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I am burned out while still in learning phase

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Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#61
post #55
post #8

Like you, I also have "world changing" ideas to make people's lives easier and healthier I hear that a lot in the startup scene where I live. It's bullshit. First and foremost, an idea is never world-changing. It's the execution of the idea that changes things. Until it has been executed successfully and actually changed the world , all it is is an idea. The impact can only be assessed later. Secondly, most people do…

I'm not sure I agree with this: "First and foremost, an idea is never world-changing. It's the execution of the idea that changes things. Until it has been executed successfully and actually changed the world, all it is is an idea. The impact can only be assessed later." Frankly, I believe ideas can be quite impactful. Think of any math concept. Weren't they ideas? Where's the execution? Or more philosophical terms,…

The execution of a math idea comes in proving things about it and convincing others that the idea is important. Both tasks take real, hard work.

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#62
post #55
post #8

Like you, I also have "world changing" ideas to make people's lives easier and healthier I hear that a lot in the startup scene where I live. It's bullshit. First and foremost, an idea is never world-changing. It's the execution of the idea that changes things. Until it has been executed successfully and actually changed the world , all it is is an idea. The impact can only be assessed later. Secondly, most people do…

I'm not sure I agree with this: "First and foremost, an idea is never world-changing. It's the execution of the idea that changes things. Until it has been executed successfully and actually changed the world, all it is is an idea. The impact can only be assessed later." Frankly, I believe ideas can be quite impactful. Think of any math concept. Weren't they ideas? Where's the execution? Or more philosophical terms,…

I very nearly added a caveat about ideas in philosophy, politics, etc. The reason I didn't is because, really, those ideas don't actually change the world. People acting on them is how the world changes. In maths the discovery of something leads people to work on further discoveries - standing on the shoulders of giants as it were - so again it's the work that changes things. Ideas can definitely be a catalyst, but of themselves all that can be said is that they motivate people to change the world rather than change the world themselves.

Although, all that said, I've not given it a huge amount of thought. I could be wrong.

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#64

You're burning out because you're thinking the world works the same way that you experience it through lenses like Hacker News, tech blogs and the like. Stop reading them. Seriously, they are damaging your world view - ESPECIALLY HACKER NEWS. If you can't read these things with a critical eye, you will end up in a death spiral where you feel constantly inadaquate. I speak from some personal experience here... Turn of…

You will not change the world with a web app. No one changes the world with a web app. Or an android app. Or an iPhone app. There's no need to lie. The advice is otherwise good. The world is vast and has many places that need smart people. Find those places, adapt to what they need and start solving problems in the way you can The world is built to exploit smart people. I personally think they should focus on themsel…

Smart people exploit the world, not the other way around

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#65
I had a nervous breakdown around your age. I know, for myself, I needed to slow down, and realize the world is hypocritical, unvirturious, and there are no simple answers. The "successful" people around you have usually been coddled, and helped out greatly by family members. I put successful in quotes because I'm not sure what it means anymore. The only advise I have is slow down. You have you whole life ahead of you. I know the thought of having your whole life ahead of you is daunting because you don't want a mediocre life, but don't beat yourself up you will find many people are going through the same symptomology as youself, but don't tell anyone. One other thing, I don't know where you got the idead that people in tech are here to make the world a better pace. They're here because they want a comfortable lifestyle, and hopeing to find the golden app, game, website, etc. In other speak, they are trying to make money, attract the right girl(tech groupies should be watched carefully. They can be pretty shrewd, and use the Nerd persona to their financial advantage) and just live. Some people in this industry are so myopic they believe tech is the only way; it's not. It might not even be a viable career in a few years. My final advise, from someone who still struggles with many aspects of life is it gets better as you age. Your physical sysptoms will get better. Oh yea, try to not let societies norms, or usually misconceptions get in the way of your happiness.

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#66
Sorry to hear about your plight. From what I understand recovering from burnout takes time. Are you prepared to put other things aside and focus on getting well again? There is an account of how Richard Feynman dealt with his burnout that I find is well worth reading. It's available in the later part of the chapter "The Dignified Professor" of "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman". Excerpt here: http://just.thinkofit.com/feynman-on-work-and-play/

While disappointing in a way, the advice to eat and sleep well really is important, and it would be easy to underestimate to what extent.

I have it anecdotally from a very competent physiologist in the field of sleep research that when they were studying burnout they have found no exceptions to disturbed sleep in the sufferers. Sleeping well is about more than just getting your hours in. The quality of sleep can be very low without the person subjectively noticing micro-awakenings and disproportionate time spent in shallow sleep phases. If your conditions permit I would suggest getting in touch with a sleep laboratory and request their help to evaluate the quality of your sleep and if necessary their help to improve it. In many cases these would in any case be people with much knowledge about stress and hormonal systems; well worth talking to. If you can't get access to such a place, maybe you could get an indication from DIY approach.

