4 ms·

I can relate to all of these feelings, and yet I’ve got a huge feeling of guilt associated as well. I’m feeling so burned out. I have no motivation at work. I’m

I can relate to all of these feelings, and yet I’ve got a huge feeling of guilt associated as well. I’m feeling so burned out. I have no motivation at work. I’m drinking more than I like. I often don’t feel like doing anything on my days off. I don’t have the energy to change my situation. And yet I’m getting great performance reviews at work. I work remotely, of course, and quit at 3pm most days. My burnout is almost the opposite of what’s common: I feel awful that I’m being rewarded and praised for what to me is very little effort. And I’ve got handcuffs. I just got a decent retention bonus as well as a new stock grant with a 1 year cliff for total comp that rivals FAANG but SO LITTLE EFFORT. I want so badly to quit. I want a few months to just reset and figure out what’s next. I’ve got the savings to. But I’m making so much money and have handcuffs until next summer that it’s insane too. So instead I continue a job that I don’t hate, but instead feel guilty in how little I accomplish, and no pride in what I do. And pin it all on a plan to quit next summer. I just hope I can make it until then. Anyone relate?

Applejinx 5y ago
This isn't burnout, you can still think. (edit: see followup comments!) This is the equally valid problem of frustration, alienation, existential meaninglessness. You could end up snapping, but it wouldn't be 'burning out', it'd be freaking out. Which is just as bad: take care of yourself. It sounds like you're hitting bottom in some kind of distress. Burnout isn't the only bad thing that can happen to a person. It sounds like you need more meaning from what is a very sick situation.
- schrodinger 5y ago
  I'm feeling like I didn't explain myself, if I'm getting downvotes and told "it's not burnout." I'm definitely not effective at work, and my accolades are based on the fact I've been here 4 years and have historically been very productive, and that I think most of management around me is also burned out, and not accurately evaluating my performance. Regardless, I am not getting a lot of work done, and am feeling a tremendous amount of guilt around it, and am feeling very depressed and burned out. The downvotes are really hurting me; is it really not possible to be completely burnt out yet have your company not realize it yet? Honestly I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and one day have a tough conversation… and feel I've just earned enough goodwill to get the benefit of the doubt for a little too long.
  - Applejinx 5y ago
    I didn't downvote (and wouldn't, not for what you'd said) and that's a little more perspective. I would say maybe. The trick is, if you're having no trouble going through the motions, and those around you aren't registering a problem (are you being really sharp with them, more abusive than usual?) and you know you're doing great but it's not worthwhile, that's different. BUT. But but but. You said you think management is not accurately evaluating your performance. RED FLAG and yes, for specifically burnout on the way. Let me pitch another scenario. You can still think. Your management is still entirely happy with your productivity, which hasn't faltered at all. But, to YOU, it's not nearly enough. You're overwhelmed with guilt and you just can't ramp it up to what you 'should' be doing, and to you you're ineffective, and they haven't spotted it yet, and it's just a matter of time or maybe they're just totally incompetent and have no sense of what's really needed? BINGO. I apologize. You've filled in some blanks. That describes a kind of burnout very accurately. You're experiencing what actor Gary Burghoff experienced when he went into burnout playing 'Radar O'Reilly' on MASH, a hit TV show. His performance did not, in fact, fail, even at the end of his stint. Instead, he drove himself harder and harder and began to be more demanding of his co-workers and employers, and it's this fate you're at risk of experiencing. And it absolutely is burnout: Gary Burghoff is on record about it and how it cost him this role. Thank you for filling in more of the blanks, and good luck. It's tricky when you're driving yourself onwards and holding it together but you're imposing your own impossibly rising standards on others. Have some upvotes, you stuck with it and got your message through despite some initial confusion :)
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

Applejinx 5y ago

This isn't burnout, you can still think. (edit: see followup comments!) This is the equally valid problem of frustration, alienation, existential meaninglessness. You could end up snapping, but it wouldn't be 'burning out', it'd be freaking out. Which is just as bad: take care of yourself. It sounds like you're hitting bottom in some kind of distress. Burnout isn't the only bad thing that can happen to a person. It sounds like you need more meaning from what is a very sick situation.

schrodinger 5y ago
I'm feeling like I didn't explain myself, if I'm getting downvotes and told "it's not burnout." I'm definitely not effective at work, and my accolades are based on the fact I've been here 4 years and have historically been very productive, and that I think most of management around me is also burned out, and not accurately evaluating my performance. Regardless, I am not getting a lot of work done, and am feeling a tremendous amount of guilt around it, and am feeling very depressed and burned out. The downvotes are really hurting me; is it really not possible to be completely burnt out yet have your company not realize it yet? Honestly I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and one day have a tough conversation… and feel I've just earned enough goodwill to get the benefit of the doubt for a little too long.
- Applejinx 5y ago
  I didn't downvote (and wouldn't, not for what you'd said) and that's a little more perspective. I would say maybe. The trick is, if you're having no trouble going through the motions, and those around you aren't registering a problem (are you being really sharp with them, more abusive than usual?) and you know you're doing great but it's not worthwhile, that's different. BUT. But but but. You said you think management is not accurately evaluating your performance. RED FLAG and yes, for specifically burnout on the way. Let me pitch another scenario. You can still think. Your management is still entirely happy with your productivity, which hasn't faltered at all. But, to YOU, it's not nearly enough. You're overwhelmed with guilt and you just can't ramp it up to what you 'should' be doing, and to you you're ineffective, and they haven't spotted it yet, and it's just a matter of time or maybe they're just totally incompetent and have no sense of what's really needed? BINGO. I apologize. You've filled in some blanks. That describes a kind of burnout very accurately. You're experiencing what actor Gary Burghoff experienced when he went into burnout playing 'Radar O'Reilly' on MASH, a hit TV show. His performance did not, in fact, fail, even at the end of his stint. Instead, he drove himself harder and harder and began to be more demanding of his co-workers and employers, and it's this fate you're at risk of experiencing. And it absolutely is burnout: Gary Burghoff is on record about it and how it cost him this role. Thank you for filling in more of the blanks, and good luck. It's tricky when you're driving yourself onwards and holding it together but you're imposing your own impossibly rising standards on others. Have some upvotes, you stuck with it and got your message through despite some initial confusion :)

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]