Read on Twitter
Burn out is a cycle.
Being extremely passionate about the space you work in is amazing and a huge risk to quality of life.
The highs are higher, but the lows are so much lower.
Being extremely passionate about the space you work in is amazing and a huge risk to quality of life.
The highs are higher, but the lows are so much lower.
When you can't distinguish between colleagues and friendships you can get burnt pretty hard.
Your colleagues will disappoint you as friends
Your friends will disappoint you as colleagues
Since they are both at the same time it is really hard to reconcile
Your colleagues will disappoint you as friends
Your friends will disappoint you as colleagues
Since they are both at the same time it is really hard to reconcile
Open source can be especially challenging.
Having a large impact is incredibly inspiring and motivating... but it is easy to get caught up in the day to day quarrels of the smaller active group (both maintainers and consumers)
Having a large impact is incredibly inspiring and motivating... but it is easy to get caught up in the day to day quarrels of the smaller active group (both maintainers and consumers)
All of a sudden all of those amazing things you've done, all those amazing relationships you've had... just don't feel so amazing anymore.
You wonder why you are doing all of this.
Congrats, you've reached burn out.
You wonder why you are doing all of this.
Congrats, you've reached burn out.
This is just part of a cycle though, and it will get better.
It is good to find things that can help re motivate you.
* Changing goals
* Shifting focus
* Doing something else
* Taking a break
It is good to find things that can help re motivate you.
* Changing goals
* Shifting focus
* Doing something else
* Taking a break
Recently I had the pleasure of visiting @jsconfco, Taipei and @nodefest
Getting completely out of my bubble, interacting with extremely motivated and sincerely positive recharged me.
Getting completely out of my bubble, interacting with extremely motivated and sincerely positive recharged me.
To be clear... I'm not saying that you have to travel around the world to recharge (although it helps).
What is very helpful is remember that your positive impact goes far beyond the small circle you live in every day
What is very helpful is remember that your positive impact goes far beyond the small circle you live in every day
I have the extreme privilege to work on a technology that is empowering folks to make all sorts of really cool stuff.
This technology can be "hope" for many folks
This technology can be "hope" for many folks
I recognize how problematic tech can be... but if we take a step back and squint a bit we can perhaps see it from the outside
"Technology" and related industries can be "hope" for people who are looking for opportunity
"Technology" and related industries can be "hope" for people who are looking for opportunity
When I need to motivate myself I try and remember that hope, which drove me and created my own passion almost a decade ago.
When I need to motivate myself I try and think about ways that I can focus my attention to better empower those who need that "hope".
When I need to motivate myself I try and think about ways that I can focus my attention to better empower those who need that "hope".
Anyways... burn out is ok, it will happen.
Find the patterns that got you there and adapt.
Find the pattern that got you out and adapt.
The best piece of advice I can give is to talk about it. Turns out talking through problems helps you find patterns
Find the patterns that got you there and adapt.
Find the pattern that got you out and adapt.
The best piece of advice I can give is to talk about it. Turns out talking through problems helps you find patterns
Most important of all.
If the burnout is feeling overwhelming.
If you can't find those patterns
If you can't see a way out
Please ask for help. It will get better.
If the burnout is feeling overwhelming.
If you can't find those patterns
If you can't see a way out
Please ask for help. It will get better.
A quick nod and thank you to my various colleagues who have listened to me over the last couple weeks and helped me work through this.
Another quick node to those who have opened up and shared with me. Not feeling alone really helps
Another quick node to those who have opened up and shared with me. Not feeling alone really helps
P.S. Sometimes not giving a fuck about something anymore can be a super power.
It can help separate your sense of self from "the thing".
It can help set healthy boundaries
It can help you find time to figure out what's next
Try not to settle into IDGAF though
It can help separate your sense of self from "the thing".
It can help set healthy boundaries
It can help you find time to figure out what's next
Try not to settle into IDGAF though
