Learn To Duck: Smell That? I Think Its Me Burning Out
m4dhatter
· 12 months ago
Very good post, I am in the midst of a burnout and am seeing a lot of myself in the symptoms. I find that having a hobby that is unrelated to your job helps but sometimes there is just a lot to be done and burnout cannot be avoided. How do you deal with it once it grabs hold?
micah
· 12 months ago
For me. I take a weekend off and reset myself. I take a look to see what I am forgetting to do. The truth is that in the startup world, you are always at the point where burning out is taking hold, the trick is to not let it suck you up. I think once you realize that, it becomes easier to deal with (that, and I have been in the startup world since I was 9 yo... :) )
Larry McKeogh
· 12 months ago
Similarly, I have a hobby that has me on the verge of burnout as well. I surround myself with people that share the passion. I also step back and realize that this time of the year is difficult to stay on top of your game. The shorter days, the socializing, the so-so food at such events, too much drinking, and irregular sleeping hours all contribute to feeling less than stellar. I have given myself a break with a end date to get back into the swing of things. Sounds trite, but by taking the pressure off today I can recharge fully to hit the new year running. It also ensures that I am able to go the full distance next year as opposed to suffering a relapse mid-year.
Larry McKeogh
· 12 months ago
Excellent commentary on burnout that applies to more than just startups Micah. One thing to add is that you should surround yourself with like minded people. People that share your passion and enthusiasm. There is going to be an ebb and flow of your energy and that of everyone else around you. Hopefully you are not all in sync on this so that when one is down a helping hand can be offered. When you are down the same can be reciprocated. Additionally, each person is motivating and encouraging the others in the group to elevate their "game".
krissy knox
· 12 months ago
I sit back and refocus. First I think, what will make me feel creative? It can be something in my work, or something without. It has to be something I have passion about! Then I set down some goals! Yes, goals! You would think that would make further burn out, but for me it doesn't. For me focus brings direction, and direction brings new satisfaction and accomplishment! With accomplishment comes pleasure.
Helping others brings particular pleasure, especially volunteering. So does using my mind to figure something out. Using my mind to solve a problem for others is even the best yet!
Finally, to not burn out, I plan for self care also. This means getting enough sleep, eating correctly, exercising, spending time with my husband, etc. Finally, keeping up my spiritual life is of utmost importance. I need to pray and meditate and contemplate. Spending time with my Lord means the world to me. Just talking to Him about everything -- the pressures, the stresses, the joys -- makes them all easier, and defuses them!
Hopefully, you are doing that already every day. Being creative, taking care of yourself, taking time out for yourself, praying and meditating. If you are, you won't find yourself snapping or being irritated or reaching burn out in the first place!
I took up a hobby that challenged me as much as my work did but tapped into a different part of my brain and would potentially kill me if I didn;t give it my undevided attention, I learned to fly a plane.
If the stakes were not any higher I might have been tempted to split my attention on my hobby and my work. Not flying a plane. There are so many things to think about, communications, deminsionality, mechanics, etc. Using my right brain most of the time for work this put an intense demand on the left lobe. Both exhausting and refreshing AND a total 2 hour distraction a few times a week.
It may not be flying for you, but find something that tugs on the other side of the brain at a level that demands your attention and at a pace that's not overwhelming but is not casual either.
Jim Kukral TheBizWebCoach
· 12 months ago
Tough lessons to learn. I learned those in my early 30's, (I'm now 37). What I do now is create fun projects that entertain me and are fun to do. For example, I just bought playauke.com and I'm turning it into a free video course about how to learn how to play the ukulele, just like I did, online.
Unfortunately, these lessons are hard to learn. For me, I had to have an anxiety attack and think I was having a heart attack before I started to change my thought process from "holy crap I've failed" to "big f-ing deal, tomorrow's another day and it'll be fine". Good post.
micah
· 12 months ago
Thanks Jim. Its funny. I write post titles of posts I am interested in writing (I have a dozen or so), and had written this title about 4 months ago. When I saw my friends starting to burn out, I figured it might be interesting for a larger group to write about how I deal with it...
Mike
· 8 months ago
hey Micah, let me ask you something. Do you think its necessary to take breaks when you own your own company, because I think one of the biggest reasons for feeling burnt out is that many people have this constant burn to produce more, get better, more efficient and earn more, thus many people, myself included view taking breaks as a loss because we're not working on the company.
in my case, its very hard for me to sit at a social gathering and not view it as a complete waste of time, because its lost opportunity cost, I could have spent that hour calling customers, looking at other investments, I enjoy this and do it for fun, but are taking breaks necessary?
