Ask HN: How to you optimize output while not burning out?
Earlier in my career I pushed myself to my limit, with not much care to not burn out; now I feel I can sustain productivity without being consistently past that overcommitment line - a subjective measure. The hardest part to me is having a clear shutdown routine, especially in days I did not fully solve whatever I set out to solve. And this seems an order of magnitude harder nowadays with AI.
How do you all manage this? Any resources?
Manage your energy, not your output. You have a finite amount of energy per day and you get to decide where to use it.
I have burnt out. I'll tell you what I know. You have a certain amount of energy. It recharges slowly. Just like a battery it can run a milk float for a day or a racing car for 30 seconds. You choose. You can recharge the milk float overnight, the racing car will need it every few minutes. Humans can draw on a reserve battery, but that takes much longer to recharge. Now look at the problem in front of you. Work 24/7 for a week and take a holiday after. Work at a fair pace and reasonable hours and do it until you are 80. Up to you
All these replies are great - thanks for taking the time.
> Manage your energy, not your output. You have a finite amount of energy per day and you get to decide where to use it.
This is a great way to put it. And this captures what was wrong in my way of thinking about it.
- Introspecting and simply taking a break before brain fog arrises - Organizing the daily schedule according to my best focus hours, not pushing hard when the energy levels naturally go down
> Now there's always one more prompt to try or one more iteration to make.
This comment is also great, not sure why it got downvoted.
I have simply cared about "optimizing output" long ago. Ironically, I think I ship a lot more stuff than people who waste all their time optimizing their life away.
I sit outside and stare at my garden when I need to optimize
What have you tried?