Burnout and workload

There was an interesting discussion on Hacker News (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33675503) about burnout, which spawned some reflection within me.

The comment that really got me thinking, was a user that wrote that for him, burnout had not occurred in the periods with the highest pressure or workload. But in times of more laid-back working schedule combined with either incompetent leadership, loss of agency or missing direction.

This resonates with my own experience, but also potentially points to a unconventional way of curing the burnout.

While burned out and for a long time after (if you ever get fully over it) the last thing you want to do is put yourself in another stressful situation at work.

But perhaps that is a mistake.

Perhaps one of the potential solutions is not to disconnect yourself totally from the industry you are in. Not to go watch paint dry or steer miles clear of challenges.

Perhaps one of the solutions is to put yourself in more stressful projects.

Leaning into the pain.

I for one has been reluctant to take on too demanding projects, because of burnout. I could not find any joy in stretching myself or any higher purpose in trying.

But perhaps I should not be so afraid of doing so. If the project is somewhat interesting and meaningful, then perhaps the added pressure and workload would help me focus and shed the remains of the burnout.

I chose to interpret it positively.