If you’re feeling worn out from the stresses of everyday life, these stories may help you find your footing again
By NATALIE SALTER—arts@theaggie.org
When the obligations of daily life — classes, work, chores, the expectations of others — pile up, it’s easy to slip into burnout. Being stuck within this period of overwhelming exhaustion and stress can feel inescapable.
Many authors, directors and artists have attempted to capture the experience of burnout and, in doing so, provide audiences with a potential framework for overcoming it. These five stories tackle the burnout problem head-on, and may offer you some worthwhile advice on how to healthily treat yourself when the world feels like far too much.
Show: “Summer Strike” dir. Lee Yoon-jung (2022)
At the start of “Summer Strike,” 28-year-old Yeo-reum’s (Kim Seol-hyun) life seems to belong to everyone else but her. She devotes her time and energy to a draining job, an exploitative boss and a partner who shrugs off her problems with annoyance rather than treating her with love and care.
When the combined end of her long-term relationship and the passing of a loved one sends her spiraling into confusion and despair, Yeo-reum is forced to rethink the rules by which she has lived her life thus far. Abandoning her job and her apartment in Seoul, she impulsively flees to a quiet seaside town in the countryside with nothing but the barest essentials, seeking to find herself through the act of living free of the expectations of others.
In line with its heroine’s philosophy, “Summer Strike” is a show that devotes itself to the magic of everyday, peaceful life. Enhanced by its idyllic oceanside setting, the show carefully lingers on moments of fragile, fleeting beauty — golden sunlight through a tree’s cover of leaves, morning waves lapping up a sandy shore, the warm intimacy of an impromptu meal shared with loved ones.
Perhaps Yeo-reum’s response to the toils of everyday life feels like a risky leap, but the sentiment within it is vital: In order to healthily give to others, you must first find and care for yourself. It bids the viewer to find wonder in the mundane, and love in the simplest of kind gestures, for these little sparks of meaning may be the very thing that make life special.
Book: “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” by Satoshi Yagisawa (2010)
After leaving behind her job and ending an unhealthy relationship, Takako finds herself in the unexpected care of her eccentric uncle and his small-town bookshop. Though a respite from the stresses of city life, Takako’s depression envelops her, leaving her wondering if she’ll ever emerge from it.
But slowly, the rhythms of the bookshop offer her a new outlook on life. Books become her consolatory companions; bonds form between her and frequent customers, as she becomes more attentive to the stories found in everyone around her.
“Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” is written with an earnest gentleness, reassuring the reader of the healing power of taking things slow. It’s an especially strong reminder of the revitalizing capabilities of a good book — much of Takako’s growth is thanks to her newfound love of literature. Perhaps it’s an important reminder that understanding other peoples’ stories, whether through a book or a conversation with a friend, can help us move forward in our own.
Game: “Stardew Valley” by ConcernedApe (2016)
The premise of “Stardew Valley” is simple. You, the player, toil away at a corporate job that drains your energy and passion. That is, until you discover that your late grandfather has left you an old farm in Pelican Town, a small patch of countryside by the sea. Here, you have a chance to build a new life, farming and raising animals and reconnecting with nature and community alike.
Amongst the many qualities that have made it among the best-selling video games ever made, “Stardew Valley” is so delightful to play thanks to its sincere belief in the value of living simply and appreciatively. The game rewards players for treating townsfolk with empathy, resisting corporate greed and environmental destruction, and carrying out farm tasks slowly and thoughtfully.
The vibrant scenery and peaceful gameplay of “Stardew Valley” may also serve as a burnout cure in and of itself; its friendly and addictive playstyle is exactly why so many players have fallen in love with it. Even if you don’t have a countryside farm to inherit in real life, the pixellated version may help you experience the magic of it all the same.
Film: “Roman Holiday” dir. William Wyler (1953)
Even princesses need a vacation, according to “Roman Holiday.” The movie follows the sweet yet precocious Princess Ann, played by Audrey Hepburn, in the midst of a grand cross-country tour through Europe. But, the princess’s schedule spares her no time of her own.
In Rome, Ann finds herself unable to continue the suffocating and near endless formalities and tasks of her tour, and impulsively sneaks out to the Roman city streets in pursuit of her own adventure. Along the way, she forms an unlikely alliance with American journalist Joe Bradley, played by Gregory Peck, who covertly seeks to interview her to placate his skeptical editor.
Funny, heartwarming and immensely tender, “Roman Holiday” muses upon the importance of pursuing one’s own happiness outside of obligation to others. For Ann, the best burnout cure is pursuing her curiosities and making her own adventure. It’s the act of making new memories that helps her emerge from her exhaustion and find a new appreciation for the world around her — a solution worth trying for anyone feeling that same fatigue.
Film: “Kiki’s Delivery Service” dir. Hayao Miyazaki (1989)
In Studio Ghibli’s picturesque animated world, a witch turning 13 means she must leave home to train her skills and discover her talent. Such is the case for the headstrong young Kiki, who lands upon a vibrant seaside city and sets out to run her own broomstick-flying delivery service. Her kindness and curiosity help her find the community she’s been searching for.
Even for a girl with magic, however, burnout is a very present threat. As Kiki struggles with her ever-changing life and the challenges of her job and friendships, she finds it difficult to stay afloat. Her mood slips suddenly from joy and curiosity to exhaustion and bitterness.
But, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” reminds viewers that if you lose your spark, you can always find it again. Rest and community are integral to Kiki’s healing, but most importantly, she must learn to listen to herself and give herself grace when times get hard. Once Kiki learns to show herself the kindness she grants to others, she is slowly able to find her footing again. In this way, Miyazaki’s film provides a mature and meaningful perspective on burnout: it will come, and it can’t always be avoided, but being gentle and patient with yourself will help you emerge stronger than ever.
Whether it’s a whimsical tale full of magic, a quaint countryside life or a cozy, small-business bookstore, stories have the ability to transport you into worlds that can inspire and breathe life into your own everyday routines — no matter how far away these realities may feel.
Written by: Natalie Salter—arts@theaggie.org
