- Maya Rudolph says she was burned out running a production company she co-founded.
- “I like to work, but I don’t like to kill myself,” Rudolph told Town and Country Magazine.
- The burnout crisis in the United States may cost the economy $1.9 trillion in lost productivity.
Maya Rudolph says she overworked herself trying to run the production company she co-founded in 2018.
In an interview with Town and Country Magazine about her career, Rudolph explained why she chose to step away from Animal Pictures, the company she co-founded with Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Renfrew Behrens.
Between running the business and starring in different shows, the workload caught up to her.
“But more and more, I started to feel like there weren’t enough hours in the day,” Rudolph told Town and Country Magazine. “It takes a lot to create a show, and it’s great to be able to create it, but then showing up and being on set every day is, ‘All right, then I don’t have time for that, ‘that, and that…'”
She added that she didn’t have “a choice” when she was younger, but things have changed.
“Before, I had no choice, so I did it, because that’s what you did. You burned yourself out. You ended up in bed, in a coma, because you left it all on the dance floor or whatever, but when you’re taking care of the kids, that’s not really an option,” Rudolph said.
Rudolph shares four children with his partner, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.
Although she still enjoyed what she did at work, the pace was too much to handle, she added: “I like working, but I don’t like killing myself.”
Animal Pictures is behind shows such as Netflix’s “Russian Doll” — starring Lyonne — and the Apple TV+ comedy “Loot,” starring Rudolph.
Rudolph left Animal Pictures as a partner last year, according to The Wrap. “Moving forward, Natasha will operate under the Animal Pictures name while Maya will produce independently,” read a statement obtained by the outlet.
A representative for Rudolph did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of normal business hours.
Burnout can affect anyone. A Gallup survey found that American employees feel more detached from their employers in 2023 than four years ago.
Additionally, employees who are not engaged in their work can cost the economy $1.9 trillion in lost productivity.
The World Health Organization defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic stress at work that has not been successfully managed.” This includes feelings of exhaustion or cynicism about one’s work, as well as reduced professional effectiveness.
Some ways to manage burnout include setting boundaries, effectively prioritizing tasks, and communicating your needs to your manager.
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