My 'Burnout' with my then website came in early 2018. It was a community that I'd spent 8 years building. The anxiety had been brewing for several months, and the passion and enthusiasm were gradually leaving me day by day. I knew I had to do something when, as I climbed into bed, I had the sudden dread that I would not wake up the next morning.
It was then that I decided to close everything down. Once I'd made the decision, and I can tell you it was a very difficult decision to make, I had the best night's sleep in months.
Other websites have come and gone, and as the first anniversary of my husband's death is almost upon me, I am once again trying to build something, not with any intention of monetising, but to generate the sparkle I once had all those years ago.
This is so well put together and makes so much sense. And would explain why I encourage my students to remember that a pivot is not the end of the world, it's simply new growth. You still carry all of the skills and training you learned wherever else you were, you never lose those, yet you're also avoiding being stuck in a rut for the rest of your life.
Everything about this is excellent. The writing, the thought process, the class that I want to be a part of. You continue to impress me and inspire me❤️
Being a stockbroker is very similar. Periodically you have to find a new paradigm to trick yourself into energy again. What works is to clean your desk off and start back on something small and manageable. That's why experts recommend that when you are depressed to make your bed. Why? Because doing some small task correctly creates a momentum that you can build on throughout the day. Go small or go home.
I love this David. The next time I feel unmotivated I'll tell myself, "Go small or go home." :-) It's actually brilliant, because often a lack of motivation is linked to overwhelm. For me, anyway. So, the worst thing I can do in that circumstance is to try to force myself to do some grand task. But, one small thing is doable. Then maybe another. Then maybe another.
Exactly. You get it. On another note, Science writer Mark Buchanan wrote a book called "Ubiquity." It explains how all systems whether geologic, biologic or anthropologic build until they reach a state of unsustainability and then with some small event, crash. This is a unified theory of burnout. We see it in people, avalanches and animal populations. That's why almost all wildly successful people fail so many times before they make it big.
That's fascinating. I'm familiar with Mark Buchanan but haven't read Ubiquity. I just added it to my "to read" list. It's a good reminder that nothing ever lasts forever. It's not supposed to.
It’s one of those non-descript books that meanders around for a couple hundred pages to explain one idea in detail with numerous examples. But once you have it fixed in your mind, you can’t let go because you now see the world completely differently. Worried about Marxists taking over and crashing the economy like they always do? Relax, they’ll overplay things and crash. Worried about squirrels in your neighborhood eating your soffit and fascia? Relax, the weather will shift and half will starve this winter saving your house.
This is so well put. When you turn your passion into your livlihood - does it not become your passion anymore? When I was younger, I thought that loving your job and embodying that 24/7 was the goal and a sign of success. But as I've gotten older, I think a job can be so many different things. It can be your passion or a way to just make money. Either one is fine as long as you're ok with which one yours is. I also think maybe a small antidote to this is having hobbies that are totally and completely outside of your work? I've started rollerblading, continued gardening and now.. trying to watercolor which are all so different from my work. Maybe this has helped me keep burnout at bay? Thanks for your smart and insightful piece.
Thank you Stephanie. More and more I’m realizing how input is to have things in my life that I do just for the enjoyment of it. I am also fortunate to genuinely love my work… but, it is work. And sometimes I don’t want to do it, but I do it anyway. For me, there’s a problem worth investigating when I don’t want to work for long stretches of time. Much of the time, it’s that I haven’t allowed myself enough down time. So, I totally agree with you that it keeps burnout at bay.
This is so so good! I loved the example of friendships having seasons - I have seen this one a few times in my life and it always makes me sad when a season of close friendship ends. However, I think it then opens up room for new ones to come in and that is beautiful. I love how you applied it to business - makes so much sense!
Yes! I agree! I was just talking about this with one of our daughters who, at 28, feels she’s outgrown some of her high school friendships. We talked about how those friendships were good for the time, but that doesn’t mean they have to last forever and she’s found new friendships that are more supportive of her life right now. Everything changes and change can be beautiful.
My 'Burnout' with my then website came in early 2018. It was a community that I'd spent 8 years building. The anxiety had been brewing for several months, and the passion and enthusiasm were gradually leaving me day by day. I knew I had to do something when, as I climbed into bed, I had the sudden dread that I would not wake up the next morning.
