What is Burnout?

If you take anything away from it, it should only be that burnout isn't one thing, and that you can learn more about what you're experiencing by asking yourself if it's a fuel problem or an opportunity problem. Fuels can be addressed by finding a new story to tell yourself. Opportunity is harder to address, it takes longer, and sometimes, because of the deep inequality in our societies, cannot be addressed.
This is the article everyone is talking about: www.buzzfeednews.com/article/...
And here's a good one from Slate in response: slate.com/human-interest/2019...
And here's a video from my friend Rosianna: • A different kind of br...
A lot of discussion around burnout is pretty specific to people who have opportunity, but have been sold the wrong kind of fuel for too long. Being grateful for and recognizing the opportunities we've been given is, I think, very important.
I also think it's important to find good fuel and do good work and work hard. I don't love the idea that burnout is a problem of being over-worked. I think it's more a problem of being overly convinced that work is the most valuable (or even only valuable) thing we do in our lives. It's especially important in our twenties, and the American reliance on all-capitalism-all-the-time is, I think, a really big part of how people have used that situation to exploit workers and put them in situations that are unsustainable.
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[@TimPonjican]

In a KZbin environment that continues to encourage longer and longer videos, I am always thankful for the 4 minute vlogbrothers experience.

[@untappedinkwell]

Same. =]

[@vlogbrothers]

For this particular video, i was not! I wanted to say so much more! But it was probably better for me in the long run :-)

[@latestranger]

++++++++++

[@mirnder]

I don't mind long videos (depending on the content) but it's hard to fit them into my busy schedule sometimes. I'm glad I always have time to watch vlogbrothers!

[@FreyjasFaceAndCo]

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[@vlogbrothers]

I want to make a video now about the fuel! Some fuel is so bad! Some vehicles are so bad! This is so interesting. Great video, Hank. -John

[@DeshkaArt]

PLEASE!!!! I would love that so much.

[@TerynGray]

I personally am super interested in hearing this dialogue continue!

[@harper7726]

Yes please!

[@Raya-xw5ud]

Yes! That would be wonderful! I want more delving into this as I feel I haven't been able to wrap my mind around it fully.

[@sourisdebibliotheque]

Yes! Yes! Yes! I realize that I am often out of fuel. And when I have some, it is in short supply, or easy to loose if I’m obligated to stop my engine (to eat, sleep or work, for example)

[@jtbwilliams]

My name is Jon so Hank's videos always feel pretty direct...

[@johnmcgrath200]

I was just thinking the same thing. Personally, I was disappointed when I found out he had a brother called John. I thought he'd left these videos for me to find :/

[@michelesaqui]

hehehehehe, seriously you guys made me laugh so much right now hehehe

[@romainsavioz5466]

No it's not Hank his name is Friday

[@alanaharris6972]

Who the eff is Hank?

[@sebastienvondoom8615]

@@alanaharris6972 Hank is a percussion instrument, traditionally made of an animal skin stretched over a cylinder.

[@emilybach4814]

The hardest part of burnout for me is realizing self care sometimes means eating vegetables and not always ice cream

[@connierobinson1090]

Emily Bach YES the best self care isn’t just doing whatever you feel like, it’s doing whatever you need to do to feel better *later*, which might be unpleasant now.

[@LindsayEllisVids]

I experience burnout as a primarily emotional experience - when I attach anxiety to a task, especially a task that involves social or monetary capital, that decreases the ability to process "fuel". With regard to the Buzzfeed article, I do think that there is an increased societal focus on all tasks being reframed as "optimizing efficiency", where even things like yoga and bath bombs become ticking off "self care", and become tasks in and of themselves. The more one things of the activity in their life as a "task" that needs to be completed, the more likely everything in your life will make you feel burned out. At least, in my experience. On a related note, I can't remember the last time I haven't felt utterly exhausted.

[@KyahProbst]

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[@AstraIVagabond]

... Wow. This is really important. (I wish you could afford to be more rested, Lindsay.)

[@Argusthecat]

I was honestly afraid that I was the only person who felt that way. I write fiction. For a long time, it was the thing that made me happy. These days, though, the act of doing the thing I love just makes me feel tired, because I've got an audience and a Patreon now, and I feel obliged to actually do it. But it's not earning me a living wage, and it's not any easier to do, so it's just more and more anxiety notes stickied onto the to-do list. Taking a long shower or going on a walk or just playing some video games isn't about enjoying my time anymore, it's time I spend thinking about the next chapter, or about how I need to be writing, or even just WORRYING THAT I'M RECHARGING WRONG. And that's insane. I think the only way to relax wrong is to panic that your relaxation is flawed. Which is probably why I've been tired for the whole decade of 2018.

[@gaebren9021]

I like the way you say "Tasks to be completed". I have been finding it hard to exercise, but lately I have been achieving some stretching posture exercises, successfully. I realized that the reason that I do this everyday is that I don't view it as a task that I have to do. The exercises are something that I want to do (I feel good afterwards). Interestingly, I am heading out this morning to visit friends. I woke up this morning groaning "Oh I have to go and complete this "task" (visit friends). Hang on? this is suppose to be a 'fun' event! Why am I viewing it as a task? So, it is interesting that when I put the activity into "this is something that I want to do, I feel good doing it" category, I am more likely to do it. I get lost in the activity. Just relating what I have experience. And what you said made me realize something about myself.

[@vincentmuyo]

Huh. I'm pretty sure half of why my non-work projects are stalled is because planning them makes them into checkboxes I need to tick and I just don't enjoy that workflow. My regular work is task/problem based "issue X, find cause, update person who raised issue, throw in plan, move to next issue", in pretty small pieces. While I'm comfortable with that workflow, basically all my projects and hobbies don't... work that way..? ... Or do they? Should they?

[@laineygraham8709]

“Burnout is when the treadmill keeps going, but the dopamine runs out.” That... is actually a really useful way to explain it. I have definitely experienced that.

[@RainaRamsay]

Yeah, that one resonated

[@evercuriousmichelle]

Yes, me too.

