I'd like to share a little bonus story, which will show how my life is often a process of learning the same lesson over and over: In college, I was in the honors program. Graduating with it would've meant I'd be able to put it on my resume and wear a cool gold cord at the graduation ceremony. However, there were some requirements; I had to take some extra classes and do a big project during my senior year. About halfway through college, I was putting a lot more time into building my business, and trying to juggle that alongside classes, my job, and the Honors requirements was becoming incredibly stressful. Additionally, my time was very fractured; I wasn't able to focus for very long on any one thing, and everything suffered as a result. So - even though I really wanted that additional resume item - I decided to quit the Honors program during my senior year. It was hard to give that up, but the time and ability to focus that I gained was worth it. And looking back, I can see now that having "honors graduate" on my resume wouldn't have helped me as much as all the extra time I was able to invest in building my business. I still struggle with living by the lesson this taught me: Letting an opportunity go doesn't equal failure. And even if that opportunity would have helped me progress slightly faster, it may not have been worth it.
I'm currently in an honors pre Med program, still working full time and trying to continue with my fitness goals. I feel like I'm drowning but I'm not even sure where to start with cutting back!
@@scdobserver835 yep! It's a CA78 - I'm so glad I got it. Having a piano has really helped me internalize what I've been learning about music theory, and it's even helped me become a better guitar player :)
@@Thomasfrank thank you :) Well I had a breakdown just yesterday. And it seemed that the break literally took itself with force since I refused to take a proper one for so long...
The biggest red flag in before becoming burned out - *not having a balanced life* You can work intensely a short period of time but winding down is crucial both for health and creativity
I started to realise this when juggling my time as full time manager at Korean Restaurant and at the same time back and forth between my university and restaurant as full time student; Im on my final year (final semester). I thought I can balance it out & I thought my schedule and time management were all bulletproof, but things start to slip from any cracks. It was this September when I decided to take a break from my work since the project research really get me and my whole mind. Then I realised, Im burnout. My brain and body really burned. Watching this video and reading this comment, made me thinking, I never have time for myself in daily basis.
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
@@zaitulafifi5524 exactly, you don't know when you get burned out, it just happened and time later after everything becomes a mess, is when you know it is Burnout
Dude, I loved the honesty and transparency here. I was impressed with how well you were able to articulate such a tricky topic. And I'm glad to hear you're doing better!
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
When I quit my job because of my burnout I knew it was a life or death choice to me. I chose my health over money and thank God I did. Needless to say that the recovery was long. On the last day I came home and my body just shut down. I would sleep 16 hours a day but in sequences. I would wake up, eat something and then all of a sudden I would pass out on the couch for 5 hours with no recollection of falling asleep. This went on for a whole month. My body decided to take matters into its own hands because I wasn't able to make any decisions. That month of rest was like a rebirth. When it ended I felt like I was coming out of a coma that had lasted during the whole time I was at my job. Just a black hole I was leaving behind. Never choose your job over your well-being.
Hi Kat G. How great to read this. I’m keen to hear what sort of environment you worked in before your crash and what sort of activity you’re involved in now. How do you maintain your well-being and guard against crashing again?
@@jamestruter2788 I was working in an international law firm in Switzerland. Needless to say that in Switzerland the pay is great but the burnouts are even greater. I have rarely seen such a small country with that many job-related burnouts. The hours are very long, the average person doing the job I was doing there would go to work at 8am and come home around 9pm...Hard to have a social life, hobbies and so on which obviously leads to some form of depression. I was physically ill all the time, stomach pain, migraines, back pain. I would walk for 20 minutes and the day after I would feel like I had just ran a marathon. My whole body was stiff because of all the stress and unhappiness I was experiencing. I have since gone the complete opposite way, I have moved out of the country and went into the holistic/wellness field. It is way less money but so worth it. I have more time and energy to enjoy my free time, my friends and family, my dogs, nature, my lovely home. I feel so grateful and at peace. Most of all, my overall health has improved a lot which was the most important thing to for me to accomplish. I hope I helped at least one person who read this. 💛
@@kat.5927 Thank you for sharing. One can tell that you went through the most, and I am happy for the turnaround. Life is precious, our health is precious and happiness is precious. Many of us are in demanding environments, and in the short term, this is fine, but prolonged stress can never be ok. I reached out to you because two months ago I went through a similar process. Going forward, I need the right guardrails to prevent the same from happening.
I think one of the most important things that we have to remember is living the present. We are ALL THE TIME thinking about the future, we want to "get there" but we forget that we are already there. What if in 10 years we look back and we notice how much time we lost, worrying, overthinking, not enjoying the present and all. So, think about that. Take care
Its hard to be present when the mind is overactive from all the to do ... I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
I've recently been diagnosed with burnout with which i have apparently been walking around with for 4 years. I've never felt so unsafe and lost in my life, to a degree words cannot express. I have no one that can help me, but your video gave me a flicker of hope and a few insights of steps that I can take. Thank you.
My biggest thing is accepting "good enough" for certain tasks. I am always on the verge of burning out due to my own perfectionist tendencies. I'm only a high school teacher, but I will work all the hours I can to be the very best I can be at great personal expense! I needed to watch this video - thank you!
I feel the same with you, fellow teacher! There is always more to be done with the job, and now I’m learning that the kids can still learn from us when we treat ourselves as persons more than products
You said you are only. You are never an only! You have a huge responsibility to help kinds and teens during a verry difficult time. You be a part in they life and help the community to educate young people. Only in not right word of what you doing very day. I'm thankful for people like you. I wished this would be more honored in our society
Going through exactly that at the moment.. working in a toxic company and no break due to the pandemic has destroyed me and my energy to look for another job.. it is a vicious circle that gets trapped, unless you have enough money to leave without a job...
@@Stavraetina Similar here, man. I'm so severely burned out at my job I don't have the energy to look for another soul sucking, dead end job. So incredibly stuck and drained every day. Hugs, man.
That's weird, my burnout hit me at the exact same time this year. I went through the exact same sequence of events. I cut my monthly uploads in half and thankfully the income didn't suffer. However it didn't increase either. I'm glad you posted this.
