How do you deal with burn out?

#discuss

I typically tend to reach a certain momentum in a project and can work for long periods of time but then ultimately get burned out to a point where I don't feel like looking at my code

How do you ensure that momentum is maintained without burn out?

Oldest comments (12)

Ben Halpern • Jun 19 '19

Days when I commit to catching up with little things in my life like cleaning my closet, some online shopping I've been meaning to get around to, and where I give myself plenty of extra time to accomplish all of it so I can fit in lots of random nothing time like walks with podcasts etc.

Those days really refresh me.

Ben Halpern • Jun 19 '19

If I'm sort of burnt out but can't find the time to step away from my tasks: Music helps me deal. Sometimes it's relaxing music, sometimes it's more angsty/angry music, sometimes it's music from a past time in my life to stoke some nostalgia.

Anyway, I find the right music can help me get through stressful times and work away some of the burnout until I can fully rest.

Kauress • Jun 19 '19

I like this idea as I like organizing:)

C.Fernando Maciel • Jun 19 '19

Whenever I feel I'm spiraling myself into a burnout cycle, I do a lot of house keeping.

One of the things I've noticed is that the bigger (and older) a certain project gets, the more frustration and stacked up todos I get on my wish list for that project.

So before I get myself head deep into a burnout, I set apart one or two days for reviewing my project in it's entirety, and try to organize it, by cleaning all those old methods, comments; implementing those small tasks that I have planned to build never did (perhaps that cool script for bootstrapping a test environment in a docker-compose file). In shorter terms, I stop with my daily basis tasks and try to make the project a little more fresh, cool looking without more tools that will aid my daily tasks.

Now, I work from home and I run my own business, so I'm more flexible than many of you may be to go about doing these things.

In the long run it seems that it helps me, as it gives me a sense of having a better version of the project.

I hope I helps. Just my fifty cents.

Kauress • Jun 19 '19

yes that's one of the things I should implement (review days)will probably help with the larger perspective of a project

C.Fernando Maciel • Jun 19 '19

While it does not solve all the problems, it gives one a refreshing feeling about the project one is into

lincey.J • Jun 19 '19

gaming ! it help a lot ( even if it can take time haha) i had like 3 burn out in 2 weeks because of school projects and when i took some gaming break, i got more motivated and i finished the projects !

Afif Sohaili • Jun 19 '19

I've experienced this while single-handedly working on my current side project right now. I tune my mindset to say:

Have a strong motivation as to why you should complete the project. Set a high goal.
It's okay to take a break, but always go back to the project (hence why #1 needs to be very strong.
It's okay to take your time. You don't have to achieve your goals at 25 like them people in those Startup articles you just read.