[@RainaRamsay]

1:32 It's a whole paradigm shift to hear Hank put "health" into the "opportunity" category. But honestly it feels more accurate. The frustrating part of my depression is that I _WANT_ to write, I _want_ to build a business, I _want_ to connect with dozens of different people each month. I have the motivation, I have the desire, I have a plan, and when I do manage to do it, it's dope as heck. But depression leaves me so tired, it's a 50/50 shot whether I'll be able to shower, much less build a KZbin channel for teaching algebra and statistics. I have _so much fuel_, and all I have to put it into is, like, a Segway.

[@vlogbrothers]

As someone with a chronic illness, I am extremely aware that my health is not about whether I want to work, it's about whether I can.

[@kmcg3333]

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[@meri3580]

This is kind of like the struggle I’ve been facing with my school work. I still want to get everything done and do it well, but I find myself too anxious to be able to make that happen. I think one of the hard parts of being in a situation we’re describing as having the fuel without the vehicle is that other people often interpret it as not being motivated to get everything done. As a student that comes in the form of worrying my teachers might think I’m being lazy or I don’t care when I can’t turn in an assignment, even though I care a lot and just can’t make it happen. I’m sure there are similar situations for other people too. I think health, both physical and mental, need to be talked about more in contexts like this, and I’m glad this is able to be a starting point for that

[@lykeoosterveld]

Thank you for phrasing it this well. It frustrates me so much, I want so much but I just can't. Good luck, all. Hope you will feel better than I do

[@matmatician7]

As someone with a fuel-input-limited vehicle as well (Hi, anxiety and ADHD) I think one of the more amazing things is that when we *DO* do the thing, it feels like a thousand times more rewarding. Like, anyone can drive across the country. But, can you drive across the country on a *Segway* YEAH WELL I DID!! *does a crazy person dance off into sunset on a Segway* I also appreciate it way more when someone exerts that fuel on me, too. Like. Dude, I had an anxiety attack last weekend that left me crying in my bedroom because I messed up measuring some blinds, so anytime someone offers to come and help me with a thing? That person is like a HERO. Like I know this little thing is a small, easy task (for a normal vehicle), but when someone makes a conscious effort to spend fuel on me, whether they drive a zero emissions Tesla, or a mobility scooter, that effort means the world to me.

[@jessicablauwkamp472]

Hi, teacher here, for me, burnout is losing the fuel, but I think it's also secondary. I love my kids, but I feel like I continue to need more and more fuel to feel the accomplishment with my students. It's so hard, because they've all been through serious traumas, too, and school isn't what fuels their brains anymore, either. When my 13 year old students are wondering where their next meal is coming from, or if mom will come home from work today, or if there will be heat or light or cell phone access today, it's really not surprising to see that why they get burnt out. And when they burn out, so do I .

[@KimikoMusicTherapy]

I definitely relate to this. For me, burnout is related to feeling a loss of control or power, such as not feeling like I am making enough of a positive impact on others or not doing what I want in life because of factors outside of my control (finances, not enough time, not enough support, etc.)

[@Sesplin]

Thank you for teaching anyway. You are sometimes the only stability in their lives. Even if they don't want to learn they need to know you will be there trying to teach them.

[@friendlyflute2010]

I teach too and I completely get this. I was really burnt out last year. I hated going to school and didn’t ever feel like what i was doing was enough. Finally, I realized that the kids needed time to be kids-so we stopped lessons every once in a while and simply played some games and talked. This gave my students the fuel to get back in the game which gave me the fuel too. This year has been so much better because I try to keep that in the back of my mind. :)

[@notreallysure4575]

Burnout is a racing car game that features takedowns as a part of the game, takedowns are a mechanic where you can put a racer temporarily out of the race to advance yourself. The game was originally released on the playstation 2

[@vlogbrothers]

Burnout on the PSP at my friend's house in 2005 was one of the peak gaming moments of my later life.

[@Garthman03]

I miss OG burnout..

[@notreallysure4575]

@@vlogbrothers burnout was the second game i fell in love with after super mario bros 3. I had a playstation demo disk that had a 5 minute burnout 3 takedown demo that i played over probably hundreds of times until i got the actual game

[@simonshawca]

My favorite driving game!

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Damn someone beat me to it! Burnout Paradise, a different take on classic PS2 Burnout, is one of the most fun racing game ever.

[@Sallyy150]

Annnnd since we are at it,, can we also plz define success vs seeking validation, ambition vs painfully seeking unrealistic goals, hustle to achieve something vs patience to appreciate what you have.. because frankly I am super confused right now and can not figure which way to go!

[@vlogbrothers]

YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW! This is very good.

[@ProeliiatorProDeus]

For me the 1st question can be answered by your reasons. Success is seeking things for self fulfillment rather than for having others praise you. Ambition is have the thought to use the talents you have to achieve higher goals. It becomes unrealistic when you do not have those tools. Examples, you have the intelligence to be a doctor so you go to medical school vs you watched doctor TV shows so you apply to med school The 3rd I do not feel is a verses situation. I believe you can hustle to achieve a higher quality of life and still appreciate all that you have. I grew up poor in a small town in Alabama and I wanted to rise to a higher level. Now I live in Chicago, married and have a decent job. I still have a hustlers spirit because I want the best for my wife and myself, but I also appreciate all that I have know because I know I earned it. I hope this helps give a little perspective to your questions

[@RainaRamsay]

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[@juliasutter6996]

Do you guys think seeking validation in an inherently bad motivation to do something?

[@McSchwert90]

If you wish to have an applied mathematical approach to these questions, I recommend you read a book titled “Algorithms to live by” written by B. Christian and T. Griffiths It’s only built on math but it doesn’t go to any theoretical details. The first two chapters addresses optimal stopping and exploit vs explore, which discusses when to learn new things and when to start using the resources you have. As for high ambition vs unrealistic goals, I try to apply a method used in management called SMART criteria first introduced by G.T. Doran search it on Wikipedia. Good luck in your endeavours!