Glad it worked out well for you too! Letting go of additional income is really tough, especially when you're in the (very fortunate, to be honest) position where you have the option to increase it in the short-term by doing more work.
We're big fans Tom - as you know - glad you told this story - it'll help so many! Francesco :-)
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The worst feeling, especially in college right now, is feeling the burnout so excruciatingly bad but continuously forcing yourself through the burnout because everything is at stake (bad grades in certain subjects). Currently in this situation and already let go of commitments...but those were the commitments that made me happy. Now I'm stuck in a constant loop of working, sleeping, and eating and not having much fun at all (so stressful for freshman in college). Luckily I got one of my friends to come over for a "study" session which kind of worked but we ended up talking a lot about life. I didn't know I needed that social interaction until then. Now, I have given myself a few hours of break and am able to get back to work. No money for vacation, but at the very least having a friend for a night felt like one. Can't wait, the semester is almost over! Then I can start the next semester much better than this one
I went through a burnout myself recently and I got to a pretty similar conclusion, you have to learn to prioritize and say no to things whitout thinking that you are letting everyone else down. Find the balance between what you want to do, what you can do and what is somehow worth to do either for your personal or career growth. Great video!
I love how subtle you are when it comes to mentioning sponsors. Like everything's just going with the flow and out of nowhere, you mention your sponsor for the video. I have been noticing this quite a lot in your videos and its amazing how you keep doing that, intentionally or not.
I went through burnout when I started as a financial advisor. I hated the 70 hour work weeks and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought. This video is refreshing
Just had a migraine this morning and resulting existential thoughts about what I'm doing in life. All I needed to hear was that it's ok to just slow up every once in a while.
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
@@intentionalliving7326 I took up meditation since that post, doing it twice a day for 20 mins. Just sitting, doing nothing... Sure has helped! Much less stress, less reactive to things, etc. That's cool that italy has a similar kind of activity (or lack thereof ;)
man because of this vedio i learned to get back from burnout i was burnedout in 2020 my grades dropped heck i even failed one class i used get all "A" but in 2020 i got all B's even they were online exams now again iam on track now i took a long break from studying from long hours and month rest no study only watching movies i got all "A" again thank you thomas
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
I loved your authentic voice and sharing. Coming back to center, challenging limiting beliefs, and sharing our vulnerability with others are the best tools of success. Be well
Oh my god. This is exactly the thing I needed right now. I just got back from going 2 weeks off of school to visit family during the school year. Got back and felt really pressured to finish my work especially since Thanksgiving Break forced a quicker deadline. I knew that this is what I needed but for some reason hearing it from someone else is helping me out. Maybe it’s knowing I’m not the only one who feels burnt out, I don’t know. But it felt really good to hear.
Definition: An extended period of time where someone experiences exhaustion and a Lack of interest in things, resulting in a decline in their job performance. Easier said: Everything makes you tired. You don't care about anything. Everything sucks. It doesn't happen overnight. It needs time to get there. Prevent it: 1. What causes it? (physical or mental issues, lack of personal motivation, outside influences (family, financial, time management, assignment overload) 2. Recognize the signs of burnout early (try to prevent them then)
Try: • Don't bite off more than you can chew with your course load. (shift into a lower gear) • Your body and your mind need to be in working order (lack of sleep, nutrition, exercise) • Get organized Give yourself some free time, where you have high density fun. Currently I am in the same spot...
I'm really happy for you. I went into a severe burn out five years ago. I'm still struggling with fatigue, short term memory loss and dementia like problems. To be fair I have gone through several periods of burn out before and returned to the stress of full time work after only about a month and sometimes also heaping on studies on top. I am a lot better today than when it first hit but I still have some road ahead before I can work again.
This really spoke to me. Not even a month ago I was the closest to a real burnout I have ever been. I had been going on survival mode for about a month - no social life, no time or interest for hobbies, fighting to keep deadlines, neglecting my bf... It was just piling up. I almost start crying just thinking about it. Better now since I have fever deadlines, but recovery is a journey. As you said, learning to cut back on commitments was the key. As a university student this is sometimes though (not in an honours program, I just have high expectations of myself), but I never again want to feel like I've felt during this autumn. Glad to see you are gaining your creativity back! Thank you for sharing your story. It was told at the right moment
Awesome job Thomas. Really appreciate you taking the time to share this video. I haven't gotten truly burned out yet, but I've felt myself approaching it. Thanks for the great tips and candid sharing.
It is so refreshing to see a video like this. One where you're being real, definitely, but one that doesn't have all the camera angles and stuff. I enjoy those now and again, but this type of video lets me just focus on what you need to say instead of trying to pay attention to the "video" story at the same time.
It's really great you were able to take things slower when you did. I highly respect your work ethic! Thank you for all the content you take the time and effort to make.
Wish I had seen this years ago. Very well articulated. I resonated with getting cynical, irritable and not feeling able to ever take a break. Well done for figuring out all this and applying it.
The timing couldn't be better. I am severely burnt out with my grad school and I can't enough how much I needed this. THANKS, THOMAS, Keep up the fantastic work. Btw I am looking forward to your next book recommendation video, finished the ones you recommended, what a fantastic read it was.
I'm a Physics student in Uni and this is 100% relatable. Our schedule is supposed to include about 20 exams per year (10 practical ones plus the theoretical part). All of this in 3 years. The more it takes for you to do them, the more the years in Uni, the more you're involved in this environment, the more you pay for Uni. Since the very first year I went through a burnout. In September I passively decided I couldn't do everything. I had to, since things went really bad and I didn't pass any of the exams as I tried to study perfectly for all of them altogether. Now I accepted that I need more time that the one we're given. I'm attending again some courses and I'm trying to be more careful to my mental health, which is still fragile. I wish I could learn faster how not to take my decision to take more time for graduating as a failure. Thank you for this video.
I crashed HARD last week. Ended up leaving a VERY stressful situation since I had a nervous breakdown. Starting to recover, slowly but surely and I've realized that I need to take my life in a different direction.
