Burnout recovery and a social reboot

Since the start of 2025, I have been trying to shake off my habit of over-multitasking and shopping around for information and gear. I have deleted my Facebook and Instagram accounts and resisted other apps to replace the doom scroll time suck. I have forced myself to goof off, play video games for hours, and watch stuff on one screen at a time—oh, and, gasp, reading fiction. My squirrel brain is thrashing, but my ability to concentrate is improving, and I feel much better.

2024 was a crazy photo gear-collecting extravaganza. Cameras, lenses, accessories, and apps consumed a lot of time and money with research and shopping. I will not discuss any of that because, for me, it was a tedious and unpleasant process. Also, I do not want to wade into the photo-blog realm. I now have the tools to do and make what I want. Now, I need to get out there and make it happen.

I am trying to find my footing to renew this blog and start fresh projects. I no longer feel as much pressure to perform or turn everything into a side hustle cash grab. My burnout is receding, but it is still mentally crippling. My focus for 2025 is to use my stuff and make some stuff: writing, drawing, photos, video, whatever. Maybe I’ll have new things to sell in 2026. First, I need to climb out of the rut and create for the sake of creating.

Sitting on the couch and playing in the digital realm is convenient, but there is no replacing IRL. My hospitality career is an immersion in real life. Connecting with people is what the word "social" in social media is supposed to mean. We are all too busy, and that is a part of our collective social problem. I am not alone in needing to connect with people in a meaningful way again. When it comes to being social, many of us have lost our way. Time will always be an issue, but there must be a balance. AI is not going to be supportive, social, or buy my stuff.

Thank you for reading along and discovering me. I hope my ramblings help you organize your thoughts and inspire you to get started or take a break. I plan to do my official blog posts every three months – March, June, September, and December. Along the way, I will post samples, stories, or creative process updates. You can read my long-form stuff on my website, uduforu.com, or on Medium.com, @martin_e_dodge. Short-form posts will pop up on Substack.com, @martinedodge, and on YouTube, @uduforu and @martin-e-dodge.

Best wishes to you.

Visit uduforu.com for more about Martin E. Dodge and join the uduforu email family. Follow online: uduforu blog, on YouTube @uduforu and @martin-e-dodge, on Substack.com @martinedodge, on Medium.com @martin_e_dodge, and Pinterest.

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