[@laurensomething1899]

As soon as Hank said yoga I thought 'I could use a stretch' so that's the story of why my sister looked at me really weird when she saw me doing the Warrior pose in my kitchen

[@cleanwaternasenyiuganda8124]

😂❤

[@Wokanshutaiduo13]

I'm a junior doctor in Australia, and for me burnout is not so much about the workload itself, but very much about the work environment and the satisfaction to be had from the work done. Burnout and suicide rates are stupidly high in my profession despite the financial security, and its largely due to system pressures as well as the culture among physicians to dismiss the struggles because they themselves also had to sink and swim to make it. The work itself actually is rewarding and enjoyable, but when the system is encouraging you to churn and burn rather than do your best in the way you see it, and when the patients don't value the hard work you're putting in, it can make it hard to remember why you're doing it to begin with. Burnout doesn't necessarily mean you crash and burn and stop working. For us, a lot of the time it means becoming emotionally drained and disassociated. Mostly we keep working through it and the only time it really gets noticed is when we do crash and burn spectacularly - usually this is when there's a doctor suicide or a suicide attempt.

[@kts8900]

Healthcare professionals, particularly physicians, are inundated with "work-life balance" and "reduce burnout" talks, as if it is a fuel allocation problem, not a vehicle efficiency problem. One of the major predictors of employee satisfaction is a feeling of purpose, a feeling of being valued by your employer, and opportunities to grow and improve oneself. This is immensely related to burnout. From my experience and that of others, these fuel and vehicles are sorely lacking in current medical systems. Physicians have the highest burnout and suicide rate of any profession, despite receiving relatively high wages (insert argument about 6-digit student debt and delayed earning potential until mid 30s here). The "fuel" of having a purpose and helping people is useless in a system without the vehicle of opportunity to grow or feel valued.

[@skatesnlaces09]

I watched this video specifically to see if physicians/healthcare professionals would be touched on related to burnout! I'm a former nursing assistant and current first year medical student and I have experienced and seen burnout in my clinical positions. As a nursing assistant, you do so much for so little. It feels just as you described, like a lack of value in your contribution to the medical team. I'm not sure I have an answer to it but I have an idea it doesn't stem solely from the physicians themselves (as we are taught in workshops) but also from the work communities and higher ranking individuals within the system showing appreciation and value, as well as mentoring and providing opportunities for growth and development.

[@kts8900]

www.statnews.com/2018/07/26/physicians-not-burning-out-they-are-suffering-moral-injury/ This is what you are talking about. It's not in the provider.

[@kailygumpper7326]

The medical burnout issue has taken a large amount of energy and focus in resident education recently as well. There are all sorts of questionnaires to see if you are "burnt out" or "at risk" for burn out. But what isn't being taught at least at my program is what to do with that information. The few suggestions that have been given are all things that we should "do more" like take time for yourself, be mindful, pay attention to your health. Which is ironic because in the health profession in general, and residency in particular, there is no time. That is a major fuel we lack. We don't get time to develop meaningful relationships with our patients or see them as a human so we lose the reward that many sought by entering this profession. The health care system claims to be attempting to address the physician burnout problem (it really is a presentation or workshop focus at every conference I have been to) but we are allowed no "fuel". And we are seeing the effect of it. There is a trend among physicians to retire earlier or work fewer hours as a doc and supplement their income with other projects. More docs are negotiating to work fewer hours to make time for themselves since patient care isn't as rewarding. We are going to see a worsening of the physician shortage if things keep going this way

[@SidneyRanger1138]

Everything you wrote is spot on, except for one thing: Veterinarians have the highest suicide rate.

[@h4doctor]

ZDoggMD kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpCUgYGQma2kbLM posted a video discussing the issue of Professional Burnout in the medical field and requesting we use the term Moral Injury in its stead. He gives compelling reasons why Moral Injury is the more correct term and its consequences! Great video! Worth the time to view!

[@lee-the-lemon]

A lot of people talk about burn out when it comes to something positive like a cool project that's just gone on too long. But you can feel burnt out with negative things as well, like having to slog through a difficult class or a job that you do just for the money. Burn out in a situation that I'm fighting with feeling like being nauseous, but there's nothing in your stomach. You just want it to be over but you can't really do anything about it but wait it out.

[@boing345brooke]

Let me tell you that being burnt out when having a chronic illness is DEFINITELY A THING THAT SUCKS!

[@yashkatare3303]

Heyy Hank Love you both a lot Burnout is when you have 100% battery but no internet connection.

[@sephirothsadvent]

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[@mrclueuin]

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[@mrclueuin]

@Rosie Gavin +

[@rusted_ursa]

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[@loomhigh]

I spent like two years on fire

[@k213389]

I’m experiencing burnout because I don’t feel valued, and I don’t feel my work is valuable. I’m a first year middle school teacher, and I feel invisible and unimportant to everyone around me (except for some of my fellow teachers). But the administrators demand so much of me, while simultaneously removing or denying the resources or support that I need. They think I should be able to handle everything on my own. The parents never seem to believe that I’m doing enough to help their kids, and harass me and expect me to be available to meet with them all the time, which is time I desperately need to perform the functions of my job. I work twelve hour days and have poured hundreds of dollars of my own (barely surviving on it) paycheck into just buying basic necessities that the school won’t give me. The kids disrespect me and defy me, and I try so hard to suppress my anger at being continuously disrespected, but sometimes I can’t, it’s too hard to tolerate, but also the administrators don’t really care if the kids disrespect me. I put so much energy and effort (and even love) into my lessons. But by now it feels pointless. The purpose I had is gone. I feel like a failure.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thank you for doing this job during the time you're doing it. Oof.

