Captured Feelings

The invisible burnout of the planner friend

The emotional toll of being the social glue

Adele Arbi
Curious Compass
Published in
4 min readAug 23, 2024

--

Read for free here.

Photo by Marco Allegretti on Unsplash

In all my friendships, I have always been the planner friend.

The one who always has a spreadsheet ready, a calendar colour-coded, and a to-do list that’s longer than my arm. The friend who’s always suggesting plans, organizing trips, and bringing everyone together.

But behind the cheerful facade, there’s a hidden struggle. The invisible burnout of the planner friend.

The emotional toll

It’s a fatigue that comes from constantly being the one in charge, the one everyone relies on, the one who always has to have everything under control.

It’s the pressure to make sure everyone is happy, to ensure that every detail is perfect, and to avoid any potential disasters.

We often feel like we have to be “on” all the time. We can’t afford to relax, to let go, or to admit that we’re feeling overwhelmed.

We’re afraid that if we don’t take charge, things will fall apart.

This constant pressure can take a toll on our mental and emotional health. We may experience feelings of anxiety, stress, and even…

--

--

Adele Arbi
Curious Compass

A curious soul pondering and documenting life. Quran Student, Memoirist, Bibliophile, Explorer. 100% of my Medium earnings go to charity.