Millennial Reflections: From Burnout to Balance

During my early 20s, I embraced the hustle culture—as what every millennial did naman siguro. From getting the maximum clients and work we could handle, binge-watching an entire K-drama series in one sitting, devouring books daily, to attending every ganap from work to personal life. Yung tipong bigay na bigay ka sa life talaga. Every day felt like it needed to be maximized—parang laging may hinahabol. But life will humble you.

As I turned 30, everything changed. Burnout caught up with me. You lose the passion, energy, and drive that once fueled you. Suddenly, peace of mind outweighs ambition. You begin to miss doing the things you were once passionate about, and you might even think you're losing yourself. Maiisip mo lost ka naman. But as I learned, hindi naman pala. It’s just part of growing, and that's okay.

Your usual routines start to shift. Your likes and hobbies evolve. Your circle of friends becomes smaller, but the connections feel deeper. Your patience grows shorter, but you’re more straightforward now. You start expressing yourself more freely, healing your inner child, and becoming more private. Mas konti na ang posts on social media, and that’s okay too. You learn that breakups, whether romantic or platonic, still happen. Plans don’t always materialize the way you envision them. And yes, you can still make mistakes. All of these are valid. And remember, these are all okay!

It took me months to realize and admit na hindi ko na kaya makipagsabayan sa hustle culture ngayon. I mean, syempre kung saan tayo may kikitaing pera, go lang ng go. Sana! But if this means slowly losing yourself, it's not worth it. Mas tendency pa you'll mess it up big time and your mental health will also be at risk. Take what you can work on and get yourself a hobby to stay sane at this age. 

Back when I was younger, I’d often hear people say that their 20s were the best years of their lives. I looked forward to it. But I guess, iba talaga ang generation natin. Andyan yung mga breadwinners, mga anak na napunta sa ibang trabaho kaysa sa degree or passion nila, mga brainy kids na sobrang taas ng expectations, at marami pang iba. Burnout was inevitable before we even hit our 30s. Kaya I don’t have anything against millennials who are now focusing on healing their inner child. We all deserve this time to heal and grow.

And remember when we thought we’d settle down by 24 or 25? Scam noh? Haha! Our parents got married or already had kids at that age. But now, I see most people in our generation are still single, like me. And honestly, it feels like there’s less pressure about it now. Ang dami nating inuna—career, personal growth, family obligations—from the past decade. Every generation faces its unique challenges, and ours just happens to be different.

A friend of mine asked us on our group chat, "What are your retirement plans?" At first, I was like, isn't that too early for us to discuss? But thinking back, where did the time go? Ang bilis nga ng 30 years kasi look at us now. At this age, mas mabilis nga tumakbo ang araw since you are working everyday. We're not getting any younger. And as millennials, feeling ko pati nga talaga ito maiisip na agad natin. I guess that's what we're gonna figure out in our 30s. 

We don't want stressful and messy life, toxic relationships, unclear intentions, uncertain feelings, or temporary people. May we all find genuine connections and a peaceful life. And may your pockets never run dry.

For years, I struggled with the idea of always needing to prove something—to my peers, to my family, and even to myself. But now, I realize that validation doesn’t always have to come from others. It starts within. Learning to prioritize myself, my health and my well-being is one of the most liberating feelings I’ve ever experienced. It’s saying no when you need to and not feeling guilty about it. It’s putting yourself first sometimes and knowing that’s okay. 

Self-love also means celebrating the small wins. Hindi naman kailangan grand or big ang progress mo sa life. Getting through the day, ticking off one task on your to-do list, or simply taking a break to breathe—these are worth celebrating too. Remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can, and that’s more than enough.

And let’s not forget the importance of rest. In our younger years, rest felt like a luxury we couldn’t afford. Ngayon, rest is a necessity. It’s a form of self-care that fuels us to keep going. Self-love is embracing that you are a work in progress. You are allowed to take your time, to grow, and to evolve at your own pace.

I want to salute all millennials who continue striving and hustling despite these feelings or this era we’re in. I know how hard it is to adjust and learn while doing your best to live your usual life. Alam ko, malaki yung nakapatong na responsibilidad natin ngayon. But always remind yourself that it’s okay to choose yourself sometimes. Take a break, give yourself grace, and then, laban lang ulit. May kanya-kanya tayong journey. Hindi ka napag-iiwanan.

My 20s are something I'll treasure as it's a memorable era. I miss being carefree, passionate, and energetic and it's true that you'll never be that young again. I'm glad I did travel, had time to explore the world during those years, and stepped out of my comfort zone. No regrets about all the things I did. It definitely shaped me into who I am today. I will be always grateful to Him. I'll embrace this new era of mine and let's see how this one goes! 

"Even when I feel lost, I will keep moving forward. Taking one small step at a time, hoping that the spark within me will return, that fire that once made me feel unstoppable."

Love,

Elaine