[@shaggy0917]

I don't know if this will reach you, help, or even be coherent, but anyway, my mom has been an elementary (grades 1-8) teacher for almost 20 years now, and has some horror stories of the later grades (if I'm correct, middle school is grades 5-9 or thereabouts?). Kids can be truly awful. They can wear you down and push you in ways you hadn't imagined (I mean they're just little humans; every bit as clever as you or I, just less big and less experienced), but that parenthetical is exactly why teaching is so noble. These are little, inexperienced people, basically still getting used to being a human. You are in a position to let your knowledge and understanding of the human condition rub off on them, and in a time of such flux. The literal way that these people see, experience, and interact, both now and in the future, *will* be shaped by you. It's a travesty that you don't reap the rewards; you teach a group, who then move on, replaced with a new one, ad nauseam. Once these children have left your tutelage, they have essentially left your world, but they haven't left ours. Whatever rubbed off from you to them is carried with them into their world, touching and interacting uncountable worlds, rubbing off on them some piece of you. And as long as that influence was positive, regardless of all else, you succeeded. You work twelve hour days; put money earned from the establishment back into the establishment; you think up and research clever or fun ways of introducing topics; you adhere to a curriculum even when you're frustrated with the material or methods; you pour your heat, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into what seems like a Sisyphean goal. You have a generous and amazing heart for doing what you do. I can guarantee that you have, are, and will (if you desire) have an extraordinarily positive impact. Don't feel railroaded; if teaching is not what you want to do, and this experience and others have made it clear, don't teach. YOU are the most important person in your world. Satisfy you, first, foremost, and always. Good luck, my friend.

[@InaBlueNutshell]

I don't know you Amber, but I believe that teaching, especially to children, is one of the most noble and brave things you can do. It is superhero worthy. If the people near you don't say it to you I hope it means something coming from a random internet girl. Your job is important and awesome and valuable. Hang in there, sending a hug!

[@ebonyl9312]

The work you do is important and valuable and there are many people who won't be able to see that. There are other opportunities for you in other places where you will be noticed and valued. But the students you teach, despite their disrespect, also need good teachers and good role models. Continue to do your best for as long as you can, but remember there are other options for you.

[@jorgec98]

My mom developed an intense illness, and our family has had to learn that you can't really expect to be able to help others be better if you can't find the way to help yourself. In other words, to give to others, you have to be in proper condition to do so. I have worked with middle schoolers, and they honestly terrify me. There's just so much going on with them, it overwhelmed me. I was very young at the time myself, which didn't help. I'm saying all of this because I believe it's a tremendously respectable choice for people to decide to teach and coach and guide kids on those ages. It's so important, that I respect and value all of those willing to give it their best. You give me that vibe, even from your burnout. I hope the best of all comes to you, and that you can find your way. If it's still on teaching those kids, fantastic. If you need a change, or a break, that's great too.

[@musicalintentions]

"It helps us assign economic value to taking care of ourselves." That sentence really hits home.

[@ernststravoblofeld]

And there is a whole industry ready to take advantage of that economic value.

[@lady14bug]

Agreed. The first article Hank linked talks about this in more depth. Every moment of every day "could" be spent maximizing efficiency or productivity, and so any moment not spent doing so is guilt ridden, and not actual rest.

[@musicalintentions]

lady14bug I understand all too well. Thankfully I have made and continue to make improvements in this area.

[@MikeyBustosVLOGS]

Great video! Been in the burnout zone several times. I agree that diversifying is key to not burning out! I've found that not obsessing over a single body of work and having several bodies of work occupying your mind helps you take the mini breaks needed, as well as keeping you grounded when baby projects are making mini "wins" amidst the "big wins" of the more established projects, because then there is no evergrowing scale or pinnacle to the burning fuels. Happiness/fulfillment of the burning fuel can be little things or the big things, and everything in between!

[@sandycandy5597]

i feel this all the time as a college student though, when the semester is half way done i’m still going and going but I am not happy about it and I feel like the treadmill keeps going whether or not I am pressing the buttons

[@edilee5909]

I seriously feel the same way. And the fact that all I'm getting out of college is some letter grades on a piece of paper doesn't motivate me either, especially when I fail to get good grades on top of that.

[@anirudhviswanathan3986]

I just felt that my first semester in Master's has exhausted my fuel/desire to learn(and mentally destructive and re-constructive)and it has taken all of the holidays for me to feel motivated again to pick up an academic piece of work again.

[@abbi183]

I think this video has made me realise just how burnt out I am. I don’t know what type of burnout it is but I’m tired of everything and struggling more than I ever thought I would with the uni course I initially loved. It does feel a lot like I have no choice but to keep going though. I feel guilty for taking breaks but then don’t have enough fuel to do my work so I end up sat staring at the list of work I have to do and being utterly unproductive.

[@khouloud4843]

I m in the same situation as you.

[@wiet111]

I wish there was more I could do for you, but here are some digital long distance anonymous hugs. This feeling sucks. Uni is really really tough in lots of ways. I've been there, and I've had some really hard times there. Again, hugs and mental support! I won't tell you what to do, but try to remember: Be kind to yourself. You deserve the best. If you need a break, try to take a break. If you need help, try to ask for help. You're great. You're valuable. Good luck with everything. Penguins and pancakes

[@anirudhviswanathan3986]

I felt this way right after my fall semester for Master's. It has taken up the entire holidays to even want to pick up anything tech related to my course(in mech engineering). I just felt mentally depleted by the end of the semester, and I also felt like how the hell do my peers stand LITERALLY not sleeping for days on end and able to do assignments correctly literally on the last minute and get good grades. Until this week, I felt pathetic and wondered if I should even continue this course. The only recourse if one feels like this that I can offer is that, talk to someone you emotionally trust. Understand you don't have to take on burdens alone, be it academic or or emotional.

[@ChadMojito]

I've been feeling like this for many years. I don't even know what my fuel is. I'm not sure I have one.

[@sophiaridder2252]

But also bath bombs are dope

[@TheLmack8]

That's all I'm saying.

[@eaterdrinker000]

Bath salts are dope.

[@liquidmessage]

You got it. Sincerely, also Soph.

