, we hit pause. Took our own medicine.

We practiced gratitude, especially for the messy moments. We set boundaries, stepping away from work without guilt. And we prioritized self-care, whether that meant rest, movement, or just giving ourselves permission to breathe.

The Lesson?

Burnout does not care about good intentions. It doesn’t wait for permission. It sneaks in quietly, even when you love what you do. But what we fail to remember in these moments is the fact that rest isn’t failure. It’s part of the process.

As we move forward in 2025, we are carrying this lesson with us. Next week, we’ll share how we turned BON into a fully realized online presence and what’s next. Stay tuned.

How are you prioritizing self-care this week? Hit reply and let us know—we’d love to hear from you.

With gratitude,
Anderson Dinga
Founder, Burned Out Nation

PS: Take the free BON Assessment Test (BAT) today to uncover insights about your burnout level.