Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WIqMYwHt4eA

Episode Notes:

In this episode, Dennis and Jessica unpack a very "2026" reality: people taking vacations just to sleep, and even using PTO to rest because life feels relentless.

They explore what chronic stress and information overload do to our minds and bodies, why doomscrolling can quietly hijack mental health, and how small habits like choosing uplifting content, taking "field trips," and creating healthy boundaries can bring us back to ourselves.

This conversation also circles back to why the work matters: suicide prevention and hope. Sometimes the impact isn't in the crowd, it's in the one person who hears something and reaches for help.

What You'll Hear In This Episode

• "Sleep vacations" and PTO used for rest: what it may signal

• Burnout vs. healthy recovery and why guilt shows up around rest

• Golden handcuffs: staying in a job that drains you

• Why mental labor can be just as exhausting as physical labor

• Social media algorithms, doomscrolling, and protecting your mind

• Lent as a "reset": reducing phone use and sharing positive stories daily

• The power of "the one": one listener, one life, one turning point

• Simple practices: smile science, faith moments, and micro-breaks that help

Quote Worth Keeping

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." – Helen Keller