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Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

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Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#61

Post by LaundroMat »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #17

> One thing I've never really recovered is the passion I had for side projects. Worse than that, I can't actually think of anything worth building, or even tinkering with, which is sad, as spending some of my free time on side projects was something I really enjoyed. If you don't enjoy side projects any more, don't force it. Better side projects would be something offline like improving your personal fitness, learnin…

Also, have a hard look at what it is you enjoy about side projects. I found out I like the figuring out things part of it (including talking to potential users and solving their problems), but everything after that (marketing, maintaining, improving) drained me.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#62

Post by Angostura »

madaxe_again wrote: post #27
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think each bout leaves some permanent damage, along with increased risk of subsequent bouts. Negative experiences tend to produce learned behaviors and reactions that we’re not aware of. These can be overcome, but it takes effort to identify them and implement deliberate changes in our behavior. There are various ways of doing this from self-guided books to professional therapy. It’s not exactly “damage” in the s…

I’m not sure that you can talk yourself out of physical brain damage. PTSD alters the character and volume of grey matter present in the brain. I guess veterans etc. who suffer throughout their lives with it just aren’t sufficiently resilient?

Saying some problems are the result of learned associations and behaviours doesn't mean that all problems are.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#63

Post by Tade0 »

A few years ago I suffered a burnout that eventually got me fired.

What I think you need is a meaningful, collaborative effort.

It doesn't necessarily have to be anything "useful". You just need a community with a common goal.

Volunteering seems to work great here, but I've seen people pick up co-op games, team crocheting or collaborative art.

It appears that the real recovery is the friendships you made along the way.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#64

Post by throwaway316943 »

For now, make yourself the side project. Dedicate the same amount of research and hours to improving your body or mind and use the time to more fully disconnect from the web. Nurture boredom and silence. Experience the world with your own senses. Get out of the house, there is no life without movement. The ideas will return once you have prepared a worthy home for them.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#65

Post by dmje »

I'd suggest mindfulness before you do anything else. In fact I'd suggest a formal, longer term, structured bit of mindfulness specifically - look up "MBSR" which is an 8 week stress reduction approach. I'd recommend it for pretty much anyone but it would definitely suit a sort of "off ramping" moment like this.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#66

Post by kwdc »

I can only suggest you grow vegetables or do something tangible as your side project. Something involving your hands with real results. Do that for awhile. It will soon cause you to find something if that's a thing you want to pursue.

Side note: People in tech have weird expectations put on them, as if the day job isn’t enough, you have to constantly prove your cred doing a million side-projects. All apparently open source so any random can grab your work or alternatively so you can be seen to "give back". My dentist, doctor, plumber, carpenter friends etc don't have this issue.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#67

Post by 5tefan »

I stayed clear so far of burnout. Nothing but opinion.

Is it maybe about accepting a permanent shift in your mindset? The body made it very clear to you that your priorities did a lot of harm. I can't find how peak productivity is humane and wouldn't strive for it (again). If this involves a change of everything than this is it.

Edit: Peak productivity is different from peak performance. Take care what you really strive for.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#68

Post by dredmorbius »

Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter, "Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry", World Psychiatry. 2016 Jun; 15(2): 103–111. Published online 2016 Jun 5. doi: 10.1002/wps.20311

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911781/?report...

This is a good overview of the topic, including definition (see below), charactristics, causes, and aspects.

Burnout is a psychological syndrome emerging as a prolonged response to chronic interpersonal stressors on the job. The three key dimensions of this response are an overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and detachment from the job, and a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.

I'd recommend the treatment section as well, beginning:

The personal and organizational costs of burnout have led to proposals for various intervention strategies. Some try to treat burnout after it has occurred, while others focus on how to prevent burnout by promoting engagement. Intervention may occur on the level of the individual, workgroup, or an entire organization. In general, the primary emphasis has been on individual strategies, rather than social or organizational ones, despite the research evidence for the primary role of situational factors.

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#69

Post by Yenrabbit »

Similar position at the start of this year. Fortunately I was able to quit and take time off. I'll probably start to take on small bits of work in a month or two. Some things that helped: Properly taking time completely off - disconnected if possible. After some time: starting a 'days of code' style exercise where I spent about an hour a day coding something fun and trivial. For me this helped find things that I wanted to work on again, without the gut-wrenching anxiety that looking at my computer normally engendered. Spending time on unrelated hobbies (in my case music and entomology) Mindfulness

Even with all the above, burnout can be rough, especially at first. I wish you well on your road to recovery!

Re: Ask HN: Post Burnout Ideas

#70

Post by austincheney »

I am actually in an opposite position right now: buildings ideas I think are great that I cannot get any feedback on. I have tried promoting the ideas online and asking for feedback from friends and family in the real world. Crickets. If the ideas or execution fail epically I suspect somebody would have mentioned this. Silence.

It’s weird because one of the ideas, easy multi computer website test automation in the browser using a JavaScript tool, could save large organizations a truck load of money in product reliability and release management. Still silence.

The closest I get to actual feedback, when somebody is feeling generous, is to instead suggest some vaguely related prior existing tool or application. While I understand somebody might think they are being helpful with that it’s actually not. Saying the ideas are garbage is helpful. Suggesting an unrelated alternative that doesn’t solve the same problem is a negative like fining a crime victim for reporting a crime.

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