This Paleo Peach Berry Crisp is the perfect way to enjoy all your favorite summer fruits. Enjoy this sweet, tart, crumble-sprinkled dish for dessert, snack, or even breakfast. I’m not judging!
Yesterday was a workday. It was a workday, but I had a slow morning, put on shorts and a comfy-big button down shirt, took a laptop and some (non-Paleo) cookies downtown, and left the office about 10 minutes later. Why? Because on Wednesday, after talking about it for about 4.5 weeks, I ended my internship early.
See, there was nothing for me to do. I did work-related tasks, which were usually meetings to which I didn’t have anything to contribute, for about 20% of the time I was at work.
This left me about 32 hours a week to sit around and… do whatever I felt like, as long as I could do it from my somewhat-restricted computer. I wrote a lot of blog posts, read a lot of blogs, re-familiarized myself with Photoshop and InDesign, and chatted with the people sitting around me. But aside from following my team to meetings and editing a few documents, I really didn’t do much in the way of work.
I asked repeatedly but not obnoxiously if there was anything I could do. There really wasn’t. I was placed in a position for which I did not apply, and if my team had needed help, I probably would not have had the skills to be an asset to them. As I said a couple weeks ago, in my quest for actual work to do, I did manage to switch teams. The new team didn’t actually have much work to give me either.
Anyone who has talked to me in person this summer knows this story, and they all know that I was fairly miserable. Among my least favorite feelings is uselessness – I like to do things – and I felt useless nearly all the time. It was bad for my mental health… but it was good for my bank account and it was work experience. Still, when your parents are urging you to quit a job, you know you probably need to do it.
Well, last Wednesday, I scheduled a meeting with my new team’s manager. I explained that she didn’t seem to have a lot for me to do, and unless I was misunderstanding what I should be doing entirely, I wanted to end the internship early. We had a lovely conversation, and she agreed that this was probably a smart decision, though she regretted not having more for me to do. She talked to her boss on Wednesday night. I came back to talk to him, my old manager, and the HR department on Thursday.
And that’s how I quit my internship.
The type-A, do-it-all part of me (which is honestly about 95% of me) still hates that I did it. I mean, I was getting paid to sit in a designated location and do pretty much whatever I wanted. However, I was really getting paid to fill a position that didn’t exist. Everyone around me had roles to fill and I just sat around doing my own thing.
Since I did anything that was asked of me quickly, everyone told me I was effective and efficient. Still, because I was rarely doing anything, I felt lazy and out of place. I had to put an end to that.
So, I did. It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I did. Now I have six weeks left until I head back to Chicago. I have every intention of filling that time with things that make me feel productive and relaxed and joyful.
On choosing productivity, joy, and Paleo Peach Berry Crisp. #fitfluential #bgbcommunity Share on XLiiiiike this Paleo Peach Berry Crisp.
Sorry for the lame segue. But I’m actually not sorry because this is freaking delicious and you need it in your life.
I asked for baking requests this weekend, and my mom suggested something fruity. Well, with all the excellent summer fruit happening right now, that sounded pretty easy.
And good news: it is! So easy. Chop some fruit, throw it in a dish, top it with crumble, and let it bake. Then, enjoy!
Click here to view nutrition facts for Paleo Peach Berry Crisp
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Your turn:
Have you ever quit a job?
What’s your favorite summer dessert?
I had such a similar experience as an intern (it was a long time ago
) I wish liek you I would’ve asked to leave…I felt stupid though quitting when I could sit and get paid…but it really messed with my mental health too! Your story is so very similar and this is before I blogged, i wouldve totally rocked blogging if I’d been doing it then…I think you did the best thing and that your employer RESPECTS that you did that instead of ‘wasting’ their time and money…I think it will actually pay off in the long run!
Ugh, I’m sorry to hear you had a similarly bad experience. And I’d say you’re rocking blogging now just fine ? Thanks for the encouragement, Sarah!
I think that we also know that, in many ways, this is the same story with my job(s). One of these days, we will both find jobs that fulfill us from the inside out and outside in, and for longer than just a few months.
Until then, we eat this. Because it looks amazing.
Definitely thought of you here
We’re both intelligent and talented and passionate, and you’re right – we’ll find our places soon.
And thank you! ???
Oh my goodness!!!!! This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks, Rachel!! It’s quite delicious, if I do say so myself ?