Sabac
· 12 months ago
Perhaps that was the only reason for quitting my 2 jobs in past and joining internet marketing bandwagon. Surprisingly I never be cautioned or threatened to be fired but I felt that I was doing the worst type of job ruining all my life. I am more than happy to leave all challenges and challenging job roles.
Kary Rivera
· 12 months ago
Thanks for the post, you hit it dead on. It is so easy for a startup to consume your life, but I think that is part of it. if you do a startup you have to be willing to lose yourself to it. It is challenging, stressful & frustrating but there is nothing I would rather be doing. When I feel these symptoms I try to think about that rainbow at the end of the tunnel & why I am doing what I am doing. I also take time out to do stuff I really like-boarding, running, video games. I also like to try to take one day a week where I try not to touch a computer. When I do these things I come back refreshed & more productive. I think you said it best when you mentioned the trick is to not let it suck you up.
Deb Louison Lavoy
· 12 months ago
i sent kids and hubby to grandma's for the week. I may recover yet.
Jim "Genuine" Turner
· 12 months ago
This has much more to do with life than just being in a startup. This is a universal problem. I see it in many other aspects of life, be it relationships, business, parenting, anything. Great post as always Micah. Happy Hanukkah to you as well.
Jim "Genuine" Turner
· 12 months ago
Oops I hit publish too quickly. I meant to add "Smell That? It's Roses Dummy."
electromute
· 11 months ago
Nice, post, Micah.
I found doing something physical like cycling, hiking with friends and yoga really help keep me from burnout. The times I need these things the most are the times that they are hardest to do. It's certainly a struggle to keep these balancing aspects in my life, but when you put your whole heart into a project/startup/team and you have nothing else to hold on to (such as these activities, especially with friends) the failures seem that much worse and you end up super discouraged and deflated.
Also, each time I start on a new project or a new endeavor when things are new and exciting, I remind myself to expect the down time and to expect the roller coaster ride. (when talking to friends, I sometimes say, "remind me about this happy/successful moment when I'm about to cry at some point in the future, please").
All Comments
what I am forgetting to do. The truth is that in the startup world,
you are always at the point where burning out is taking hold, the
trick is to not let it suck you up. I think once you realize that, it
becomes easier to deal with (that, and I have been in the startup
world since I was 9 yo... :) )
Helping others brings particular pleasure, especially volunteering. So does using my mind to figure something out. Using my mind to solve a problem for others is even the best yet!
Finally, to not burn out, I plan for self care also. This means getting enough sleep, eating correctly, exercising, spending time with my husband, etc. Finally, keeping up my spiritual life is of utmost importance. I need to pray and meditate and contemplate. Spending time with my Lord means the world to me. Just talking to Him about everything -- the pressures, the stresses, the joys -- makes them all easier, and defuses them!
Hopefully, you are doing that already every day. Being creative, taking care of yourself, taking time out for yourself, praying and meditating. If you are, you won't find yourself snapping or being irritated or reaching burn out in the first place!
Okay, hope that helps somebody!
krissy knox :)
http://sometimesithink-krissy.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/iamkrissy
If the stakes were not any higher I might have been tempted to split my attention on my hobby and my work. Not flying a plane. There are so many things to think about, communications, deminsionality, mechanics, etc. Using my right brain most of the time for work this put an intense demand on the left lobe. Both exhausting and refreshing AND a total 2 hour distraction a few times a week.
It may not be flying for you, but find something that tugs on the other side of the brain at a level that demands your attention and at a pace that's not overwhelming but is not casual either.
Unfortunately, these lessons are hard to learn. For me, I had to have an anxiety attack and think I was having a heart attack before I started to change my thought process from "holy crap I've failed" to "big f-ing deal, tomorrow's another day and it'll be fine". Good post.
writing (I have a dozen or so), and had written this title about 4
months ago. When I saw my friends starting to burn out, I figured it
might be interesting for a larger group to write about how I deal with
it...
in my case, its very hard for me to sit at a social gathering and not view it as a complete waste of time, because its lost opportunity cost, I could have spent that hour calling customers, looking at other investments, I enjoy this and do it for fun, but are taking breaks necessary?
I found doing something physical like cycling, hiking with friends and yoga really help keep me from burnout. The times I need these things the most are the times that they are hardest to do. It's certainly a struggle to keep these balancing aspects in my life, but when you put your whole heart into a project/startup/team and you have nothing else to hold on to (such as these activities, especially with friends) the failures seem that much worse and you end up super discouraged and deflated.
Also, each time I start on a new project or a new endeavor when things are new and exciting, I remind myself to expect the down time and to expect the roller coaster ride. (when talking to friends, I sometimes say, "remind me about this happy/successful moment when I'm about to cry at some point in the future, please").