How makers stay productive

Well, burnouts usually get me very hard. That's the reason why I was quite for the last 2 months. I just let them get me so I could become stronger next time.

By having at least 8 hours rest after that burnouts and you should be able to continue with the next hustle spree

How fast you can recover is fully depends on your mental state and the environment you have around you.

This will vary based on your reasoning for hustling so hard in the first place, but for me with my current side project I remind myself that long-term I'm trying to build a lifestyle business that replaces my day job, is mission-driven, and also gives me freedom to spend more time with my family. If I'm not taking the time to spend with my family now (and also relax my brain while I do so) then I'm not achieving what I'm trying to build long term and I believe I am unlikely to find it then if I can't find it now.

Of course it does take sacrifice to build this business in the first place, and I've found a routine that allows me to do so, but if I can moderate that sacrifice and keep the priorities of what I want long term, today, then I tend to keep burnout at bay as a consequence.

Sometimes, just do one task and enjoy rest time. And no hustle!

As Edvins said, the environment is important. There are so many factors that it's almost impossible to pinpoint exactly WHY a burnout happens, but what everyone can agree on is that it happens when you do the same kind of tasks over and over again, without experiencing anything else.

I had a huge burnout in Vietnam just a few months ago. I went out one night and had drinks and the best pizza I've ever experienced in my life, and guess what! Burnout gone and motivation back on top. I don't understand why… But I was back shipping as efficient, if not better!

So that's my advice. Spoil yourself from time to time. I don't think burnouts can happen if you feel happy.

Great advice guys!

Pretty simply have a day/evening off from all your tech! Go for a walk, leave your phone at home, ignore your laptop etc.

You have to sometimes sit back and reevaluate why you do what you do. Usually you can do this by taking a break from your computer and relaxing outside, ideally in a park near a lake or something. Also I don't think that there's a true way to escape burn out, it will happen at different scales, at different times, in different situations.

1. Tell yourself every morning: What you want to achieve

2. Tell yourself every morning: Why you're doing what you're doing

3. Show motivating things several times a week For the english speaking people this would be for example Simon Sinek, for german Bodo Schäfer

4. Read Biographies of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and so on

5. Search for an additional hobby. With me it is for example to play guitar. For you, it could be something completely different. NO TV, really, let this shit go.

6. Surround yourself with positive thinking people

I hope this helps … for me this helps enormously :-)

Burnout typically happens from lack of congruence. If you're forcing yourself to work on something you're not certain will work, for example.

Congruence https://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html

The best way I have found is to view literally everything as a learning opportunity. Not saying you don't already do this, but it's what works for me.

Do tasks based on energy level.

Scheduling Your Energy, Not Your Time https://blog.whenhub.com/posts/scheduling-your-energy-not-your-time/

If you push yourself too hard it's bad for your health. It stresses your adrenal glands & then you crash afterward as a result.

Your mind also works in two modes. Focused and diffused. As others mentioned, breaks help you problem solve. https://youtu.be/dzjsk5e7srI

Pomodoro works so well because it requires you to work in an active state & then take a 5-minute break.

Also

• Meditation
• Stepping out and grabbing food
• Getting enough sleep (for me I can only go two 6 hour night of sleep during a sprint - I usually sleep 9 hours per night)
• Cutting out things like TV shows / movies
• Watching comedy

Love this - so many insightful tips. Thanks!

I'm a little late to the party but here's what I do.

I'm both a full time Graphic Designer and a maker after hours. I use to work for 16-18 hours a day, go to the gym, meal prep, etc and sleep for 3-4 hours. Back then, the gym was my hour away from everything to get my head straight for the next shift.

I don't recommend the lack of sleep, I'm now getting 6-8 hours depending on when I actually fall asleep and that's significantly improved my ability to work. That being said, I also have a few hobbies off-screen. For example, I make leather wallets by hand. It takes a long time to do one wallet but it's time to decompress from coding & designing. I also cook more elaborate meals now rather than baked chicken, rice and veggies for meal prep.

TLDR: Find hobbies off-screen. I cook, work out, and make wallets.

@bns how do you manage not to fall asleep during meditation? I tried, but every time I fall asleep. :-/

@Henning I do it seated on the floor, but sometimes it's hard not to fall asleep. Try using the headspace app; guided meditation might be the answer :)

I spend a lot of time working on my computer. Sometimes I feel like my head is tired and my body is not. So I usually do physical activities or errands AFTER I'm starting to feel exhausted from all the thinking in front of a computer. That way my head can catch a break while I do things that won't require me to think at all.

@bns You said "Watching comedy", how does that affect you? I actually enjoy having comedy TV Shows running in the background, maybe there's some science to it?

@tomaswoksepp it is well known that laughing also helps against illnesses and it makes you feel good. and with a good mood, work makes more fun. :-) would be the explanation for me.