Yes, the burnout cycle!! When you take things off your plate then become full of creative ideas and burnout again because you don't want to stop. Like my mentality was "If I stop, there will be so many good ideas not brought to fruition" but honestly, sometimes stopping and waiting also helps you make better decisions. Maybe a better opportunity will come up and how would I know if I'm sitting here coming up with ideas by myself? I made time for social events to not lose touch with life so that I have better inspiration for my content.
I actually really liked the way you structured this video! The story time way of structuring gave context and weight to the tips you had to share and increased the overall deliverability of your points
Exactly what I need, you're the best! I'll watch and the come back to edit this comment. But I wanted to say thank you already 🙏❤ EDIT: I had a terrible burn out years ago at university (luckily I managed to graduate but didn't get to do as much as I knew I was able to which is unfortunate) and even now I'm in such a creative block that even reading is hard. Just like you I tend to bite more that I can chew so I'm trying to cut some commitments too. I'm glad you're feeling better and I know that soon I'll get better too. 🌻
I really appreciate this heart-to-heart, felt like I had a good, deep conversation with a trusted friend. 5th year PhD student here, getting older, wiser, and more cynical every year lol Got tons of motivation from your videos since I first started grad school, and just hearing this honest story from you made me feel like I'm not alone in feeling really burnt out; this is a normal process (especially among workaholics/perfectionists that won't leave themselves alone in peace and will constantly find work and ways to self-improve). My favorite UA-camr who's a superstar productivity master went through it, overcame it and shared how he did it; it's giving me hope that I can do it too. Thanks for this video.
Wow, I'm glad I found this video. I have been starting to burnout for the past two weeks, did a big push of 6 days a week for two months, and I'm really crumbling. I thought I wasn't sleeping enough, or eating right, being social enough, relaxing hobbies, but when you work too much you need that nothing time, so everything else goes out the window. When I think about cutting back on my responsibilities I feel that weight lift as well. Thank you for the confirmation, I always struggle to know what I am struggling with. Now what responsibilities shall I get rid of. . .
Taking some long weekends can help with burnout as well. I started implementing this this year, especially after mostly working from home. I'll take a Friday and sometimes a Monday off; having a 4-day work week then allows me to prioritize what I absolutely need to get done, while ensuring I have enough time to recharge.
Loved this. So glad you found that spark again Tom, burnout really sucks & consumes the hell out of anyone. You're one of the most hardworking & dedicated people I've seen around the internet.
The last "philosophical" point really resonated with me,I am reaching my middle age and I have been working on my craft for about 20 years and I keep thinking that I need to keep working on my craft to reach a certain level and that is not a problem per se but it is interfering with my ability to be helpful and productive ATM. So I guess I will continue progressing but also start serving in my field. Thanks Tom!
This is just what I needed this year I had the worst burn out . It got to a point where I couldn’t do a thing . I was trying to make it all and I ended screwed
You're videos have been so very helpful! I'm a housekeeper and I work for myself. When I started my "business" I never expected to grow as much as it did. It was more a way I knew I could support myself. After about the first year, (I've now been doing it nearly 4 years) I found myself severely burned out, even after hiring help. I'll break down to the point of having no choice but to take time off bc my body is shutting down, then feel guilty and get right back at it, only to have it consistently happen again and again. Talking to family members and friends no one seemed to understand,aside from my now husband, which just made me feel guilty and weak. Hearing the way you described your burnout and what led up to it was so reassuring and gives me major hope. I stumbled on your videos about a week ago looking for something constructive to listen to while I work and every single one has had such practicable advice in it, but when this one started rolling, it hit home big time and I just had to let you know how much I appreciate what you're doing!
Thomas, thank you for your transparency and openness about this topic. I have experienced burnout as well, but your story helps create an awareness of the factors that lead to burnout. I appreciate the time you spend on your content.👍🏼👍🏼
Well this is far too relatable. Launching Real Science, The Logistics of D-Day, applying for my US work visa, and then just adding additional sponsor slots at a time I had no additional capacity caused me to fall behind schedule. I don't feel burned out, but my health has declined considerable. I have started turning down travel opportunities (although I hate turning down the vacation with you and the rest of the Standard crew) and I am quitting video games to use that time to exercise. I think living out of suitcase has been the largest factor in my health decline. I need my routines.
It's good to see my favourite content makers taking control of their life! Having burned out myself as a Med student, I realised there is nothing more important than health.
Nice and clear talking about important matter. Nice to hear that you got out of your burnout and I hope you are doing well today. Burnout is tricky thing to recover from. And not easy at all.
I felt it last year in an intensive way. Here in Brazil, we have a test called ENEM that evaluates your learning as a high school student and gives you a grade that later on the students use to get an enroll in a public university. Some courses are very disputed and you have to study a lot to take them. Today, looking back in the past even though I accomplished my goal, I see that the whole process to make it was very destructive to my physical and mental health.
Acabei me identificando, porém a pior parte é q eu tive um "burnout" poucas semanas antes das minhas principais provas e tudo foi por água abaixo. No caso, essas provas eram as segundas fases da Fuvest e da Unicamp (eu prestei engenharia), não o Enem.
same thing with the country i live in and i’m so tired bc i’m pursuing medical school and i have to take those exams every year in addition to the exams i already have i get at least 6 exams per week i’m on the verge on k!lling myself
I want to be a writer, and this video is helpful because I am going through writer's block, because of anxiety so it feels great to know I'm not in this alone. As a fan I support you and everything you do with that being said if you ever took a break from UA-cam for whatever reason I will always understand, Much Love!
My brain at midnight onwards: hmm let’s catch up on all the productivity videos you’ve missed My eyes: pleaseee but you have work at 8am- go to sleep. My brain: but....yhhhh mannnn, why are you burning out tho mannn *clicks*.... why is your idea of happiness wrong mannn *clicks*...study with mes *clicks*
I took breaks. I even let go of many opportunities. But I still feel so burned out. I think I may not recover and the idea of change is so surreal that it might not happen.