[@drewelliotjohnson]

You struck a chord with me today Hank. “If we don’t diversify what fuels us, we need more and more of that input to fuel the same amount of work.” Thx. 2:54

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

There are days where it’s hard for me to understand why taking care of myself is worth it... and there are days where work or making videos seems like the literal last thing I want to do. But I always find a way to push through because I’ll have moments that remind me why I make videos, and more importantly moments that remind me why I’m here on earth. It could be a playing video games with friends, talking to my grandmother or a walk in the woods. I think Chance said it best: everybody is somebody’s everything. Don’t be afraid to reach out to those who love you about burnout, or depression or anything else. Thanks for making this hank.

[@ahumanwithaface1595]

Your value is not measured in economic output. Your value is not measured in economic output. Your value is not measured in economic output. ONE MORE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK CUZ THIS IS IMPORTANT. YOUR VALUE IS NOT MEASURED IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT.

[@jillfey5531]

The whole opportunity but lack of fuel is such an accurate way to describe my depression/burnout. I WANT to do things and be successful and I have a ton of opportunities but I just have a lack of motivation. I also don’t feel as happy when I am successful bc I know I should be doing better and more

[@Manj_J]

I feel the same!

[@Carina5707]

I wrote a poem a few months ago when I was in the lowest part of the burnout I had this year. I'd like to share it with you lovely people, if that's alright. I'm so tired that I can't decide If I want to cry or I want to die it's not that I hate this life of mine just that everything in it wastes my precious time. I am nothing but a combination of talents-- I'm told that I'm valid and that there's uniqueness in me but what does it matter if no one is asking?

[@Sam-hi4ce]

Wow that is so amazingly true. Your a great poet. Wow. I am speechless. Just wow. WOW

[@Carina5707]

Sara Donagi tysm ^^

[@Manj_J]

This resonated with me

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Good video, Hank... SERIOUSLY! Why not start at the exactly Simplest definition, though? In just so many words, "burnout" is a jargon-term for mental/emotional exhaustion. There are many types of emotional or mental exhaustion, and just as many reasons or contributing factors to them. However, it comes down to about the same end-result... mental or emotional exhaustion or some combination that feels even exponentially worse. I've worried about dopamine, myself... BUT I've come to some terms with it, that you don't just run out of dopamine... or any particular signal substance. It waxes and wanes, and you can easily get "used to" higher levels when you spend a lot of time and energy levels "up" so when it starts to flag a little bit, it's a lot like "the lights are on, but nobody's home"... You're just going through motions. This is similar to having been a coffee drinking FOOL for years, and then limiting yourself to two-cups a day, always in the morning, and never EVER anymore after sun-down... You feel stoned most of the time without a reason... and even after both cups in the morning, you're barely awake, while the next guy over is palpitating on one. It's not a lack of caffeine, so much as the tolerance for it... and for many, that's where burnout seems to "kick in"... where the novelty wears thin, and the fun and excitement of this interesting career settles down to the gravity of a job. It's certainly NOT the only kind of burnout, and just because someone's suffering this kind, which is usually self-limiting... Finding one's OWN directions and self-identity in this world is among the very VERY few real liberties and powers we really have... AND waking up to the nightmare of living out someone else's dreams instead of your own, can be a source for depression, which is literally mentally exhausting... Indeed, as you've pointed out in the video, and as John apparently suggests in his comment up there, this is a subject for a great discussion, and probably worthy a whole series of videos, regarding sources and contributing factors (like sleep deprivation, catastrophic life changes, ethical dysfunctions, and crises in general) as well as plausible solutions and mitigating factors (like preparing for crises through study and practice, and patience for YOURSELF to learn to grow, etc...) I, for one, look forward to more. ;o)

[@Naiadryade]

I expect that people's various mental illnesses also have a huge impact on the type of "burnout" we experience at various different times. Sometimes, my depression steals all my fuel and the car just won't start. Other times, I fuel up my car and start driving, only to find that the car is stuck constantly turning left in a circle (my OCD)... or the engine just explodes (my anxiety). Or I have the fuel and the car but for some reason I can't find the gas tank?! (My ADHD?) Sometimes it's all of the above.

[@RainaRamsay]

+

[@sharonoddlyenough]

+

[@45nickname]

+ I was going to disagree the anxiety one, hut then I realized that you took the metaphor well further than I thought, in a way which fits exactly.

[@Naiadryade]

@@45nickname Right... It's like, I fuel up and get started, but things quickly escalate until it seems like everything is on fire and I need to get the F away from this car for my own safety.

[@geoff5623]

Or anxiety is the check engine light saying *something* is wrong, but you don't know if it's something big or small, or when (or if) you'll be forced to deal with it. Hyperfocus is concentrating on driving so much that you miss your turn and end up in the wrong place.

[@littlelunanova2591]

This is really interesting. As someone with chronic depression I feel like I'm in a constant state of the burnout you described. There isn't that feeling of something being worth it, the reward is tiny compared to the fuel you need to do it. I feel like every day I have half a gallon in the tank of my car and I try to get as far as I can on that half gallon, but the fuel runs out inevitably. I feel like in a cost-benefit analysis, I'm operating at a loss. I need more fuel!

[@RangerRuby]

The picture of having the fuel and not a car to use that fuel or having the car that's driving but running out of fuel is a new way of seeing burnout that really helps me understand it. I don't think I can truly understand it unless I experience it but this video does help a lot! Thanks a ton!

[@Oxfordcommasupporter]

Personally, I am a SAHM trying to break into the writing game. Burnout is so hard, especially when you get so down that you have no energy to dedicate to yourself OR your loved ones.

[@5hensandahowardbird]

Can you post more of your thoughts about this on Hankschannel? I've experienced burnout before, and it was the lowest point in my life. I'd be interested to hear more of what you researched!

[@RainaRamsay]

++ Seconded!

[@willtheprodigy3819]

"You need fuel, and the opportunity to burn it." I love that. I think that perfectly encapsulates success, and the pursuit thereof.

