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Discussion on: How do you deal with creator burnout as a developer?

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ryboflavin42 profile image
Ry

This has been coming up a lot in my personal discussions recently. Also, I believe some of the most recent Tim Ferriss podcasts addressed this as well.

Personal I see it in two different ways.

How hard are you pushing?

As high achievers, we are wired to do everything we can to obtain a goal/outcome (Push/grind). However, sometimes pushing isn't always the answer. Letting go of the situation and allowing it to occur is the answer. Think about a time you were being nagged to do something. How much did you resist? As soon as that pressure stopped did you naturally and gladly do that thing?
This doesn't mean stop working, it just means slow down and enjoy the process a bit more.

A more holistic approach.

Often times we focus exclusively on one part of our lives, work, side hustle, physical while ignoring the other parts. I sort of break them into, as cheesy as this sounds, gardens

  • Physical
  • Career/Mission
  • Financial
  • Relationships
  • Spiritual/Contribution
  • Lifestyle/Adventure
  • Personal Growth/Intellectual

By burning hard in one area and ignoring others we can cause burn out. Starting to add some gentle focus in the fulfillment in these other areas helps provide space in the area that you are burning out in.

If you think of each of these gardens as a spoke on the wheel; the level of fulfillment in each as how much the wheel is inflated in that area, then you might visualize a lopsided wheel. By reducing the focus in one area and spreading it to the other gardens you start to get a rounder wheel. And a round wheel goes faster then lopsided one.

Ultimately burn out is your body/mind's way of telling you something. In my opinion, the question shouldn't be
"How do I manage or deal with burn out?"
I believe a better question is:
"What does this burn out/emotion actually mean?"

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maheshkale profile image
Mahesh K

Thank you :)