I just realized one of my "commitments" has ended up being watching a certain amount of UA-cam every day. It seems as though I've fallen into a trap of sorts. Welp now I know exactly what that is... Thanks.
My passion is art. I started drawing for as long as i can remember, and i'd draw all day and night. It was really fun to do, but recently i've been feeling unmotivated to draw. Not even just sketch. It felt painful to draw or paint anything and for some reason i can't think of anything to draw anymore. I don't have a tight schedule, and the only thing pressuring me is school. It might be art block, but i've never had such an intense unmotivated feeling before. I'm getting worried that i might be losing interest in my passion because it's the best thing about me. I've invested so much into my passion. I need help. Is this burnout kinda thing just part of the journey? Should i just keep my mind off my passion for a while? I really need guidance.
I was burnt out this past year from tattooing for years in a row. The last month I've taken almost completely off of work to recover. I've been working on my youtube channel in this time and changing my daily routine really has helped. Its weird feeling burnt out like that. Thanks for sharing !
May it be psychological condition that needs to be checked i don't know . Cause it happened to me and a 2 week antidepressant rebooted my state totally
It can also be a physical issue, vitamin or mineral deficiency. If the regular western doctor can’t find anything, try eastern practice (if you can afford it). I’m just figuring out since getting my burnout in 2011. Turns out just trying to change the way I think and act wasn’t enough. There really could be just a physical piece missing. Through a gut specialist (orthomoleculair doctor too) and hypnotherapist I’m learning the things that are holding me back. I’m not saying this is what you should do too. Everyone has different things that work for them, trust your instinct to decide what’s best for you. Maybe it really is being open to a new angle in approaching this or meeting the right person that can help you.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a real thing and needs medical help. There is no silver bullet but you can overcome it. Do some research on CFS and you might be surprised.
It's good to not have the same quality of videos. Even to watch. Variety is the spice of life. Love your videos and glad so hear you are doing much better
I am literally going through my first burnout in my first year in uni due to the enormous workload i was working with and i literally knocked myself out with the pressure. Thank you. Any tips on how to recover before finals season which is in a week?
I really liked this rambly heart to heart style video from Tom. Perhaps more than the crazy tech bells and whistles. Thanks for the important message and please take care!
I'd like to share a little bonus story, which will show how my life is often a process of learning the same lesson over and over:
In college, I was in the honors program. Graduating with it would've meant I'd be able to put it on my resume and wear a cool gold cord at the graduation ceremony. However, there were some requirements; I had to take some extra classes and do a big project during my senior year.
About halfway through college, I was putting a lot more time into building my business, and trying to juggle that alongside classes, my job, and the Honors requirements was becoming incredibly stressful. Additionally, my time was very fractured; I wasn't able to focus for very long on any one thing, and everything suffered as a result.
So - even though I really wanted that additional resume item - I decided to quit the Honors program during my senior year. It was hard to give that up, but the time and ability to focus that I gained was worth it. And looking back, I can see now that having "honors graduate" on my resume wouldn't have helped me as much as all the extra time I was able to invest in building my business.
I still struggle with living by the lesson this taught me: Letting an opportunity go doesn't equal failure. And even if that opportunity would have helped me progress slightly faster, it may not have been worth it.
Thomas Frank I’m curious if you know your Enneagram type?
Speaking of music, is that a Kawai digital piano behind you?
I'm currently in an honors pre Med program, still working full time and trying to continue with my fitness goals. I feel like I'm drowning but I'm not even sure where to start with cutting back!
"Letting an opportunity go doesn't equal failure." - Wow, that hit the right spot, I needed to hear that. Thank you!
@@scdobserver835 yep! It's a CA78 - I'm so glad I got it. Having a piano has really helped me internalize what I've been learning about music theory, and it's even helped me become a better guitar player :)
If you don't take a break, the break takes itself.
Never heard this before, but I love it.
@@Thomasfrank thank you :) Well I had a breakdown just yesterday. And it seemed that the break literally took itself with force since I refused to take a proper one for so long...
It's too true. I've known this for years, even though I forget it every time I start to plan things for "Future Paul" to do.
Also never heard it before but it's so true.
You only realise it once you're there. Thanks Wendy, great point!
The biggest red flag in before becoming burned out - *not having a balanced life*
You can work intensely a short period of time but winding down is crucial both for health and creativity
I started to realise this when juggling my time as full time manager at Korean Restaurant and at the same time back and forth between my university and restaurant as full time student; Im on my final year (final semester).
I thought I can balance it out & I thought my schedule and time management were all bulletproof, but things start to slip from any cracks. It was this September when I decided to take a break from my work since the project research really get me and my whole mind. Then I realised, Im burnout. My brain and body really burned.
Watching this video and reading this comment, made me thinking, I never have time for myself in daily basis.
Zaitul Afifi
Hi
I really hope you found a way to manage your situations and work towards some better balance for you.
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
@schakalakadingdong How do you achieve this?
@@zaitulafifi5524 exactly, you don't know when you get burned out, it just happened and time later after everything becomes a mess, is when you know it is Burnout
Dude, I loved the honesty and transparency here. I was impressed with how well you were able to articulate such a tricky topic. And I'm glad to hear you're doing better!
My hero just entered the comment section 🙏
@@Slam_24 mine too :)
it is wholesome to see how you guys are supportive of each other. hi Nathaniel :)
Yayyaya. That's awesome.
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
When I quit my job because of my burnout I knew it was a life or death choice to me. I chose my health over money and thank God I did. Needless to say that the recovery was long. On the last day I came home and my body just shut down. I would sleep 16 hours a day but in sequences. I would wake up, eat something and then all of a sudden I would pass out on the couch for 5 hours with no recollection of falling asleep. This went on for a whole month. My body decided to take matters into its own hands because I wasn't able to make any decisions. That month of rest was like a rebirth. When it ended I felt like I was coming out of a coma that had lasted during the whole time I was at my job. Just a black hole I was leaving behind. Never choose your job over your well-being.