[@VoenDomar]

Thank you for this video. Overcoming burnout has been my life's work for the last 8 months. I had to leave my job in May and learned that I had entered an acute episode of a multitude of underyling, previously undiagnosed chronic health conditions that completely changed what I was able to do in my day to day life. I am still having to push myself each day to accept myself as I am, even as this voice in my head screams at me that I am lazy and entitled and not worthy of the chance to be healthy. So much of what was said in that first article you linked applied to me when I worked myself into burnout, that triggered this episode, and, like your friend Rosiana, it has been an enormous battle to force myself to take the time I need to be healthy instead of just continuing to work despite anything / everything. It helps to know that I'm not alone, and it helps to be reminded of how systemic and widespread all of this is. I am hopeful we can move to a different era some day, as we seem to be building awareness of the issues and I'd like to dream that that is the first step toward potential action.

[@maybeZmaybeH]

For my entrance exam into a health care profession school, I had to write about burnout (this was in Summer 2017). I think discussions about this are so important- thank you both!

[@galit6440]

i have depression and pretty severe anxiety. burn out for me is my "natural" state. thank you VERY VERY much for this video!! using the fuel analogy and reading the discussions here really helped me to look differently at solutions for my self, and actually gave me some fuel to keep going in this fight :)

[@decaf-nosebleed]

Because of this video I recognized that my fuel is my friends. I realised this because there was a time in my life where I experienced burnout due to lack of friends (moving away from them) it took a toll on me, mentally and physically. And as I recover I am finding new friends to help fuel me, and rediscovering old friends to keep fueling me, and I am helping fuel them. We are keeping each other from experiencing burn out and are recognizing when we need help.

[@margretperth]

As a senior in a university, this video hits me reaaaaallly hard

[@kieranwagstaff]

This 4 minute video was more insightful and helpful than my entire high school “life-skills” classes.

[@pearlydust]

I love this channel a lot, it always surprises me on how much I can relate to the topics. And how I find life advice from others in the comment section, this community is indeed awesome.

[@davidbaron7427]

I really appreciate the way you put it, with the different kind of fuel to drive you, and the opportunities to burn it. I read that Buzzfeed essay earlier this week, and you just put a completely new spin on it that, sincerely, helps me deal with my current situation. I have been feeling burned out for a good long while, and I changed jobs as a way to address it. Unknowingly, I was looking for a new opportunity to use my fuel. Now that you put a label on it, I will be able to even better sort out my situation and (try to) keep the burnout at bay. THANK YOU so much for that :D

[@socialtomcat]

not sure why but hank, sometimes you are the only person that can help me make sense of things. thank you for starting conversations, your mind and the way you word things is pretty neat sometimes, and also just what i need

[@char563]

Somehow Hank's videos always hit very directly at the perfect time. Thanks for making me feel less alone in the burnout confusion!

[@LittleRavenSonofMatt]

I haven't commented in probably a decade because I'm embarrassed by the username I created in middle school but I just wanted to say thank you so much for this video and the related links in the description. It came at a very good time and has really helped me through a few thoughts I've been stewing on for a bit. I've followed you and John for close to a majority of my life now but I'm very glad that I have. And i wanted to thank you and acknowledge you in some small way. This isn't enough but hopefully it imparts something of how much of a positive influence you have been on my life and my world at large.

[@Iloveyoursoul]

I normally don't leave comments on your videos, but this is one of the best, and perhaps most important, videos you've made in a long time. This conversation IS important. Thanks for putting difficult things into simple, easy to understand terms.

[@sarahdinwiddie4246]

Gosh I am so thankful for the two of you and the ideas you perpetuate. ❤️

[@plantsandbooks52]

Thank you for making this, Hank. Ive had one of the most stressful weeks of my life. Ive been crying for five days straight but trying to work throught it, and ive just today realized ive burnt out. I needed this

[@ishax7597]

People need to support each other more and stop assuming that basic self care and burnout recovery is always quick and easy. It's not just a matter of taking a holiday or having time away from work, etc. Although (for those who can afford it) these things can help...it's more a matter of resetting your brain and the functions within it. Doing so takes time and we should be supportive of, and compassionate towards every single person who needs that time because they are worthy and their total wellbeing is important; their recovery cannot be constrained to a one size fits all mold; and noone should need to buy or spend money on "things" simply to justify their recovery.

[@anirudhviswanathan3986]

Thanks Hank. I really needed this after my crushing 1st semester in Master's program at University in the Fall. At the end of my semester, I just felt like I learnt nothing, except how to do assignments, not trust that my professors will teach anything, TAs expect me to learn everything on my own and will offer nothing more than the most trite and unhelpful advice they can give and that largely I will not be getting more than bare minimal help from my peers, if at all. One way I found to deal with my particular burnout is to communicate with family more about how I feel. Another thing I did was to just leave my apartment more and go to places that relax me, and do things that relax me.

[@thg_2728]

I relate to working through the burnout, I used to explain it to people close to me whom I trust and they would say I must persevere. I didn't want to seem weak, I would persevere, remain resilient. But in that way you're still working through the burnout, the treadmill's still going with no fuel. I eventually figured out by myself to do exactly what you said, find new fuel. It worked really well, it no longer felt like I was 'pushing through'. But eventually that fuel runs out, and you're back in that burnout. It's a constant cycle, I feel stuck in it now again. But its nice to watch a video where someone puts it in words

[@EliseLogan]

Oh, man. This video hit me right in the soul. Thanks for articulating this in this way, Hank.

[@DFTBAVOCADO]

The biggest burnout of my life was recently, I had lost all drive and passion for my field because I simply didn't enjoy it anymore, and with this I was wandering. It was one of the worst times of my life: I wasn't going to class and I had no motivation or discipline to do anything- except write. I realized I had found my passion again, in a completely different field than organic chemistry. I was lucky enough to be in the situation to make a change and now I feel so much better- this video perfectly explained what I was feeling, thank you Hank!!

