From burnout to the open road: A story of rediscovering photography through van life. Learn why disconnecting is the ultimate tool for creative recovery.

For years, I viewed burnout as something that happened to other people. I remember chatting with a coworker who was going through an intense period of stress; I naively wondered how someone could let themselves get to that point. As if the universe wanted to teach me a lesson, I found myself in that exact position just a few weeks later.

The defense mechanisms I had built over two decades were bypassed. I’ve always prided myself on not letting professional responsibilities affect my well-being, but this time, the anxiety sneaked in through the back door. I wasn’t prepared because I simply didn't have the vocabulary for what I was feeling.

This year, I learned a humbling lesson: I am not immune to burnout.

The Self-Awareness "Cache Clear"

After several days of navigating that fog, I began to find my way back. There wasn't a single "aha" moment or a grand event that triggered the recovery; instead, it was a quiet recession of the tide.

However, that period left me with a new obsession: understanding my triggers. I discovered that the act of writing, documenting how I feel versus how I want to feel, acts as a manual override for anxiety. It forces self-awareness and blocks the triggers before they can take root. But more than anything, I realized I needed a hard disconnect.

I have been working and blogging non-stop since 2004. I know, I’m a probably a veteran (for lack of better word) in this space. I love what I do, and because of that love, I ignored my limits. But everyone has a ceiling or a floor. I found mine, and I realized that disconnecting is like a system reboot and sometimes you have to turn the machine off to clear the cache and start fresh.

The Van Life Remedy

To facilitate this reboot, I finally pursued a long-held dream: I got a camper van. Now, my wife, my son, and I can head out whenever we want. It has been the ultimate remedy.

There is a specific kind of freedom in traveling without the constraints of hotel check-ins or restaurant reservations. We have everything we need. No computers, no endless scrolling, just time together even bickering feels more fun.

Capturing the In-Between

The most rewarding part of this shift has been my return to photography. These trips aren't just about the destination; they are about the visual clues the world imprints on my brain along the way. I’m not just capturing family memories, but the "liminal spaces" and textures of the journey, like the e neon glow of RV park bathrooms at night, silhouette of palm trees against a fading sky, bike paths, quiet of a vast landscape.

For me, this is what it means to disconnect to reconnect. It’s about stepping away from the digital noise to see the world clearly again.

Here are a few moments from the road in Halfmoon Bay.

Photography