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I don't think you should conflate motivational recession (which is healthy and normal; almost everyone gets that once every few months) with "burnout". They're
by michaelochurch 14y ago
I don't think you should conflate motivational recession (which is healthy and normal; almost everyone gets that once every few months) with "burnout". They're two different things.
Motivation fluctuates and that's fine. There's nothing wrong with picking up a new video game. In fact, I think there's something healing about narrative that is especially relevant to creative people. We need to get into a novel or TV serial or '90s JRPG every now and then.
Burnout is something else entirely that I hope you don't experience. It's severe and it sucks. There's a state at which you get too depressed to work and it can last for months. You get sick a lot, feel weak, can't focus or get anything done. It doesn't sound like you've been there, and I hope you never get there. Burnout usually isn't caused by long working hours or even by project failures alone; it usually involves long hours and negative conditions (especially subordination).
- tatituta 14y agoSounds like I'm going through a burn-out. I'm in my last academic year at uni, and for the past 6 months I worked almost continuously (with satisfying outcomes). However, what is left is preparing several exams and a couple of courseworks in less than a month, and right now I feel completely depleted. Can you, or somebody else, provide any advice? Edit: As an invitation to discussion on the margin of the blog post, what happens when this lifecycle puts you in a position like mine? (i.e, the 4th phase occurs when critical responsibilities need to be fulfilled.) Wouldn't this be a problem with this lifecycle?
- the_cat_kittles 14y agolook for the smallest possible successes
- tatituta 14y agoThanks, that's part of what I'm trying. I've already established which exams will be easiest to revise for; and have decided which exams to 'sacrifice' (in the end, I'm concerned with the overall grade). It's horrible crawling like this; I wish it didn't have to be this way. But right now I'm focusing on managing it in the best possible way.
- sstarr 14y agoWhen I've gone through periods like that I've found that something as simple as going for a walk every day really helps to lift my mood and increase my productivity. Sometimes I feel like there's so much to do and so much pressure that I couldn't possibly spare half an hour away from it but I can guarantee that I'll get less done and feel less happy on the days that I don't go out for some fresh air and exercise.
- tatituta 14y agoHi, thanks. Also, it seems fruits help a lot. Fruit juices are great, and along similar lines, soups too.