The Mechanism Of Burnout

To burn the candle at both ends is an idiomatic expression that implies overexerting oneself or spending too much resources to achieve a particular outcome.

In the grand scheme of things, maximum speed doesn't necessarily take us closer to a desired outcome. Rather it sometimes moves us further away from it.

I perceive burnout in different flavours but essentially, it's igniting more fire than we can handle. Hence, the after effect of being burned by the fire, so to speak and the evaporation of will, passion, drive, etc.

Personally, a common and distinct flavour is sudden burnout, by which one moment we feel on top of the world and the next moment we're plunged into a bottomless pit of apathy, where even the smallest task feels like climbing Everest.

Of course, 'sudden' is only at a glance. Looking deeper will show us there's an underlying mechanism at play that has been happening for awhile. Once things are full to the brim, it takes minimum exertion for everything to come crashing down.

This seemingly sudden shift can be triggered by a multitude of factors. For example, it can come from an emotional blow or an unexpected workload surge.

Like a silent alarm scream, it forces us to confront our own limitations.

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Why Cross The Line?

Unintentionally or not, I think it's natural human tendency to push beyond limits. Wired for survival in a harsher world, the only way our ancestors could thrive is by pushing beyond limits. This ancient drive to go further, to gather more, to outrun threats, is a natural instinct that lives on within us.

But in today's gentler landscape, where basic needs are often met, this unchecked instinct can backfire. What I mean by that is we push ourselves beyond reason, not necessarily for survival, but for nebulous goals and societal pressures.

This relentless pursuit, ironically, leads to burnout, which can be viewed as a modern malady borne from an outdated survival script.

Perhaps, checking the instinct will not necessarily solve the problem. As this could lead to suppression, which would equally backfire. The problem isn't with the power itself, but how it is utilized.

Outdated Vs Updated Script

The world is different now. Our ancestors more or less thrived in rigidity, in that they navigated through predictable landscapes with little to no alternatives. We, however, dance with a modern dynamic that sometimes gives us the impression of limitless possibilities.

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The updated script embraces fluidity, ditching the linear march towards evolution. As the outdated script was a straight line, the new one's more like a winding river, meandering through different possibilities.

Back in the day, resting was mostly unimaginable, as it was like admitting defeat in the face of nonstop hustle. This has persisted till today and there's a growing trend of constant work with no break.

The twist between back in the day and now is that in the former people couldn't afford to take a break whilst in the latter people perceive that they can't afford to take a break. The subtle difference is an issue of perception.

Like stuck in a hamster wheel, progress isn't really achieved although there is the perception of moving forward.

Resting isn't waving the white flag, as in surrendering or admitting defeat. Saying resting is 'simply taking a break' might sound bland and a bit obvious.

So let's say it's filling up inner reserves to keep the adventures going, full of renewed energy and zest. Without the existence of night time, what would've been the real value of day time?


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