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Many of us have experienced what you describe and it sucks. I hope you're able to sort it out and feel better about things sooner than later. That's generally t
by swatcoder 2y ago
Many of us have experienced what you describe and it sucks. I hope you're able to sort it out and feel better about things sooner than later. That's generally the case.
But you and others should keep on mind that "burnout" is not a very precise or actionable word and thinking of your current challenges as being products of burnout doesn't give you much traction on what you can do about not feeling well or what external circumstances might help you recover.
Reading between the lines, and trying to be more precise, it sounds like you may have pushed yourself too hard for too long while neglecting essential self-care pracfices.
* You probably weren't resting very well (sleep; low-stimulation idle time).
* You probably weren't eating very well (fresh, nutritious food) and may not have even been preparing food for yourself (cooking).
* You may not have been physically tending to your self (being active, cleaning, dressing) and your space (cleaning, decorating).
* You may not have been keeping up with your relationships (friends, family) and your community (hobby groups, church/etc, light acquaintances).
For most people (and animals) -- when you don't do those things for long enough, it eventually just catches up with you. You're wired to do those things almost every day and the wires short out and things get funky when you ignore them for weeks or months or years as many fall into the habit of doing.
"Burnout" often suggests that the malaise is a product of what you were doing instead when that often isn't even relevant. Presumably, if you're here, the thing you were doing was something you were passionate about (impressing someone, acheiving something) and probably isn't suited for villification anyway.
Rather than just casting everything that feels wrong into the big vague lot of "burnout", try to take a minute to figure out what you were specifically neglecting and then try to get your hands dirty doing those neglected things (even if it's clumsy or slow or whatever in your fog and fatigue).
- senectus1 2y agoYou missed one of the most important things they may not be doing, excersize. This has an incredible "freeing" effect on the mind and "soul". You dont need to be a HIT or cross fit fanatic. just get out and active reguarly. This will also help with sleep and eating better. Get into regular tiring excersize. It will help with so much.
- swatcoder 2y agoIndeed! I had it there, then revised as "being active" as I think a lot of people get distracted and discouraged by the the contrived, abstract thing that is modern "exercise". I personally enjoy exercise as a hobby, but doing some productive labor, commuting or running errands by foot/bicycle, engaging with active kids, etc, can all hit the same mark in terms of ongoing wellness.
- parpfish 2y agoPeople on HN either hate exercise because they associate it with the old nerd vs jock battles OR they are absolutely obsessed because it’s just hacking on a big blob of meat
- Earw0rm 2y agoIt's funny because it's true. Front-enders get surface body modifications. Ink and piercings. True engineers know that the worthwhile body modifications are a resting heart rate sub 45, or being able to bench double their body weight.
- kd5bjo 2y agoWhen I was a kid, I developed a strong aversion to anything described with the terms “healthy” or “exercise” because anytime they were used, it inevitably meant that the activity had nothing else to recommend it and would be unpleasant. I think I’m finally over that particular hang-up, but it took decades.
- Clubber 2y agoWalking for 30 minutes 3 times a day helps me a lot. I need to start doing it again. It's so easy to ass out on the couch after a grueling day, and when you're burned out, every day is a grueling day.
- strken 2y agoYou can get burnt out while not neglecting any of those things. Going to bed at 10pm with fresh sheets after a nice healthy dinner with friends is not able to offset an unlimited amount of workplace stress, although it's surprisingly effective. Once you're in a slump you'll probably start neglecting things, but that's getting the causation the wrong way around.
- StapleHorse 2y agoYou are maybe right at the begining, but then I think it's both. It becomes a negative feedback loop.
- meztez 2y agoSeems complicated, although this is the best description of depression I've ever read, go outside and start walking.