This was me the summer after my sophomore year! The year I (not so coincidentally) started this blog. I made so much money but the lifestyle and work weren’t fulfilling. I’m lucky that it was in my field and at a reputable company so it looks good on my resume, but personally it wasn’t my favorite. This crisp, on the other hand…wow!
I thought this sounded like something you’d shared. The section on my resume looks nice and I made a lot of money, but it still didn’t feel worth it.
Well doesn’t this look like a summer time staple no one wants to miss!!
Thanks, Gigi! I’m certainly missing it a little now that it’s gone
All good, my friend! I wouldn’t even call that “quitting”. You did what you could, but off and on to some more fulfilling summer fun (much deserved)! Bravo for sticking up for yourself in the situation though! xoxo
Thanks, Rebecca!
Such a bummer that it did not work out, but I think it is great that you realized it and made a decision to better yourself. Hey, that means more time to enjoy the last few weeks of summer right? I have quit jobs in the past when I realized that there were better opportunities out there for me or when it was not the right fit for me(just those college jobs that don’t work out). Enjoy your last few weeks of summer!
Thanks so much, Brie! I hope your last week of work is going well!
First of all, this crisp was so easy to make! Thank you so much Ellen. It was a blessing to have you post this on Instagram, cause I was trying to think of something to make for a church family who is gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free. Voila! THANK YOU!
And I totally know what you mean about wanting to be productive. The idea of getting paid for something that just isn’t fulfilling is sometimes hard to leave behind, but I really think that your gifts will be used in some marvelous way elsewhere. You have a very go-getter attitude, and I can’t wait to see where you go next.
I’m SO GLAD this came at the right time for you, Emily! I hope your friends enjoyed it!
Thanks for your kind words, friend.
Good for you Ellen! I’ve only ever had one job so I haven’t experienced quitting yet.
My favourite summer dessert is this black forest trifle that my mum makes. It is the best thing ever.
That dessert sounds AMAZING.
I literally left my job last week (under parental encouragement too!). There are so many things I have done for the sake of it and not felt as though I was really fulfilling anything so I am taking a little bit of time to work out what it is that I really want to put my heart into. At the moment I am still weighing up between a job or some more study but I am much happier now that I am out of the office environment!
Hope you have a lovely few weeks before College starts again xx
Good for you! I hope you’re happier and I know you’ll find what you want to put your energy and time into
Enjoy your exploration!
I am SO proud of you for doing what’s right for you, girl! It really does sound like you made the right decision!
And you DEFINITELY made the right decision with this recipe too! Holy yum!
Thanks, Kristy! You’re so sweet
GO YOU! Go you for going with your gut and putting your metal health first. SO MANY people would have kept with it because you’re getting paid to do nothing. You are going to GO PLACES Ellen. Really.
I had an internship in college that I should have quit. It was for a non-profit (the thing about non-profit is that you need to LOVE IT to enjoy it, because it’s a lot of work and a little pay, and I did not love it) and I was int he opposite position – I was basically doing 4 jobs and not getting the recognition. I ended up falling into a FT position there (the girl I worked under went on maternity leave and then quit) and it just got worse, but I kept thinking they would move me up or hire more people to help me. Nope.
AND the people were just so rude and mean. ANYWAY, I obviously quit after Ryan was born, and now I see how bad it was for me mentally. I was always complaining and stressing about it.
All that to say, you’re the bomb.com Ellen
Awww thank you, Morgan!
Your situation sounds so rough and I’m glad you’re out of it now! And in-office meanness/bullying is the WORST. I saw plenty of that and was like, “NO, thank you.”
Ooooh yes! I am all about the fruity desserts lately.
(Well, does rhubarb count as a fruit? Our rhubarb plant has exploded and we’ve been baking tons of stuff with it!)
I am SO glad that you made the mentally healthy decision for you, Ellen! I took an internship after my freshman year that I started regretting about a week into it. It was in a quantum chemistry lab–I was told I’d be a good fit since I was into physics at the time–and I was so underqualified it wasn’t even funny! My advisor basically ended up just giving me a list of simulations to run and I’d sit at my computer for hours, doing nothing productive and not understanding what I was doing, waiting for them to finish. Ugh! At least now we know what a bad work situation looks like before we get into one, right?
I’ve never had rhubarb, but I know it’s often eaten with fruit, so I’d say it counts
Ugh, that situation sounds awful! And yes, at least now we know what work shouldn’t look like!
This looks SOOOO good! I’m sure the peaches + berries go so well together! Can’t wait to try this!
Thanks so much! I’d love to know what you think if you do!!