Signs of Burn Out

“When do you know that you are officially burnt and can take no more . . . of anything?”

“Trail burn-out: you need a shower and real food more than you need another night in a tent or shelter with owls and whippoorwills calling.”

“Usually it's when you start asking what the signs are of burn out. What's up, ng?!”

“when you spend most of your time on TT?”

“Here's an article on burnout in doctors. Here's another more generalized article. I haven't read either of these, so I dunno if they're worth a damn or not.


Reminds me of the movie Falling Down. After watching that, my brother told me, "You know, in 1993, I thought that was gonna be you."”

“I have yet to be out long enough to have trail burn out Geo, but thanks for covering it. I'll recognize it when it happens. LOL!

Marty, lots is up. I'm just wondering what everyone considers to be a sign that it is toooo muuuuch.

Path, I spend a great deal of time here, 'cause it relieves work boredom burn out! LOL!”

“Depends. If it's with something serious like a job that you have to go to everyday (and need to for the money obviously), then the symptoms are more likely more pronounced (ie bad attitude, miserable, bitter, would rather have a bowling bowl dropped on tongue than be there, ect.).

Contrast this with burning out on a hobby, where one would likely simply stop doing it and forget about it altogther.”

“NG, in my experience, losing a "passion" for life is a sure sign.”

“Work pays the bills for gear and food, but it gets in the way of spending more time in the wilderness. Life is all about contradictions.”

“Bit, that second article was pretty good. Pretty much covers it for me, but it doesn't tell what the 3rd and 4th stages of burnout are.”

“Newgie,

I always feel burned out when I return from a great wilderness trip. I keep remembering the good times, the reflective times, and the utter simplicity of it all. Those kinds of reflections don't exactly fit in with a hectic work schedule. It usually clears up in time, then it's time to plan another trip.”

“The first one is specifically for physicians Bit, thanks though. I'm going to look for some more stuff.

Geo, you have a good point. It is sometimes really hard to go throught he "let down" period after you do something really fun, that made you feel very good. After I moved back from Holland, it took me a couple months to feel good again. The 'Palooza trip was great and it gave me a real confidence boost, then I had to come back to work and school and what have you, and it is a real let down.”

“Just hang in there. It will pass. Start planning another trip to get your mind off the crap. Always be scheming, that's my motto!”

“You clearly have post-adventure depression. It happens to me after every outdoor trip. Ordinary life just can't compete.

The only cure is to begin planning your next one.”

“Here's the second part of the second article newgie. It gets into the third stage. The fourth stage is covered in this article.

Hope they help. Burnout is no fun for anyone.”

“when you are ready to quit your job and and move your family the hell out of the city.
when your not talking to your sister because she is a #&%!$ and your brother is dieing and you cant do a #&%!$en thing about it!!!


yes i now know that im getting burned out!!!

well i fell a little better now thanks..”

“Actually, by asking what the signs are of burnout, I would guess you're not there yet. I'm no therapist, but it seems to me that leaning on others to get support (on TT, calling friends or family, emailing Geezr and Aero, etc.) is a sign that you're dealing with stress in a good way. From what I've read on TT, you have a pretty full plate with parenting, working, studying.... That's not an easy load. On the other hand, chances are in a few years you'll look back at what you accomplished and wonder how the heck you did all that! Seriously, you sound a little depressed/stressed. If you don't feel better by getting support from friends/family, go see a counselor or therapist. You mentioned once before that you have financial issues with health care - there should be some kind of free or discounted counseling somewhere nearby. Yes, even in Montana!!

Please, TTers, if I'm off base here, straighten me out!”

“Having adventures to look forward to helps make work more enjoyable, IMHO.”

“um did you mean everyday burn out or trail burn out....”

“The only cure is to begin planning your next one."
gearjunkie
10:34:35 AM
07/24/02


I guess that is why I start planning the next trip on the way home from any bp'ing trip.”

“martyb's post is to the point and probably on track. Smile. That works wonders. Then remember that kick-arse hike back to the trailhead. You-da woman!”

“And by the way, stay newgirl! We get old soon enough!”

“Ahhh, lunchtime, ... the second best part of the work day!

Burned out? Me? Why would you ask?”

“Hang it there wildflower, see if you can wear that backpack out!”

“Well, Bit, I don't 3rd and 4th Stages have anything to do w/ me. They are pretty extreme. Geo, I'm not sure I need counseling either.

I think I probably need to come up w/ a plan to reduce some of what is "on my plate." That is sort of a catch-22, like Artex said, sometimes the stress might be work, but you need the money, etc. I'll have to search hard to figure out what I can eliminate. And . . . I need to come up w/ a plan for my next trip. I might even be able to do some car camping w/ dayhikes this wkend!?!”

“I'm not sure if this will help you but I've always found that when I am focusing too much on myself, I volunteer to help those less fortunate then me. I then appreciate even more the gift my life and lifestyle are. Just a thought.”

“Tango, I already do some volunteer work w/ preg. teens. Once a yr. I also talk to the teens at my old h.s. about preg./having a baby/realities of parenthood. I agree that it makes you feel great, but the truth is that I can barely squeeze that in. The problem is my unbelievable schedule.”