It was then that I decided to close everything down. Once I'd made the decision, and I can tell you it was a very difficult decision to make, I had the best night's sleep in months.
Other websites have come and gone, and as the first anniversary of my husband's death is almost upon me, I am once again trying to build something, not with any intention of monetising, but to generate the sparkle I once had all those years ago.
Doing something for the pure enjoyment of it is perhaps the best reason of all. Thank you for sharing Lynn.
This is so well put together and makes so much sense. And would explain why I encourage my students to remember that a pivot is not the end of the world, it's simply new growth. You still carry all of the skills and training you learned wherever else you were, you never lose those, yet you're also avoiding being stuck in a rut for the rest of your life.
Yes, yes! I love the idea of a pivot as new growth. Nothing is meant to last forever, but we take every experience with us into the next thing.
Everything about this is excellent. The writing, the thought process, the class that I want to be a part of. You continue to impress me and inspire me❤️
Right back at you, my friend. ❤️
Being a stockbroker is very similar. Periodically you have to find a new paradigm to trick yourself into energy again. What works is to clean your desk off and start back on something small and manageable. That's why experts recommend that when you are depressed to make your bed. Why? Because doing some small task correctly creates a momentum that you can build on throughout the day. Go small or go home.
I love this David. The next time I feel unmotivated I'll tell myself, "Go small or go home." :-) It's actually brilliant, because often a lack of motivation is linked to overwhelm. For me, anyway. So, the worst thing I can do in that circumstance is to try to force myself to do some grand task. But, one small thing is doable. Then maybe another. Then maybe another.
Exactly. You get it. On another note, Science writer Mark Buchanan wrote a book called "Ubiquity." It explains how all systems whether geologic, biologic or anthropologic build until they reach a state of unsustainability and then with some small event, crash. This is a unified theory of burnout. We see it in people, avalanches and animal populations. That's why almost all wildly successful people fail so many times before they make it big.
That's fascinating. I'm familiar with Mark Buchanan but haven't read Ubiquity. I just added it to my "to read" list. It's a good reminder that nothing ever lasts forever. It's not supposed to.
It’s one of those non-descript books that meanders around for a couple hundred pages to explain one idea in detail with numerous examples. But once you have it fixed in your mind, you can’t let go because you now see the world completely differently. Worried about Marxists taking over and crashing the economy like they always do? Relax, they’ll overplay things and crash. Worried about squirrels in your neighborhood eating your soffit and fascia? Relax, the weather will shift and half will starve this winter saving your house.
This is so well put. When you turn your passion into your livlihood - does it not become your passion anymore? When I was younger, I thought that loving your job and embodying that 24/7 was the goal and a sign of success. But as I've gotten older, I think a job can be so many different things. It can be your passion or a way to just make money. Either one is fine as long as you're ok with which one yours is. I also think maybe a small antidote to this is having hobbies that are totally and completely outside of your work? I've started rollerblading, continued gardening and now.. trying to watercolor which are all so different from my work. Maybe this has helped me keep burnout at bay? Thanks for your smart and insightful piece.
Thank you Stephanie. More and more I’m realizing how input is to have things in my life that I do just for the enjoyment of it. I am also fortunate to genuinely love my work… but, it is work. And sometimes I don’t want to do it, but I do it anyway. For me, there’s a problem worth investigating when I don’t want to work for long stretches of time. Much of the time, it’s that I haven’t allowed myself enough down time. So, I totally agree with you that it keeps burnout at bay.
Well written, well presented, beautifully communicated - this was just soo good.
Thank you Sheryl! ❤️
This is so so good! I loved the example of friendships having seasons - I have seen this one a few times in my life and it always makes me sad when a season of close friendship ends. However, I think it then opens up room for new ones to come in and that is beautiful. I love how you applied it to business - makes so much sense!
Yes! I agree! I was just talking about this with one of our daughters who, at 28, feels she’s outgrown some of her high school friendships. We talked about how those friendships were good for the time, but that doesn’t mean they have to last forever and she’s found new friendships that are more supportive of her life right now. Everything changes and change can be beautiful.