3 ms·

You're burnt out, it happens, more so in the thinking oriented fields. As some of the other comments mentioned, you need a break. Fortunately my gf forces me

by asnyder 16y ago

You're burnt out, it happens, more so in the thinking oriented fields. As some of the other comments mentioned, you need a break. Fortunately my gf forces me to take time away from work, otherwise I would be burnt out half the year.

jacquesm 16y ago
That's the second time in a few weeks this comes up on HN, if you 'need a break' you are not burned out (yet). Burn-out is not something you're going to solve with a break or a change of scene for a few weeks, but is a pretty serious state of mind that will probably affect your life for many years and will leave lasting scars for the remainder of it.
- jacobolus 16y ago
  Can you elaborate? What do you mean by “burn-out”?
  - jacquesm 16y ago
    It's not just what I mean by burn-out, but more about what the accepted meaning of the term is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_%28psychology%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_%28psychology%29 Edit: Thanks for the downmod, that article has a very thorough description of what burn-out really is and goes in to a lot more detail than I ever could in a comment here. If you think that linking to a wikipedia article instead of writing an essay sized entry is bad form you're more than welcome to enlighten me as to the proper procedure.
    - jacobolus 16y ago
      I didn’t downvote you, but the OP’s comment doesn’t seem to me to reflect “burnout” as it is described in that Wikipedia article (e.g. the Tracy quotation “burnout is largely an organizational issue caused by long hours, little down time, and continual peer, customer, and superior surveillance”). Then again, I’m still not sure I understand either a formal technical definition, or quite what people generally mean when using the term colloquially. Seems like a broadly and fuzzily defined term.
      - jacquesm 16y ago
        Yes, that was exactly my point. Burn-out is a (very) serious condition that can have many consequences, including depression. To say 'you're burned-out' and to say that 'you need a break' combined with the statement that his gf keeps him from being burned-out half the year indicates a use of the term burn-out that does a dis-service to both those that are really burned out (because someone might read this and think that his friend that is really burned out needs a break whereas in fact what he needs is a radical change of career path or professional help to avoid worse) and to those that will pick this up and think that they are burned out, when in fact all they need is a break or a change of scene. To me the OP does not sound burned out but has reached a phase in his work where the normal tricks of the trade aren't enough to put him back on a productive path. Compare that with the symptoms listed for burn-out in the wp article and see if you can match them up, it's a lot less fuzzy than you imply and from what I know about the subject once you are burned out you are not going to cure it easily and permanently.
        asnyder 16y ago
        There's nothing I said that conflicts with the Wikipedia article. As someone that has seen a medical professional related to burning out, I can say with confidence that some R&R coupled with a change of pace, and focus can be very helpful in shortening or delaying burn out. Next time I'll make sure to include elaboration, just in case someone misinterprets my brief statements with an official definition.

by asnyder 16y ago

jacquesm 16y ago

That's the second time in a few weeks this comes up on HN, if you 'need a break' you are not burned out (yet). Burn-out is not something you're going to solve with a break or a change of scene for a few weeks, but is a pretty serious state of mind that will probably affect your life for many years and will leave lasting scars for the remainder of it.

jacobolus 16y ago
Can you elaborate? What do you mean by “burn-out”?
- jacquesm 16y ago
  It's not just what I mean by burn-out, but more about what the accepted meaning of the term is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_%28psychology%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_%28psychology%29 Edit: Thanks for the downmod, that article has a very thorough description of what burn-out really is and goes in to a lot more detail than I ever could in a comment here. If you think that linking to a wikipedia article instead of writing an essay sized entry is bad form you're more than welcome to enlighten me as to the proper procedure.
  - jacobolus 16y ago
    I didn’t downvote you, but the OP’s comment doesn’t seem to me to reflect “burnout” as it is described in that Wikipedia article (e.g. the Tracy quotation “burnout is largely an organizational issue caused by long hours, little down time, and continual peer, customer, and superior surveillance”). Then again, I’m still not sure I understand either a formal technical definition, or quite what people generally mean when using the term colloquially. Seems like a broadly and fuzzily defined term.
    - jacquesm 16y ago
      Yes, that was exactly my point. Burn-out is a (very) serious condition that can have many consequences, including depression. To say 'you're burned-out' and to say that 'you need a break' combined with the statement that his gf keeps him from being burned-out half the year indicates a use of the term burn-out that does a dis-service to both those that are really burned out (because someone might read this and think that his friend that is really burned out needs a break whereas in fact what he needs is a radical change of career path or professional help to avoid worse) and to those that will pick this up and think that they are burned out, when in fact all they need is a break or a change of scene. To me the OP does not sound burned out but has reached a phase in his work where the normal tricks of the trade aren't enough to put him back on a productive path. Compare that with the symptoms listed for burn-out in the wp article and see if you can match them up, it's a lot less fuzzy than you imply and from what I know about the subject once you are burned out you are not going to cure it easily and permanently.
      - asnyder 16y ago
        There's nothing I said that conflicts with the Wikipedia article. As someone that has seen a medical professional related to burning out, I can say with confidence that some R&R coupled with a change of pace, and focus can be very helpful in shortening or delaying burn out. Next time I'll make sure to include elaboration, just in case someone misinterprets my brief statements with an official definition.