10 Tips Against Burnout

My Makerlog streak can attest I’ve been pushing code and content for a grand total of 715 consecutive days. There are times I’ve been close to burnout, but I’m happy to say I’ve always been able to recover, eventually. Here are 10 simple habits I’ve been using as a means of prevention or medication:

  1. Take proper rest: don’t hesitate to sleep late and/or take naps, have daily exercise, watch your diet, and take time to breathe.
  2. Cut down your caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco intakes
  3. Talk with your friends/family. Not necessarily about your problems, anything that will take your mind off work (there is a whole world out there that doesn’t revolve about work).
  4. Take days to do things unrelated to your main activity, preferably offline like reading, writing, or woodcrafting.
  5. Regularly take time off communication apps (email, social media, slack, etc.).
  6. Reconnect with nature: forest bathing, gardening, bike ride, hiking … without your phone and by yourself if you can
  7. Journal and make plans. Make an inventory of your options. Record your feelings, goals, and dreams. See how they align with your current situation, or not.
  8. Get back to the basics: Why are you in this high-stress situation in the first place? What can you do about it today? Is it worth it, or are you shouldering unnecessary pressure? Ruthlessly remove what’s not essential.
  9. Rely on daily micro-habits to get you through seemingly impossible tasks. Don’t feel like writing a blog post when your business depends on it? Write 50 words per day instead.
  10. If you work from home, watch out what you wear, see, and hear. Dress up to avoid feeling like a potato, clean your desk, and only listen to music that energize you.