The Best Cure for Burnout Is a Finished Project

The best cure for burnout is the satisfaction of a completed project. I learned this lesson thanks to four videos and 130 total views.

The Clock I've Been Racing Isn't Mine

All my life, I've tried to achieve more with less. Be more productive, don't waste time, realize your dreams fast. I felt burned out more times than I can count, because I tried to do so much all the time. I hustled because I feared it would be too late.

Too late? For who?

One random Tuesday, on my way to work, a realization dawned on me: I have time. I have lots of it. I'm not even forty yet, and I'm lucky to be healthy and active. So why does this notion haunt me that I don't have time? Because some people around me don't. Namely my parents. And it's important to me to cross off the goals they care about. Family, kids, house, etc.

So I hustle. But the imaginary clock is not mine.

Burnout Leaves a Stamp

A state of burnout, for me, feels like I want to lounge and not do anything. It feels like resistance when I want to edit a video or a blog post, or work on my favorite things.

Every time burnout passes, it leaves something with me. A little caution stamp. It makes me less likely to start working on something, and it extends my recovery.

I Said Focus Then Sprinted Anyway

Last week, I decided to focus on one thing instead of chasing my entire list at once. One such thing is talking about Neon Genesis Evangelion.

The focus was good, but I did the thing again. Instead of publishing once a week, I cranked four episodes in one week to start the series with a bang.

My Best Work Got 62 Views

It's a little discouraging seeing your best work getting ignored. The highest amount of views any of these videos got was 62. I know I can't be picky. My YouTube channel has only 268 subscribers as of writing these words, but still.

Here's the series so far:

The EVA Chose Shinji Before He Ever Piloted It | Evangelion Episode 1

One scene with no pilot, no power, and no explanation tells you what this show actually is.

Oren CohenOren Cohen

Shinji Didn’t Win His First Fight | Evangelion Episode 2

The show hides Shinji’s victory for twenty minutes because it was never his victory to begin with.

Oren CohenOren Cohen

Shinji Has No Reason to Pilot | Evangelion Episode 3

Father isn’t watching. So why is Shinji in that cockpit at all?

Oren CohenOren Cohen

Shinji Finally Has a Reason to Stay | Evangelion Episode 4

No Angel, no fight, and the most important fifty seconds of the series so far.

Oren CohenOren Cohen

So I'm Finishing It

This series will be weekly from now on. And I will finish it no matter the amount of views, because the best cure for burnout is the satisfaction of a completed project. Who knows, it's YouTube. Evangelion is evergreen, so maybe over time this series will find its audience.

I've recently started coming back to Pat Flynn, and in one of his recent episodes, I got reminded that the only thing I can control is my uploads. So I'll keep uploading.

That's All For Today

Thanks for reading and being part of the journey. What's one obstacle you just overcame? Hit reply and let me know.

Enjoy your weekend,
Oren