Hi Kat G. How great to read this. I’m keen to hear what sort of environment you worked in before your crash and what sort of activity you’re involved in now. How do you maintain your well-being and guard against crashing again?
i'd like to hear more as well.
@@jamestruter2788 I was working in an international law firm in Switzerland. Needless to say that in Switzerland the pay is great but the burnouts are even greater. I have rarely seen such a small country with that many job-related burnouts. The hours are very long, the average person doing the job I was doing there would go to work at 8am and come home around 9pm...Hard to have a social life, hobbies and so on which obviously leads to some form of depression. I was physically ill all the time, stomach pain, migraines, back pain. I would walk for 20 minutes and the day after I would feel like I had just ran a marathon. My whole body was stiff because of all the stress and unhappiness I was experiencing. I have since gone the complete opposite way, I have moved out of the country and went into the holistic/wellness field. It is way less money but so worth it. I have more time and energy to enjoy my free time, my friends and family, my dogs, nature, my lovely home. I feel so grateful and at peace. Most of all, my overall health has improved a lot which was the most important thing to for me to accomplish. I hope I helped at least one person who read this. 💛
@@kat.5927 Thank you for sharing. One can tell that you went through the most, and I am happy for the turnaround. Life is precious, our health is precious and happiness is precious. Many of us are in demanding environments, and in the short term, this is fine, but prolonged stress can never be ok.
I reached out to you because two months ago I went through a similar process. Going forward, I need the right guardrails to prevent the same from happening.
@@jamestruter2788 Thank you for sharing. I sincerely wish you all the best.
This is perfect as people in college are starting to get hit with the burnout
Ya for me its kinda complicated as i ADHD i burn out yesterday morning so the rest of that i did nothing.
@@Borex2 i burn out yesterday but now im good
It’s basically the 3rd and last exam week before finals for me
@@brocklesnerd1283 This is not a burnout, because burnouts last for a lot longer (up to months).
@@dimitris598 I know I was mocking the dude I was responding too
literally crying right now, I see my life crumbling around me but, in the meantime, I feel so drained
Honestly I can spiritually relate to this
@@allrightjack I think that too sometimes but man never lose hope ,it's all going to be fine
Take some time to heal. See a therapist, journal and meditate, take long walks, remove toxic people from your life. I’m praying for you.
I so hear you! 😣
Yes I feel this right now
I think one of the most important things that we have to remember is living the present. We are ALL THE TIME thinking about the future, we want to "get there" but we forget that we are already there. What if in 10 years we look back and we notice how much time we lost, worrying, overthinking, not enjoying the present and all. So, think about that. Take care
Its hard to be present when the mind is overactive from all the to do ... I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
Thanks for being real, brother. I’ve definitely dealt with similar burnout-related issues. Glad you’re on the other side of it!
I think a lot of us creatives do.... the art of finding the balance
Perfect timing as always, exactly what I need right now
Same!
Kian Tinker me too
SAME HERE!
Same here, it's our finals month and I really needed to hear this. Thanks, Thomas!
Exactly,i am studying too much every day because of my exams getting sick of it
Let us all just appreciate how much consistency Thomas has been able to provide without compromising the quality of his content.
He's not a burnout!!!
Burnouts smoke weed and are hella cool...
This dude is a Nerd!!!
4:36 starts talking about what he did to recover
Thank you so much 😊
I wish i could create another account and like your comment one more time but im burnt out)
Thank you❤
I've recently been diagnosed with burnout with which i have apparently been walking around with for 4 years.
I've never felt so unsafe and lost in my life, to a degree words cannot express.
I have no one that can help me, but your video gave me a flicker of hope and a few insights of steps that I can take.
Thank you.
My biggest thing is accepting "good enough" for certain tasks. I am always on the verge of burning out due to my own perfectionist tendencies. I'm only a high school teacher, but I will work all the hours I can to be the very best I can be at great personal expense!
I needed to watch this video - thank you!
Same for me, only that i'm a college student and I often feel that I can do better on my writings.
I feel the same with you, fellow teacher! There is always more to be done with the job, and now I’m learning that the kids can still learn from us when we treat ourselves as persons more than products
You said you are only. You are never an only!
You have a huge responsibility to help kinds and teens during a verry difficult time. You be a part in they life and help the community to educate young people.
Only in not right word of what you doing very day.
I'm thankful for people like you.
I wished this would be more honored in our society
@@larenjabuss3469 that’s so kind, thank you
What if you're just employee. You don't have much control. Toxic workplaces burn people out. I speak from personal experience.
If it’s toxic, try to find another place to work. If it’s possible to talk, talk first.
Leave that place as fast as possible
Yes!! It's tough to start over in a terrible job market in your area.
Going through exactly that at the moment.. working in a toxic company and no break due to the pandemic has destroyed me and my energy to look for another job.. it is a vicious circle that gets trapped, unless you have enough money to leave without a job...
@@Stavraetina Similar here, man. I'm so severely burned out at my job I don't have the energy to look for another soul sucking, dead end job. So incredibly stuck and drained every day. Hugs, man.
That's weird, my burnout hit me at the exact same time this year. I went through the exact same sequence of events. I cut my monthly uploads in half and thankfully the income didn't suffer. However it didn't increase either. I'm glad you posted this.
Glad it worked out well for you too! Letting go of additional income is really tough, especially when you're in the (very fortunate, to be honest) position where you have the option to increase it in the short-term by doing more work.
same time too 2019
A phrase that really helped me was "Go easy on yourself. You are your own best friend." Hope it helps you as well
Graduating college and not having a clear path..really needed this 💕🙏🏽
We're big fans Tom - as you know - glad you told this story - it'll help so many!
