TLDR: Just bc you're not burned out doesn't mean you're thriving
TLDR: Just bc you're not burned out doesn't mean you're thriving
Our mental well-being is more expansive than you may think.
Hey there,
DD HQ here. Have you ever felt …blah?
Very scientific terminology, we know. But, there aren’t many words in the English language that capture the nuance of feeling just okay in daily life. Sometimes the thought - “there has to be more to life than this” - catches us in the most random moments, and sometimes, it’s a constant drumbeat in our minds.
Before we dive into it - if you’re feeling this way lately (or ever) - know you’re not alone. And more importantly, we’ve built the Daydreamers ecosystem to solve this exact problem: using our creative brain to get our spark back. Our membership was at capacity until recently, and we’re opening up our next cohort for a little bit longer. Make sure you’re signed up:
Let’s rewind for a moment. Right now, we’re collectively in the emotional ‘messy middle.’ The idea of being not-depressed-but-not-happy isn’t new - back in 2021, Dr. Adam Grant wrote a piece in the New York Times that lit the Internet on fire, and gave us all a word that captured the blah feeling we couldn’t put our finger on.
Languishing is like the sister emotion to burnout - it’s a “sense of stagnation and emptiness; the void between depression and flourishing.”
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Our mental health is a spectrum, and being not depressed, burned out or overwhelmed isn’t the same as living our full potential. At Daydreamers, we’re here to hone in on the daily habits that make up our emotions, perspective + overall well-being each + every day - and most importantly, allow us to thrive.
Thrive, you say? …is that even possible in our world? Let us explain.
Here’s the issue: We think that languishing is a fact of life. A side effect of the way modern society is structured. An expectation of entering adulthood.
But, about twenty years ago, psychologists got together and started thinking more deeply about the human condition. They realized that we’ve only been looking at our mental health as an absence of mental illness; not how we can activate the full extent of psychological and emotional well-being.
Basically, we have the potential to feel more than just…blah.
This isn’t just a nice, fluffy thing to do. When we look at the research, adults who are languishing are at the highest risk of dipping into experiencing mental illness - so much so, that languishing adults are six times more likely to experience a major depressive episode than those who are flourishing.
But, this isn’t just about risk of something happening either; those of us who are languishing are three times more likely to cut back at work and limit the activities we engage in within everyday life.
Enough of the scary stuff - the coolest part to us @ DD in this research is the potential it holds. Recognizing we’re languishing - and doing something about it - is the most pivotal point for transformation.
That’s because when we’re languishing, we still have the energy + space to incorporate new habits into our lives. We have the capacity for forward momentum - even if it might not seem that way on the surface. If we have the right awareness, tools and support we can shift into a state of thriving.
If you’re like us, thriving sounds like a fancy, unrealistic term. But, if we pull back to the science, thriving is made up of three simple elements. They’re the elements that we so often glaze over when it comes to our mental health (and the ones we’re solely focused on here at Daydreamers):
Hedonic well-being, or our ability to enjoy and experience pleasure.
Eudaimonic well-being, or what brings us meaning, fulfillment and purpose.
Resilience, or how we think creatively and problem solve effectively.
Sound familiar? Well, they’re the basis for the Daydreamers Burnout Pathway. As a sneak peek, we’re using creative flow, not just to ‘get rid’ of burnout, but feeling more alive across the three main components of psychological well-being.
Because, our creative brains are at the core of what it means to be a fully flourishing human. When we practice creative flow consistently, we prioritize enjoyment, curiosity, openness and meaning. We use our imaginations to experience wonder + awe more often. And most importantly, we’re able to expand our minds and remember what it means to be human, not robots.
As we’re gearing up to kick off our next Early Access cohort, we can’t wait to help us all experience the enjoyment, fulfillment and resilience that we all deserve to feel more often.
Ready to thrive, for real? Us too 🛸
Katina + Dupi
and the entire team @ DD HQ
Want to learn how to exercise your creative brain so you can feel less burned out and more alive this year? It’s the cool new thing to do 🧠 Get your entry spot to Daydreamers ASAP - plus, by joining now, you’ll get our early pricing + first-dibs on all our latest features + updates:
An idea to noodle on 💭
Our mental health is more expansive than we imagine.
THINK ON THIS: Just knowing that ‘feeling blah’ has a name can help us transform. The research on languishing - and how to support those of us experiencing it - is really just beginning, but psychologists find that being able to put a name to our emotions helps us feel more connected, seen and whole.
…MAYBE NOT THAT: ‘Happiness’ isn’t a forever thing, either. At Daydreamers, we’re not here to ‘achieve’ a state of happiness 24/7 (in fact, that isn’t possible). Our ability to be psychologically well means that we can notice + experience positive feelings, as well as regulate our emotions when stuff feels hard. Life is a complex thing, and our creative brains help us be here for all of it.
Inside our brains at DD HQ 🧠
This is creativity, according to Rick Rubin. And this is the status-quo-pusher energy we’re here for. Hm - is our collective loneliness a habit? Focus like it’s 1990 - aka a time before constant pings and blaring notifications. Okay we know someone will use this as bragging rights - but research shows that ppl who play music are considered more “attractive”. Learning a new language - i.e. exercising your creative brain - staves off cognitive decline.
Ideas from the DD Crew 🛸
We hear from you all the time that this newsletter is ‘the only one you open’ and we’re honored (truly 🥲). If you’re into the stuff we share here - and want access to more of it - make sure you’re in the Daydreamers ecosystem.
Plus, we’re cooking up some new, exciting stuff in the DD Universe, specifically around this newsletter (and hint hint, maybe an exclusive DD podcast) that will only be available in our member app. Join us 🙌🏽