[@loomhigh]

"that made me think a thing" - Hank Green, yet again

[@pjw2000]

Burnout is the ultimate effect of the *attention economy* as it is applied to individual creators. That concept is often used as a critique of social media platforms and their relationship with their users, but that's only two pieces of the puzzle: distribution and consumption. Content creation itself is the third, and that includes everyone from the largest news, entertainment, and advertising conglomerates down to the individual KZbinrs, podcasters, authors, artists, musicians, etc. (including, it should be stated, Hank and John). Given how intense the competition is for such a tiny piece of the pie, and how few resources that latter group tends to have, it's no wonder that burnout is so common.

[@727Phoenix]

"Diversify what fuels us..." That is an important message. Thank you so much for that one statement!

[@MarcusJohnHenryBrown]

Super important discussion. I’ve had issues in the past but have seemed to have sorted things out by reviewing and correcting my value system. Being in a healthy, loving and supportive relationship, getting older and going on ridiculously long hikes have, however, helped the most. Thanks for this video. I hope you continue to explore this subject.

[@AlannaMatty]

This is so scarily relevant to my current life situation. It's really hard to admit to being burnt out because you do expect to collapse but that's not really the case. People like myself take pride in saying yes to everything, because hypothetically yes we CAN do everything put on us, but burnout happens when we don't question whether we SHOULD do them. The payoff at my current job continued to get lower as time went on last year, and it reached the point where my brain would periodically turn off, regardless of if I was working or trying on wedding dresses which was really my wakeup call. "Self Care" isn't always taking a bath, it's taking the time and effort to realize your internal value to the people around you and not just to your job and the money you make

[@singinwithceline]

Oh my gosh Hank and John, I needed this so desperately. I like Hank am chronically ill. All last week, I’ve had migraines, and then I slept all weekend and i was mad at myself for not getting up and doing homework or reading. I feel like I’m wasting time anytime i have to sleep all day. I have migraines, Cerebral Palsy, Lymphedema and Complex PTSD. Most often, I will experience this physically. I will want to accomplish things, but my body simply doesn’t let me. I know I shouldn’t blame myself because it’s not my fault. As it is, being disabled isn’t even a bad thing. But I don’t know how to fix it.

[@davetoms1]

I burned out at work. Working on a project I loved, feeling valued and respected and appreciated, by and with people I liked, fulfilled and stretched by the challenges we faced. But averaging 70 hours/week plus being on call 24/7. Physical and mental exhaustion was the norm for years. Most days I'd look in the mirror and say "You can hang on" and I did. Until one day my reflection looked back and said "No. You can't." And that scared me. Luckily my employer made things right. I'm happily still working on the project with far less stress and far more reasonable hours.

[@becccole8741]

I have been looking for this video for so long. During my exams last year everyone told me ‘not to burn out’ but no one told me just what that was. I was a mess. This helped. Thank you.

[@philiptouw3623]

Huh, that metaphor was really good! I also really liked the exciting stock images! Also, super weird to see that burnout can change from person to person. I never even really thought of it that way! So, thanks for this hank!

[@GS-dp9zg]

Thanks for this Hank. I read that Slate article as well, and I identified a lot of myself in that article. I'm also not quite sure where to go with this new found information, but it is cathartic to know that I'm not alone.

[@pyrosmantia8117]

Thanks this actually really helped me, I’m struggling a lot with school. I’m doing two extra subjects which take up a lot of my time, one of them is incredibly hard and I’m genuinely not used to finding things very hard. It’s been a good reality check for me and this video has helped me figure out how to keep going

[@Lionheart6667]

Hank - "Destroy your enemies " Me - "OK THANK YOU, GOOD IDEA OVERLORD HANK"

[@CuleChick11]

This was exactly the thing that I needed today. Thank you. I like what I do for a living, and I like most of the people I do it with. But when my coworkers struggle to accomplish expectations set by management, they are given "accommodations" or sent to do "additional training" . When I, or a co-worker excels, or even consistently meets the set standards, we are given more work and our hours are cut, meaning the stress is higher and we're getting paid less. If we try to back down so we are no longer penalized for over-performing, we are scolded or even fired for "lacking a sense of urgency". Once you prove you can do it, they want you to do it all the time, with more restrictions. Your fuel burns up REALLY FREAKING FAST when your environment is inadvertently poisoning it.

[@akayshamorgan2590]

The internet can be a terrifying place but I love that it allows people to share their experiences and perspectives on life's complex problems. Videos like this make me hopeful for the future of the internet. I'm so thankful to be a part of this online community x

[@wituszynski6534]

holy crap, I'm studying creative process in context of burnout, because there's much to be done, so artists can just do work and do it in a sustainable way, and this material is one of the greatest chunks I have met so far. Sooo good work

[@abigailladd688]

WOW Hank way to hit it home with this one. Recently, I had been working towards a goal that had been my life long dream. That dream/goal is what fueled my fire to keep working and I worked very hard for quite a long time. But in the end I didn’t achieve my goal and I was told it was impossible, and with that all my will to work left. Dreams/goals are extremely necessary to have as a source of constant motivation, however, I learned you can’t place your identity in achieving them or else the minute they leave you will feel basically like what I could equate to an empty bottomless pit(burrrrnnnnouuttt). I placed so much of who I was and how I spent my life into achieving this one thing, that when I couldn’t, I just gave up. Working so hard for something and then having someone tell you it’s never going to happen basically tells you your hard work is worth nothing. After this, all I thought was, “Well if hard work is worth nothing and gets me no where, then why do it?” and it’s true: using all your fuel to get to one unreachable destination is a good way to run out gas and get stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no way to get more. Instead, I realized it is always best to place your motivations in something internal and personal. So instead of: “I’m going to do this so I can win this or achieve this” it would be be “I’m going to work my best at this so that I can enjoy this more or so I can be the best version of myself”.

