Comments on: Nicole’s Burnout Blues

By: kgs

kgs — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:56:15 +0000

Nicole, I can relate to the recovery/healing period. Work-related trauma, whether from burnout or other issues, takes recovery time. Distance is important, and that can mean telling people you don’t really want to know what is going on in your former shop. Wow, that’s a post I hadn’t even thought about: how to be a good ex-employee.

Thanks for the kind words; I felt my ALTA presentation was terrible, so the pat on the head is very nurturing!

By: Mollie Pharo

Mollie Pharo — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:33:08 +0000

I liked your suggestions to Nicole. I hope she (and all those others ‘close to burn-out’ folks out there) follows your advice before the next phase kicks in. Almost 30 years ago I experienced “burn out,” and I was too far gone (plus lacking in the necessary self-confidence) to learn the lessons and apply them while still in the “burn out” producing work environment (at OCLC 30 years ago). It took me several months after leaving my job before I was ready to start exploring career options and paid work again. Lessons I’ve been able to apply in my work life since include 1) (usually) limit the time spent on work to the 40-hour work week, 2) balance work with a family and social life away from the workplace, and 3) get enough sleep, eat right, and exercise and meditate regularly. One of the beliefs I came away with from my burn-out experience is that it’s my responsibility to set limits on what I will do (and to know what my limits are – I’ve never had the kind of energy you and Nicole seem to have) – my employer “will use me up and throw me away” otherwise (and that’s probably neither fair nor accurate, but it’s the belief I have in my head ). If Nicole can apply your suggestions now, she may be able to avoid the recovery period after burn-out. But if she’s to the place where she needs the recovery period, I hope she is able to get that for herself. I enjoy reading your blog, ALATechSource blog posts, and comments on the publib listserve, and I’ve attended a few programs where you were a speaker. I’m very glad that you have such good ways to avoid burn-out for yourself – it’s good to know you’ll be keeping on with your awesome contributions.

By: LibrarySupportStaff.Org » Projects and Time Management

LibrarySupportStaff.Org » Projects and Time Management — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:07:23 +0000

[...] Nicole’s Burnout Blues — Karen Schneider, a.k.a. Free Range Librarian, gives her tips on preventing burnout. [...]

By: John Mark Ockerbloom

John Mark Ockerbloom — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:42:28 +0000

Thanks! This was well stated, and nice and timely for me, as I’ve recently finished up some projects and am starting up, or considering starting up, some new ones. It’s a useful reference point that I hope will help not not go so crazy as I get involved in the new stuff…

By: David Fiander

David Fiander — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:09:12 +0000

Recently I’ve been thinking about getting a tee-shirt made up with just the word “No.” on the chest.

The only question I’ve got is whether or not to include the stop on the shirt. It somehow seems emphatic with the punctuation.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with burn-out, but it’s definitely apposite.

By: Cindi Trainor

Cindi Trainor — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:37:10 +0000

Funny that you posted this on the day that I posted an entry containing my “top 10 web failures.” They’re not truly failures, of course–I’m not going to miss a mortgage payment or lose my spouse because I have moved on to other things–but it was a fun and rather cathartic list to put together.

Jenny Levine recently posted a caution on her blog that we keep in mind that it’s just not possible to do it all. It’s going to have to become my mantra.

“I can’t do it all… I can’t do it all… I can’t do it all…”

By: Jenny Levine

Jenny Levine — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:53:20 +0000

Great list! I would add that the online life is cyclical. If you feel burned out, walk away from this stuff for a while, doing only what you have to. You’ll know when you’re ready to come back (or if it will become permanent), and then it will be fun again. I find the most difficult part to be accepting that it’s okay to do that, which of course, it is.