Francesco :-)
The worst feeling, especially in college right now, is feeling the burnout so excruciatingly bad but continuously forcing yourself through the burnout because everything is at stake (bad grades in certain subjects). Currently in this situation and already let go of commitments...but those were the commitments that made me happy. Now I'm stuck in a constant loop of working, sleeping, and eating and not having much fun at all (so stressful for freshman in college). Luckily I got one of my friends to come over for a "study" session which kind of worked but we ended up talking a lot about life. I didn't know I needed that social interaction until then. Now, I have given myself a few hours of break and am able to get back to work. No money for vacation, but at the very least having a friend for a night felt like one. Can't wait, the semester is almost over! Then I can start the next semester much better than this one
Are you okay rn
I went through a burnout myself recently and I got to a pretty similar conclusion, you have to learn to prioritize and say no to things whitout thinking that you are letting everyone else down. Find the balance between what you want to do, what you can do and what is somehow worth to do either for your personal or career growth. Great video!
I really liked the style of this video, it felt like a heart to heart and I'm feeling reassured and inspired again. Thank you!
Maria :D yes!
Maria :D agreed! :)
I love how subtle you are when it comes to mentioning sponsors. Like everything's just going with the flow and out of nowhere, you mention your sponsor for the video. I have been noticing this quite a lot in your videos and its amazing how you keep doing that, intentionally or not.
Wow. The video I didn't know I needed but am super glad I watched. As a fairly new content creator, thank you.
I went through burnout when I started as a financial advisor. I hated the 70 hour work weeks and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought.
This video is refreshing
You’re actually such a big help, thanks for the video
2019 is a hard year for everyone, huh
Edit: HOWS EVERYONES 2020 LOOOOOL
Its been the hardest for me
2019 is not playing games
@@basil33 2018 was like the worst year of my life
@@basil33 2019 blew 2019 out of the water in terms of stress and anxiety
2019 was rough, a lot, and I mean a lot of failure
The point about having different scales to each piece of work you put out being okay is incredibly insightful. Thank you.
Gonna give my university exam in few hours, this gives confidence.
Just had a migraine this morning and resulting existential thoughts about what I'm doing in life. All I needed to hear was that it's ok to just slow up every once in a while.
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
@@intentionalliving7326 I took up meditation since that post, doing it twice a day for 20 mins. Just sitting, doing nothing... Sure has helped! Much less stress, less reactive to things, etc. That's cool that italy has a similar kind of activity (or lack thereof ;)
it’s good that you came to realize this at 28, many come to this at only 50
man because of this vedio i learned to get back from burnout i was burnedout in 2020 my grades dropped heck i even failed one class i used get all "A" but in 2020 i got all B's even they were online exams now again iam on track now i took a long break from studying from long hours and month rest no study only watching movies i got all "A" again
thank you thomas
But as for me i don't have time to relax to heal my burnout. My exams are in 3 months and I will need all three months to study. What do I do :(
I hear you man. I feel you. In the same boat.
I think we all could include a little bit more in our weekly schedule the practice of what Italians call “far niente” (doing nothing... a block of time when you can meander, walk around, or just be in the moment and do what feels right in the moment)...
I loved your authentic voice and sharing. Coming back to center, challenging limiting beliefs, and sharing our vulnerability with others are the best tools of success. Be well
I enjoyed and can relate to this video. Stripped down "acoustic" Thomas is nice to see. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the upcoming holiday.
Ha ha well put! Important to nurture all our aspects
Oh my god. This is exactly the thing I needed right now. I just got back from going 2 weeks off of school to visit family during the school year. Got back and felt really pressured to finish my work especially since Thanksgiving Break forced a quicker deadline. I knew that this is what I needed but for some reason hearing it from someone else is helping me out. Maybe it’s knowing I’m not the only one who feels burnt out, I don’t know. But it felt really good to hear.
As Bruce Lee once said: "Success is a journey, not a destination"
Thank you
Definition: An extended period of time where someone experiences exhaustion and a
Lack of interest in things, resulting in a decline in their job performance.
Easier said: Everything makes you tired. You don't care about anything. Everything sucks.
It doesn't happen overnight. It needs time to get there.
Prevent it:
1. What causes it? (physical or mental issues, lack of personal motivation, outside influences (family, financial, time management, assignment overload)
2. Recognize the signs of burnout early (try to prevent them then)
Try:
• Don't bite off more than you can chew with your course load. (shift into a lower gear)
• Your body and your mind need to be in working order (lack of sleep, nutrition, exercise)
• Get organized
Give yourself some free time, where you have high density fun. Currently I am in the same spot...
I'm really happy for you. I went into a severe burn out five years ago. I'm still struggling with fatigue, short term memory loss and dementia like problems. To be fair I have gone through several periods of burn out before and returned to the stress of full time work after only about a month and sometimes also heaping on studies on top. I am a lot better today than when it first hit but I still have some road ahead before I can work again.
This really spoke to me. Not even a month ago I was the closest to a real burnout I have ever been. I had been going on survival mode for about a month - no social life, no time or interest for hobbies, fighting to keep deadlines, neglecting my bf... It was just piling up. I almost start crying just thinking about it. Better now since I have fever deadlines, but recovery is a journey.
As you said, learning to cut back on commitments was the key. As a university student this is sometimes though (not in an honours program, I just have high expectations of myself), but I never again want to feel like I've felt during this autumn.
Glad to see you are gaining your creativity back! Thank you for sharing your story. It was told at the right moment
Yeah, there is never a moment that we have enough success to slow down. I really needed to hear that. Thanks for that man! Awesome vid :))
Awesome job Thomas. Really appreciate you taking the time to share this video. I haven't gotten truly burned out yet, but I've felt myself approaching it. Thanks for the great tips and candid sharing.
The balance between a passion for life and actually living life is counterintuitive for sure. Thanks for sharing.
It is so refreshing to see a video like this. One where you're being real, definitely, but one that doesn't have all the camera angles and stuff. I enjoy those now and again, but this type of video lets me just focus on what you need to say instead of trying to pay attention to the "video" story at the same time.
It's really great you were able to take things slower when you did. I highly respect your work ethic! Thank you for all the content you take the time and effort to make.
Well put! 👏🏻 it is beautiful to hear Thomas intentions as well. It’s not just about the money. Sometimes you keep going for the team!
Wish I had seen this years ago. Very well articulated. I resonated with getting cynical, irritable and not feeling able to ever take a break. Well done for figuring out all this and applying it.
I’ve been watching your videos for quite some time. This was one of your best.
