Most of us don't have any choice and have to continue to work - burned out or not. I've found that burnout comes and goes in waves though. It doesn't necessarily take changing jobs to help resolve it. Sometimes, it's just a matter of putting one foot in front of another for a while and just staying afloat until something sparks and work becomes interesting and fun again and not sheer drudgery and anxiety.
There Is No Cure for Burnout
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Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#32There is no “immediate” cure for burnout. Burnout is the result of environmental stressors, but once it sets in it's like a broken leg. It takes time to heal. The textbook cure is rest, effectively abdication of your responsibilities, and you could be right again after a few months, but as the author points out not everybody can be so privileged. In my experience, and that of others I’ve spoken with, recovery can tak…
I think the only way to catch you breath while running is to pace yourself correctly.
Keep a strict routine of just enough 9-5. Find a low stress app / tech stack to maintain. Leech off others when you need to. Don't code at home. Make sure you try to eat well and drink a little less. See family. be with people. Don't play WoW ;) Work is just something we do to let us have other things.
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#33Most of us don't have any choice and have to continue to work - burned out or not. I've found that burnout comes and goes in waves though. It doesn't necessarily take changing jobs to help resolve it. Sometimes, it's just a matter of putting one foot in front of another for a while and just staying afloat until something sparks and work becomes interesting and fun again and not sheer drudgery and anxiety.
I think part of what it takes to innoculate yourself is recognising it for what it is, and knowing the signs so you can at least put it in its place and manage it.
Symptoms are physical, emotional, behavioural - author touches on some of these, but for me its noticing I’m being continuosly negative about things, raised heart-rate and breathing, locking myself away from people or not being able to sleep at night. Ymmv.
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#34My experience is that there is. I tend to be really intense about my job, and as a result I've left almost all of my jobs due to burnout, usually related to frustration that my dept isn't prioritizing what I feel is important to be successful, and that my time isn't well spent. I recently went through this at my current gig, despite having good pay, good manager, and as close to a non-toxic environment as I think is…
This is an amazing example for the “autonomy” part of self-determination theory. And it shows how intrinsic motivation relates to mental health. It also shows to some extent “relatedness” and “competence” part of SDT.
Other than that this post shows a potential issue that many people with burnout face: adult conflict. Without conflict one’s course of action is to change themselves. With conflict, one can change their environment. This (probably) only works in a healthy environment like the parent described.
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#35Spot on, the best cure for burnout isn't a cure at all, it's prevention.
But preventative means limit my potential
A young bull and an old bull stood atop a hill grazing some sweet sweet grass. By and by they spotted a herd of cows let into the pasture in the valley below them.
The young bull pawed the ground with his hoof, snorted, and bellowed "let's run down the hill and service us one of those there cows!!!"
The old bull continued to chew his cud thoughtfully. After a pause, he said "Nope. Let's walk down the hill and service them all."
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#36Spot on, the best cure for burnout isn't a cure at all, it's prevention.
Funny thing is that before reaching final stage the body sends signs. Lots of them and often. Most of knowledge workers heard this word “burnout” and it’s nothing new. Burnout does not happen over night, it takes months and even years. Close people also see the changes, but the subject goes forward ignoring everything. Why is so difficult to slow down? Is it better to spend couple years recovering instead of leaving…
There is this cultural myth of the “hero worker” who puts everything on the line to succeed. I think some people identify with this more than others and basically set themselves up with an abusive external locus of evaluation.
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#37Best not to work at all?
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#38So cure is to never work? Got it!
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Only in the short term. Long term your productivity would be better as you wouldn’t be suffering from health problems.
That is fucked up. We are human beings, not some machine to be measured by how productive we are.
I think you are missing the point. You can be productive for yourselfas wellas for other people ...
Re: There Is No Cure for Burnout
#40Your mileage may vary, but regarding effective life management, I found the Mark Manson's book The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F: Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life to have more truth in than the title may say.
Seconded.
A funny yet surprisingly instructive book.
His concept of "VCR questions" (about the importance of processing emotions) was really eye opening for me.