“sounds like you need Newgirl time... spa day, shopping, a GREAT dinner you don't have to make, or even don't do anything, something different.

A little time where you can stop making "your point". You can do it all, us TT'ers know it! Take a chill, relax...”

“I think you got the wrong idea Donman. I didn't mean to make it sound like I can do it all and look at me, I'm not trying to make a point. There is alot I can't keep up on and I know alot of other people (including many on this board) who do just as much or more. I just wondered if I should recognize a limit (a burn-out point) or the signs that it is fast approaching. I wondered if others on the board have it going on in their own lives or have in the past, what the signs were, and what they did to ease the pace. This happens to be a subject that is hard to discuss w/ co-workers or family, both of whom expect a certain level of commitment from me (rightly so). It is also a hard one for me to pin-piont on my own. I expect alot out of myself (probably far too much). I apologize if it seems like I am always talking about how much I do. It is a subject that weighs heavily on my mind in the past few yrs.”

“Talk away Newgie. You get advice when you don't need it, sympathy when you do, enough BS to fill a barnyard, and a day's worth of free entertainment.

Haven't had so much fun since the hogs ate Odie!”

“Oops! I didn't mean to sound like that!

but I think you kinda are a SuperWoman! You've been carrying quite a load for a long time (IMO)

As for when you can tell you are burning out?? Um... maybe when you are at the gunshow looking for ways to buy an AK-47”

“Wow, I've been through all 4 stages and totally cracked at one point. Wow. That's very scary. No, I don't mean mentally cracked. Broken.”

“You get there and back many times over if you live long enough. Welcome to the club.

Day trips are cool. I try to get away on Sundays when I can between trips. You'll be fine.”

“Well, the first thing to do is prioritize all the stuff you do. Decide what's more important to you and rank it that way. Then you have to do a cost/benefit analysis, and here I mostly mean a time cost/benefit analysis, although obviously money comes into it as well. Then try to eliminate the things which A) take a lot of time or B) cost a lot of money, for little return to you.

You might also want to consider the possibility of taking on a short high-stress period for the reward of a long lower-stress period after it. For instance, IIRC, you have to drive a couple of hours to school, is that correct? No doubt that eats up a considerable amount of your time on the days you go to school, and causes stress because of the logistics involved. You might consider, if it's possible, finding a job closer to where you go to school and moving there. I'm just putting forth an example of what I'm talking about, not suggesting you do it.

This all sorta sounds selfish, like you're only considering yourself (and in your case, your child) but if you're going nuts because of a lot of outside commitments that return little to yourself, that's not helping anybody, is it?

All this advice, BTW, is worth exactly what you're paying for it, especially if it doesn't fit your situation.”

“donman...yes that is a sure sign...lol....”

“Sounds like you're tackling a lot, Newgirl. But it also sounds like you're taking the steps for a better life by going to college, which will open several more doors (unless you majored in Ancient Babylonian Mythology or similiar).

However, in the meantime, it sounds like you're also tackling a lot with school, plus work and raising a kid, volunteering, and probably more. I'm no Sigmund Freud, but please be sure to carve out some "me" time and do the things that make you happy.. like hiking! Just having those sorts of things to look forward to makes a huge difference. It's definitely pulled me out of some tough times! It's hard to do when you're juggling a lot, but perhaps it's not impossible.”

“Good thoughts bit!”

“Donman, thank god, I haven't reached the AK-47 stage. LOL!

Treebait, wow, you are one tough gal.

Bit, that was a very concise way of looking at it. I might just have to sit down this wkend and try to go through it that way. Also, the idea of moving closer to school is an excellent and one I have considered many, many times. To this point it has been a financially bad choice, but things in this area are starting to change, and I might be able to work something out.”

“Newgirl-I'm not tough. I have a bad habit of letting things get to me.”

“A habit I can relate too.”

“.'Trail burn-out: you need a shower and real food more than you need another night in a tent or shelter with owls and whippoorwills calling.'
Geobeet

How sad! I sure hope that I never reach that point.

BTW, what is 'real food?' I consider my basic trail diet food to be 'real.' Off trail I end up eating junk food.”

“What you need to do is get that toddler to help out more around the house. Kids these days!”

“NG, Oprah has on a psychologist that is giving tips on destressing your life. Might be worth your while. Good Luck.”

“When yer walkin' 'round the 'hood, stoned outta yer stuffin', and ya can't rememeber where ya parked yer truck.”

“Violin, you are a totally right. I told her a couple wks. ago that she was going to have to get a job, we aren't having freeloaders at our house! HeHeHe!”

“There is no such thing as trail burn out.

I live to backpack!

8P”

“some mittens for dusting and knee pads with floor wax, put a treat in every corner then sit back and relax.
but
Before you know it, she'll be mothers little helper. Underfoot and gabbin all the time. would you like some tea mommy!!”

“Child Labor! Cool idea, Briar.

You'll be fine, NG. You just have the backpacking version of what some musicians call the Post-Partum Pick-&-Grin Punchies. After all the Montanapalooza hubbub, there's bound to be a bit of a letdown as Reality sets in once again, <GRIN>.

Like the man said, start planning that next trip!”

“and the congregation shouts "AMEN"”

“burnout is when i'm out of money to buy more gear


or, when i'm out of time to hike anymore”