The timing couldn't be better. I am severely burnt out with my grad school and I can't enough how much I needed this. THANKS, THOMAS, Keep up the fantastic work. Btw I am looking forward to your next book recommendation video, finished the ones you recommended, what a fantastic read it was.
This guy's so ambitious he might just be a Slytherin
"When you don't put in 'rest' into your schedule you can put in 'burnout' instead."
True! Plus rest has the capability to allow new ideas to become clearer
I'm a Physics student in Uni and this is 100% relatable. Our schedule is supposed to include about 20 exams per year (10 practical ones plus the theoretical part). All of this in 3 years. The more it takes for you to do them, the more the years in Uni, the more you're involved in this environment, the more you pay for Uni. Since the very first year I went through a burnout. In September I passively decided I couldn't do everything. I had to, since things went really bad and I didn't pass any of the exams as I tried to study perfectly for all of them altogether. Now I accepted that I need more time that the one we're given. I'm attending again some courses and I'm trying to be more careful to my mental health, which is still fragile. I wish I could learn faster how not to take my decision to take more time for graduating as a failure. Thank you for this video.
Im still recovering from a burnout in 2017. It was brutal, and I am JUST starting to get out of the repercussions. Good on ya for moving forward
I crashed HARD last week. Ended up leaving a VERY stressful situation since I had a nervous breakdown. Starting to recover, slowly but surely and I've realized that I need to take my life in a different direction.
Wishing you well!
Do whats best for you. Whether it’s one or two videos a month we’ll be sure to enjoy what you put out 👍🏽
Yes, the burnout cycle!! When you take things off your plate then become full of creative ideas and burnout again because you don't want to stop. Like my mentality was "If I stop, there will be so many good ideas not brought to fruition" but honestly, sometimes stopping and waiting also helps you make better decisions. Maybe a better opportunity will come up and how would I know if I'm sitting here coming up with ideas by myself? I made time for social events to not lose touch with life so that I have better inspiration for my content.
I actually really liked the way you structured this video! The story time way of structuring gave context and weight to the tips you had to share and increased the overall deliverability of your points
Exactly what I need, you're the best! I'll watch and the come back to edit this comment. But I wanted to say thank you already 🙏❤
EDIT: I had a terrible burn out years ago at university (luckily I managed to graduate but didn't get to do as much as I knew I was able to which is unfortunate) and even now I'm in such a creative block that even reading is hard. Just like you I tend to bite more that I can chew so I'm trying to cut some commitments too. I'm glad you're feeling better and I know that soon I'll get better too. 🌻
callmemagi 😊✨
I really appreciate this heart-to-heart, felt like I had a good, deep conversation with a trusted friend. 5th year PhD student here, getting older, wiser, and more cynical every year lol Got tons of motivation from your videos since I first started grad school, and just hearing this honest story from you made me feel like I'm not alone in feeling really burnt out; this is a normal process (especially among workaholics/perfectionists that won't leave themselves alone in peace and will constantly find work and ways to self-improve). My favorite UA-camr who's a superstar productivity master went through it, overcame it and shared how he did it; it's giving me hope that I can do it too. Thanks for this video.
I'm probably the only one but this thomas story time format is my favorite.
Wow, I'm glad I found this video. I have been starting to burnout for the past two weeks, did a big push of 6 days a week for two months, and I'm really crumbling. I thought I wasn't sleeping enough, or eating right, being social enough, relaxing hobbies, but when you work too much you need that nothing time, so everything else goes out the window. When I think about cutting back on my responsibilities I feel that weight lift as well. Thank you for the confirmation, I always struggle to know what I am struggling with. Now what responsibilities shall I get rid of. . .
Taking some long weekends can help with burnout as well. I started implementing this this year, especially after mostly working from home. I'll take a Friday and sometimes a Monday off; having a 4-day work week then allows me to prioritize what I absolutely need to get done, while ensuring I have enough time to recharge.
Loved this. So glad you found that spark again Tom, burnout really sucks & consumes the hell out of anyone. You're one of the most hardworking & dedicated people I've seen around the internet.
Love it, still in the middle of this
The last "philosophical" point really resonated with me,I am reaching my middle age and I have been working on my craft for about 20 years and I keep thinking that I need to keep working on my craft to reach a certain level and that is not a problem per se but it is interfering with my ability to be helpful and productive ATM. So I guess I will continue progressing but also start serving in my field.
Thanks Tom!
This is just what I needed this year I had the worst burn out . It got to a point where I couldn’t do a thing . I was trying to make it all and I ended screwed
You're videos have been so very helpful! I'm a housekeeper and I work for myself. When I started my "business" I never expected to grow as much as it did. It was more a way I knew I could support myself. After about the first year, (I've now been doing it nearly 4 years) I found myself severely burned out, even after hiring help. I'll break down to the point of having no choice but to take time off bc my body is shutting down, then feel guilty and get right back at it, only to have it consistently happen again and again. Talking to family members and friends no one seemed to understand,aside from my now husband, which just made me feel guilty and weak. Hearing the way you described your burnout and what led up to it was so reassuring and gives me major hope. I stumbled on your videos about a week ago looking for something constructive to listen to while I work and every single one has had such practicable advice in it, but when this one started rolling, it hit home big time and I just had to let you know how much I appreciate what you're doing!
Thomas, thank you for your transparency and openness about this topic. I have experienced burnout as well, but your story helps create an awareness of the factors that lead to burnout. I appreciate the time you spend on your content.👍🏼👍🏼
This is why you're such a great content creator because you're humble and vulnerable and real. You make amazing content take a break when necessary 👊
Well this is far too relatable. Launching Real Science, The Logistics of D-Day, applying for my US work visa, and then just adding additional sponsor slots at a time I had no additional capacity caused me to fall behind schedule. I don't feel burned out, but my health has declined considerable. I have started turning down travel opportunities (although I hate turning down the vacation with you and the rest of the Standard crew) and I am quitting video games to use that time to exercise. I think living out of suitcase has been the largest factor in my health decline. I need my routines.
