'One day they were decisive, creative and completely on their game. A few days later, they’d spend hours avoiding a conversation they knew they needed to have.'
Perhaps I am assuming to many variables, but, from my perspective, that pattern is not unlike the common high-productivity rush....and the inevitable decline....afforded by the 'white powder of the gods' that became incredibly popular around places like STUDIO 54 beginning in the 1980s.
Ha — dramatic analogy, but I get your point. The interesting part is that the swing can happen without any external stimulant at all. The nervous system can create its own version of the cycle: high drive, sharp focus and decisive action, followed by avoidance, hesitation or shutdown when a particular situation registers as pressure or threat.
That inconsistency is exactly why I think “burnout” gets overused. Sometimes the person isn’t depleted at all. They’re still highly capable and productive, just not when a specific pattern gets triggered.
Thank you! That’s exactly it. When we label everything “burnout,” we can miss what’s actually driving the behavior. The more accurately we identify the pattern underneath it, the better chance we have of actually changing it.
'One day they were decisive, creative and completely on their game. A few days later, they’d spend hours avoiding a conversation they knew they needed to have.'
Perhaps I am assuming to many variables, but, from my perspective, that pattern is not unlike the common high-productivity rush....and the inevitable decline....afforded by the 'white powder of the gods' that became incredibly popular around places like STUDIO 54 beginning in the 1980s.
/sarcasm
/not sarcasm
Ha — dramatic analogy, but I get your point. The interesting part is that the swing can happen without any external stimulant at all. The nervous system can create its own version of the cycle: high drive, sharp focus and decisive action, followed by avoidance, hesitation or shutdown when a particular situation registers as pressure or threat.
That inconsistency is exactly why I think “burnout” gets overused. Sometimes the person isn’t depleted at all. They’re still highly capable and productive, just not when a specific pattern gets triggered.
Good article! I appreciate how you challenged a label we’ve become too comfortable using.
Thank you! That’s exactly it. When we label everything “burnout,” we can miss what’s actually driving the behavior. The more accurately we identify the pattern underneath it, the better chance we have of actually changing it.
I created a map of this myself: https://imgur.com/gallery/hidden-factories-map-of-conflict-between-intrinsic-extrinsic-motivation-6htQUao