Section 1: Dialogue
Lucas and Olivia are talking about dealing with stress at work.
Lucas: I’ve been feeling completely burned out lately. The workload is overwhelming.
Olivia: I hear you. You need to carve out some time for yourself, or you’ll crash.
Lucas: I know, but I can’t afford to drop the ball on anything right now.
Olivia: Still, if you keep pushing yourself too hard, you’ll end up running on fumes.
Lucas: Yeah, I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water.
Olivia: Maybe you should blow off some steam—go for a run or do something relaxing.
Lucas: That might help. I also need to set boundaries so I don’t take on too much.
Olivia: Exactly! And don’t be afraid to ask for help. No one expects you to carry the world on your shoulders.
Lucas: Good point. I’ll try to take a step back and figure out a better balance.
Section 2: Vocabulary List
Phrasal Verbs:
- Burn out → Become physically or mentally exhausted due to overwork.
- Carve out → Make time for something important.
- Drop the ball → Fail to do something important.
- Run on fumes → Keep going despite being completely exhausted.
- Blow off steam → Release stress through an activity.
- Set boundaries → Establish limits to protect one’s well-being.
- Take a step back → Pause to reassess a situation.
Idioms:
- Keep one’s head above water → Struggle to manage everything but not fail completely.
- Carry the world on one’s shoulders → Take on too much responsibility.
Section 3: Conversation Questions Using the Expressions
- Have you ever felt completely burned out? How did you recover?
- What’s something you do to carve out time for relaxation?
- Have you ever accidentally dropped the ball on something important? What happened?
- Do you think people should push through exhaustion or avoid running on fumes? Why?
- How do you usually blow off steam when you’re stressed?
- Why is it important to set boundaries between work and personal life?
- Have you ever felt like you were just keeping your head above water? How did you manage it?
- Do you sometimes feel like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders? How do you handle it?
- When was the last time you had to take a step back and reevaluate a situation?
- What are the best ways to prevent burnout before it happens?
Section 4: Comprehension and Creative Writing Questions
- Why is Lucas feeling overwhelmed?
- What advice does Olivia give him to prevent burnout?
- What does Olivia mean when she says he should blow off some steam?
- Why is it important for Lucas to set boundaries?
- Write about a time when you had to carve out time for self-care despite a busy schedule.
- Describe a situation where you felt like you were running on fumes. What did you do?
- Imagine you’re advising a friend who is feeling burned out. What would you tell them?
- Have you ever been afraid to drop the ball? What was at stake?
- Write about a time when you had to take a step back to gain perspective on a problem.
- What strategies do you use to manage stress and avoid feeling like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders?