It's good to see my favourite content makers taking control of their life! Having burned out myself as a Med student, I realised there is nothing more important than health.
@@prakritisingha6906 The irony of your situation...
@RealEngineering How would one learn the secret handshake of the Standard crew?
Nice and clear talking about important matter. Nice to hear that you got out of your burnout and I hope you are doing well today. Burnout is tricky thing to recover from. And not easy at all.
I like this down to earth Thomas Frank. Anyone else ?
I love that this video is so real, it’s just you and your camera, talking to me, love the broken down style. Great stuff as always, Tom!!!
Literally what I needed to hear
How enjoyable it was to watch the video based on no script, so honest. Loved it
I felt it last year in an intensive way. Here in Brazil, we have a test called ENEM that evaluates your learning as a high school student and gives you a grade that later on the students use to get an enroll in a public university. Some courses are very disputed and you have to study a lot to take them. Today, looking back in the past even though I accomplished my goal, I see that the whole process to make it was very destructive to my physical and mental health.
Olha só, um brasileiro por aqui... hahaha.
Acabei me identificando, porém a pior parte é q eu tive um "burnout" poucas semanas antes das minhas principais provas e tudo foi por água abaixo. No caso, essas provas eram as segundas fases da Fuvest e da Unicamp (eu prestei engenharia), não o Enem.
same thing with the country i live in and i’m so tired bc i’m pursuing medical school and i have to take those exams every year in addition to the exams i already have
i get at least 6 exams per week i’m on the verge on k!lling myself
Bro you hit ALL the points! I really needed to hear this. Thank you!
It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials. - Bruce Lee
Right video at right time for me... thank you
“Dont work harder, work smarter”
I want to be a writer, and this video is helpful because I am going through writer's block, because of anxiety so it feels great to know I'm not in this alone. As a fan I support you and everything you do with that being said if you ever took a break from UA-cam for whatever reason I will always understand, Much Love!
just what I needed to day !!! thankss a lottt !!!!
thank you for making this video, i definitely needed this as i'm in the middle of a burnout right now.
It's currently 1 AM here so I wanted to sleep but nah man, video first lol
Same haha
My brain at midnight onwards: hmm let’s catch up on all the productivity videos you’ve missed
My eyes: pleaseee but you have work at 8am- go to sleep.
My brain: but....yhhhh mannnn, why are you burning out tho mannn *clicks*.... why is your idea of happiness wrong mannn *clicks*...study with mes *clicks*
This is so beautiful. Thank you! ❤️
I took breaks. I even let go of many opportunities. But I still feel so burned out. I think I may not recover and the idea of change is so surreal that it might not happen.
One of the better videos and honest! Loved it, 100% meaningful, gained a lot, Thanks man!
I just realized one of my "commitments" has ended up being watching a certain amount of UA-cam every day. It seems as though I've fallen into a trap of sorts. Welp now I know exactly what that is... Thanks.
Same like a lot of productive videoa
I really f***in needed this, thank you so much, Thomas. This is how my entire year has been.
My passion is art. I started drawing for as long as i can remember, and i'd draw all day and night. It was really fun to do, but recently i've been feeling unmotivated to draw. Not even just sketch. It felt painful to draw or paint anything and for some reason i can't think of anything to draw anymore. I don't have a tight schedule, and the only thing pressuring me is school.
It might be art block, but i've never had such an intense unmotivated feeling before. I'm getting worried that i might be losing interest in my passion because it's the best thing about me. I've invested so much into my passion.
I need help. Is this burnout kinda thing just part of the journey? Should i just keep my mind off my passion for a while? I really need guidance.
I was burnt out this past year from tattooing for years in a row. The last month I've taken almost completely off of work to recover. I've been working on my youtube channel in this time and changing my daily routine really has helped. Its weird feeling burnt out like that. Thanks for sharing !
But what do u do when u've had an extreme burnout for years tho?
Thinking of finally to get better but can't seem to do it
Diana Mariom it’s so hard. It requires really difficult decisions that will likely suck (in the short term). But what’s the alternative?
May it be psychological condition that needs to be checked i don't know . Cause it happened to me and a 2 week antidepressant rebooted my state totally
It can also be a physical issue, vitamin or mineral deficiency. If the regular western doctor can’t find anything, try eastern practice (if you can afford it). I’m just figuring out since getting my burnout in 2011. Turns out just trying to change the way I think and act wasn’t enough. There really could be just a physical piece missing. Through a gut specialist (orthomoleculair doctor too) and hypnotherapist I’m learning the things that are holding me back.
I’m not saying this is what you should do too. Everyone has different things that work for them, trust your instinct to decide what’s best for you. Maybe it really is being open to a new angle in approaching this or meeting the right person that can help you.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a real thing and needs medical help. There is no silver bullet but you can overcome it. Do some research on CFS and you might be surprised.
It's good to not have the same quality of videos. Even to watch. Variety is the spice of life. Love your videos and glad so hear you are doing much better
Perfect timing. Also, who's #notificationsquad?
Loukes I always wonder that too LOL
Thank you for talking about this! I don't think people talk enough about what it is and how they get out of it. Very brave!
I am currently recovering from burn out... but it seems to be a slow process.
Same here, I was hit with burnout in March, and it's almost December but I'm still recovering
thanks, this is exactly what I needed to hear for probably all my past life..;
seriously, this video is a life saver
Thomas, do you know your Enneagram type? I’m super curious!
He did the mbti test and got ENTJ, in his case it seems accurate. From that he’s probably either an 8,3, or 1.
OzzTonWentToSpace it’s not always a direct correlation though...but I definitely see a lot of 1!
Hi Thomas,
I just came across your video as I was searching for videos that would advice on how to deal with burnout. I liked the content. Subscribed.
I am literally going through my first burnout in my first year in uni due to the enormous workload i was working with and i literally knocked myself out with the pressure. Thank you.
Any tips on how to recover before finals season which is in a week?
I really liked this rambly heart to heart style video from Tom. Perhaps more than the crazy tech bells and whistles. Thanks for the important message and please take care!