Mad as Hell and not gonna take it anymore (or just tired)

Burnout, ambition, and the growing desire to do less

How many of you have seen or remember the movie Network? The premise is a broadcast news anchor who starts losing it on air and of course the ratings go up because of it and they exploit him even more. It’s a black comedy but so spot on to what’s happening today with our always on society. It also spawned one of the most famous lines in all of cinema, “I’m mad as Hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore.” And while a lot of people around me aren’t necessarily mad, they’re fed up. And just really, really tired.

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I’d like to take to my bed

It feels like everyone I know is fed up.

Fed up with the rat race.

Fed up with needing to prove themselves.

To work harder.

To try harder.

To chase more.

To do more.

To post more.

To juggle more.

To put everyone else first.

To climb the ladder.

To get the raise. The promotion. The next client.

And they’re exhausted.

From my creative professional friends to my traditional workforce friends, they’re sick of having to kill themselves at work. And in life.

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I’m working here

And let’s be clear: they want to do good work.

They love (or like) their jobs.

But they don’t want to have to prove anything anymore.

They want to do good work and go home.

Live their life. Sleep. Rest. Have fun. Spend time with family. Travel. Work out.

You know, do other things besides work.

They want to earn a living, but it doesn’t need to be the greatest living.

It just needs to be enough. Enough to enjoy life.

So why now?

Perhaps with AI and the rest of the dumpster fire that is the US and the world right now, we just don’t have capacity.

It’s all too much. And frankly we’re done.

Done trying to hold the weight of the world on our shoulders. Especially women.

Done trying to keep up with technology that moves so fast it’s not even regulated yet. Or ever.

So maybe we ARE mad as Hell and not gonna take it anymore.

But mostly we’re just tired.

Tired of having to do it all.

Being expected to do it all.

We don’t even want it all anymore (or ever did).

We’re not a monolith.

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Try me a river

There have been countless articles lately about the death of the girl boss and how women want to lean out.

The culmination of everything we’ve been told to be, told we want, told to have, aspire to, etc. has finally resulted in a pile of shit that no one wants to touch.

We’re sick of trying to be whatever society tells us we have to be.

Frankly, we just want to be left alone.

Left alone to read, knit, stretch, sleep, sleep some more, and just not have to be continuously onto the next thing.

The women I know don’t even have the desire or the energy to burn it all down.

They’d rather light a scented candle and take an edible.

Because they’re just tired and they’re not gonna take it any more.

They’re building community.

Supporting each other.

Laughing and crying together.

They’re sharing memories and moments.

Taking walks and taking breaks.

And all of this is a result of finally being comfortable enough to say fuck it.

Owning who they are and what they want. Right now.

They do have a right to change their mind at any time and take control or burn it all down, but for now they’re happy to just do less.

Hit reply and tell me how you’re doing less. I’d love to hear all about it.

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What is hustle culture, and why are so many people pushing back against it?

Hustle culture is the belief that your worth is tied to how productive, ambitious, and busy you are. For years, many people were told that success meant working harder, achieving more, and constantly chasing the next milestone. Now, a growing number of people are questioning whether all that effort is actually leading to a better life—or just leaving them exhausted.

How is choosing "enough" different from giving up on your goals?

Choosing enough isn't about lowering your standards or abandoning ambition. It's about deciding that your life doesn't have to revolve around endless achievement. Instead of constantly chasing more money, more recognition, or more work, you're defining success on your own terms and making room for rest, relationships, and things that actually make you happy.

Who is this mindset shift for?

This mindset shift is for anyone who's tired of feeling like they're on a never-ending treadmill. It's especially relevant for professionals, business owners, caregivers, and women who have spent years trying to balance work, family, expectations, and personal goals while feeling pressure to do it all perfectly.

What results can I expect if I stop trying to do everything?

You probably won't wake up one morning magically stress-free. But you may find yourself with more energy, better boundaries, stronger relationships, and a clearer sense of what actually matters to you. Many people discover that doing less allows them to be more present, more fulfilled, and surprisingly more effective in the areas they truly care about.

Why does embracing "less" work when burnout doesn't?

Burnout happens when you're constantly operating beyond your physical, emotional, or mental capacity. Choosing less works because it acknowledges that people aren't machines. Rest, community, boundaries, and self-awareness create sustainability. When you're no longer spending all your energy proving yourself, you have more capacity for meaningful work, deeper connections, and a life that feels like your own.