lazy: procrastinating an activity with something that is more fun
burnt-out: no activity provides enough fun to procrastinate the current activity
Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
11–20 of 106 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#12It takes energy to be disciplined, and a belief that you're going to get something good out of it.
So burn-out can lead to lack of discipline, both because it saps your energy and because you stop believing that you're going to get something worthwhile out of it.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#13Burnout is not solved by a nap or a walk, a burn out is not just being tired or saturated with a subject.
You are burnt when you pushed your limits over a long period of time without giving your body and brain enough rest. This means you do not have a quick fix. You cannot quick fix something you have done over months, years. It takes time.
In my personal case, I suffered a burn out (went several times to the doctor, hospital and specialists with scans etc.), because without even be aware of it I was pushing above my limits. I am still suffering from Tinnitus because of it, 2 months after clearing all the other problems.
I was pushing above my limits because it was a bit above but in all parts of my life. A stressful year, then when everything went back to normality, I was simply left smashed. I was annoyed because I finally reached the "life is good again" state, but my body simply said: "you gave me a hard time for a year, now I need to rest". This started end of August, I am still recovering so to speak.
So, you feel it could be a burn out? Take a close look at your life, what is not running as it should, then act. But again, no quick fix, it takes time.
Do not hesitate to contact me privately if you want/need.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#14I think if you can't do the things you love then you're probably burnt out. If all you want to do are the things you like then you're probably being lazy. Not fool proof - but a starting indicator.
I think this is the best answer so far, if the things you used to love don't satisfy you the way they did, you're probably burnt out. If, on the other hand, your not meeting your own expectations stems from screwing up priorities (avoiding what you don't enjoy), you're likely just being lazy.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
elaborate?
I think the OP means that when you are burned out you can not enjoy you spare time and you can not rest anymore.
I actually meant the opposite. As in laziness in work goes hand in hand with laziness in "play". i.e. being burned out from working too hard gives downtime more value.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#16Laziness is a virtue
That might be true in some specific contexts, but I'm sure this topic doesn't regard any of them.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#17I think if you can't do the things you love then you're probably burnt out. If all you want to do are the things you like then you're probably being lazy. Not fool proof - but a starting indicator.
This describes how I feel about it exactly.
If I spend too long on a project that I just want to finish, I generally find myself looking at other more interesting projects and working a little on them.
Sometimes this is being lazy but sometimes you just need the change to get back on track with your mundane project.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#18Short answer? Go see a Psychologist. I know a lot of people are naturally averse to this (I was, at one point) but I've realised that a good psychologist is really just a good hacker - someone who's read a lot on the subject at hand (personality and the psyche), is motivated to help you, enjoys it, and has found a way to make money doing so.
In one hour with a good psychologist, they will generally be able to give you very good guidance on what you are feeling. It's not magic, it's just the power of having an informed, objective observer in a situation that encourages you to be open.
Otherwise, ask the people closest to you - your spouse, GF/BF, etc.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#19If you have to ask this, you are burnt out. If you were lazy, you wouldn't ask.
Re: Ask HN: How do you know if you're burnt out or just being lazy?
#20If you have to ask yourself this question, I think there's a chance you might be suffering from the kind of self-esteem issues that often plague bright people. Take a peek at this Wikipedia article on the "Dunning Kruger Effect" to have an idea of what I'm referring to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Have you generally been a hard working person your whole life but are now going through a tough spell where it's hard to find motivation? If that's the case you may be burnt out, or perhaps you are working on something that deep down inside you don't really believe in. Maybe you need to listen to that intuition, rather than beat yourself up and think "I'm the problem because I'm lazy."
I went through a pretty major burnout cycle in my career a few years back and was lucky enough to be able to afford to take a lot of time off - nearly two years - and dedicate it to just working on open source. Nearly 3 years later I suspect that financially it was a poor decision: I'm still majorly suffering the consequences of that lack of income for 2 years. But I was able to recover my passion for work and now have a job that I'm enthusiastic about, and willing to work my ass off for, even though it pays less than I had been making before.
At the time I quit my job I wrote a short post on it, take a peek and see if it resonates at all. If it does, you're most certainly not lazy.
http://njclarke.com/posts/why-i-quit-my-job-to-work-on-open-...