About the food: I don't expect this to be a popular opinion with you or with much of the community in the Valley, but I'm of the opinion that a vegetarian diet, unless incredibly well conducted, does not help, but is detrimental. I say this as someone who is a tentative proponent for "evolutionary nutrition"/"paleolithic diet" or whatever you may want to call it. My suggestion would be reading up on that and trying it for a few weeks. At a glance it would involve dropping intake of grains, dairy products, refined carbohydrates (especially sugar), legumes, and keeping salt íntake much lower than most westerners. Switching diets, especially from vegetarianism is a step most people would not accept, so my respect if you try it, and you have my understanding if not.

It's becoming increasingly clear that states like depression have a strong connection to inflammation. That's relevant for both the food and sleep components, but it may also be worth trying to suppress inflammation a bit and see if that helps. Preferably get medical professionals help setting the regime, but an easy one would be trying paracetamol with ibuprofen or acetylsalicylic acid for a week or two (check their instructions, I can't remember the upper time limit for continuous intake without special measures)

If you have a hard time with sunlight, I would advice trying to change that. At the very least, make sure your vitamin D levels are sufficient. You may wish to consider supplementing. Strong light also helps setting and maintaining the circadian rhythm, which is of importance in this context.

For many people, physical touch may help. If it suits you, seek out activities that promote that.

You mention you spend much time thinking of negative past events, and I think that may be an important and insightful observation. If you're not already aware of it, please look into the research on psychological time perspective pioneered by Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd ( see e.g. http://www.thetimeparadox.com/ , http://fora.tv/2008/11/12/Philip_Zimbardo_The_Time_Paradox). The interventions they suggest to change the proportions of use of time perspectives might be helpful.

Not directly related to you symptoms, I might add that I think there should be no end to the "learning phase", so if you're doing it right, that's the only time possible to get burned out. There is no deadline. You never need to stop learning.

I hope you recover well. Good luck!

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#67

You're burning out because you're thinking the world works the same way that you experience it through lenses like Hacker News, tech blogs and the like. Stop reading them. Seriously, they are damaging your world view - ESPECIALLY HACKER NEWS. If you can't read these things with a critical eye, you will end up in a death spiral where you feel constantly inadaquate. I speak from some personal experience here... Turn of…

So true. On one side you have tech blogs & hackers launching successful (or not) start ups. But one should not forget that on the other side you still have many people in big companies dealing with pre 90' databases or applications, interacting with their unhelpful computer guy, struggling with ie6 or ie7. You can bring some joy to them one application at a time.

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#68
post #55
post #8

Like you, I also have "world changing" ideas to make people's lives easier and healthier I hear that a lot in the startup scene where I live. It's bullshit. First and foremost, an idea is never world-changing. It's the execution of the idea that changes things. Until it has been executed successfully and actually changed the world , all it is is an idea. The impact can only be assessed later. Secondly, most people do…

I'm not sure I agree with this: "First and foremost, an idea is never world-changing. It's the execution of the idea that changes things. Until it has been executed successfully and actually changed the world, all it is is an idea. The impact can only be assessed later." Frankly, I believe ideas can be quite impactful. Think of any math concept. Weren't they ideas? Where's the execution? Or more philosophical terms,…

All of those ideas (philosophy, math, political systems) required rigorous effort to formalize and reach a broad audience.

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#69
You have the wrong goals.

don't try to change the world, change the market, change the way people buy carrots or whatever... Don't try to get millions of customers. These are not personally fulfilling goals, and in some cases these are careful what you wish for.

your goal is to find out what you truly enjoy doing for the sake of the art of it, not the commerce, but the art. Maybe it doesn't involve computers at all.

some people are very successful entrepreneurs because they enjoy practicing the art of business. You may not enjoy that so much. Figure out what you enjoy and don't attach a business or wealth goal to it. Just do it.

Re: I am burned out while still in learning phase

#70

I get the impression you've created and become fixated on some notion about what you're "supposed" to know / do based on and relative to what you see online. Basically, A tech-centric version of Facebook angst - "Everyone is hackier than me!" in place of "Everyone is happier than me!" Understand that in either case you're getting a carefully curated version of the best and most interesting outcomes with all the count…

I get this feeling constantly, deeply crippling. Both facebook angst and the tech versions actually. I guess that's a problem when you single yourself out and lose touch with reality.
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