[@KarentheGreat247]

Genius. I, too, have been feeling burnout lately. My husband and I have needed a lot of medical help trying to start a family. It was my all consuming drive, the reason I got up and went to work in the morning (insurance covers no fertility treatments), the food I ate, everything was geared toward having a baby. We recently had our third, and last, failed IUI. We can't afford any more. And I had a sort of existential crisis. I had never been so low in my life until that point. I am generally a happy person, but I had no inner strength left to pull myself out of this. I didn't see the use of going to work, eating, etc. I still did all the things I was supposed to, but it was the treadmill going, with no one on it. Time was all it took to get back to normal. I had to let myself have time to grieve and heal and slowly I started to be the one on the treadmill again. Because the drive is still there. I gave up hope for a while, because I knew it was going to take so much longer, but the goal is still there. I just have to run harder to get it.

[@cordelianoir6490]

THis is one of the best volt brothers videos I've ever seen. Thanks for making this and putting "burnout" into a more usable metaphor for us. :)

[@riyaeswara6853]

This whole video was AWESOME love y'all

[@DydydyA]

This input is very significant to what I'm going through right now. It's actually uncanny how much I needed this exact video tonight. It doesn't necessarily solve the problem, but it makes me understand it from a new perspective.

[@belindaweber7999]

I was suprised the first time that I was burnt out by the work of my dreams, being a pet sitter, but I've learnt it's ok to need a bit of down time to restore my fuel level. I think alot of the burn out issue is guarding against outside pressures on you, finding new perspectives and reframing, being patient and aware enough to grab opportunity/fuel and knowing yourself well. I have a million projects I'd love to do but I also have long term cycles of depression and productivity which has forced me to learn patience and timing. Like John said regarding SMART goals, Realistic and Time bound are very important points to be accurate about! DFTBA

[@drwindsurf]

Thank you Hank. This is very useful...and definately something that I have experienced in my life...the interesting thing is that each time it feels different and every time I didn't realize what was going on until I was starting to feel better. Thank you for another excellent video :)

[@heidi64freedom]

I like that this keeps the conversation going. So much of what we consume today, on the Internet or otherwise, is one-end speech or perceive something, or some issues as stagnant of our opinion or standpoint on it. On burnout, that people of different countries and cultural, age, race background are gonna experience it differently with specific circumstances, and maybe if we listen more to each other's burnout and know and value each of those experiences and tell each other it's okay, it might just help a little bit more with the problem.

[@TheseWhiteNights]

So how do we increase the fuel again?

[@vlogbrothers]

This is the question I want to hear people's answer to.

[@AnnaMayKremer]

What has helped fuel me is focusing on my relationships w/ the people I care about most. It helps me to take care of myself so that I am in a position to support them. It helps me to limit my to-do list to things that are the most important to my relationships w/ those people. Establishing boundaries between work time & leisure time helps me to be present in the moments that I am w/ them, being truly engaged w/ them. I believe our relationships hold the greatest potential for experiencing joy in our lives. At the heart of all this, is having a good relationship w/ myself. Yes, we all have relationships w/ ourselves. Valuing myself, not defining my value by others’ opinions of me(something I have gotten better at yet still want to improve on), has been the most freeing thing I have done. It has allowed me to focus on supporting my loved ones as well as allowing them to support me. People are the best fuel because they are ever-changing, deep, and more valuable than anything else in the world.

[@WindyPoplars95]

I definitely need to know this answer. I know for me, it’s the ability to drop parts of the old and indulge in the new and creative. But while that can be a sometimes thing, it can’t be an always thing. I can’t keep burning bridges to escape burnout.

[@TheseWhiteNights]

@@vlogbrothers So your definition of running out of fuel is when daily tasks in our life no longer give us that dopamine hit. And the fuel, the thing that makes us passionate, no longer makes us feel good. To combat this, I think we need to see the value of what we're doing. There needs to be something to chase down: a long term goal. So it no longer feels like a treadmill, but a hill with some long term goal at the top. When we achieve it, we create a new long term goal. Those mundane tasks lead to something of a bigger accomplishment.

[@modestalchemist]

My doctor told me that sometimes stress can make us run out of happy juices and we might need antidepressants for a short amount of time to help us feel better while our juice maker catches up.

[@calvinpanini]

Just watched this, and thank you. I've had many conversations with a good friend/fellow nerdfighter and we've both expressed feelings of burnout as we try to explore the avenues of our artistic careers... this put words to that and damn if it wasn't cathartic.

[@burgers8]

I love this! I've felt this so many times in my life! It's a different way of looking at the same feeling and explaining why I feel the way I do. Liked, favourited, and shared.

[@UltraHuman]

Literally getting ready right now to film my video about avoiding parental burnout 💕 super valuable and timely. Thanks Hank! 🧖

[@rhythmicrootsmusicservices]

I am a new music therapist and have found quickly that burnout is a huge problem in our field. Many jobs do not offer financial support and benefits for their workers. For example, some jobs have you plan sessions, drive to several houses, and then take notes. With this in home approach, it is so easy to burnout because the amount of work to actually be full time is very overwhelming. Trying to fight burnout myself but will work on shifting my perspective to remain positive.

[@ekt8ify]

You just put into words what I've been feeling lately. This video made me realize just how burnt out I am and I hadn't even taken the time to think about it.

[@Raya-xw5ud]

Whewf, that was a lot. I feel like I need to watch this 3 more times. I want a 20 minute video on this. Thank you! This is so helpful of a way to think about burnout.

[@sirsmartypants7086]

You are SO right there are many different burnouts. Thanks for another great vid and another great discussion.

[@Sam-hi4ce]

Hank is so right about working through burnout. I have been completely burned out from lack of fuel, but the treadmill keeps running, i keep getting A’s but theres no point to it anymore, no enjoyment and no learning. Just do the work because you have to.

[@Sam-hi4ce]

hey me from 2 years ago. i found your comment and i wanted to say hi. you might be able to tell from the fact i came back here after years that this isn’t a problem that’s gonna go away, but it gets better. If i’m being honest, right now i’ve got tons of fuel but my cars broken, and that’s a nice feeling. i’m sure it’s dangerous but i love how it feels when i work myself to pure exhaustion and then know i couldn’t have worked harder. but it’s definetly hurting me. i just wanted to tell you there’s a name for that feeling your feeling. it’s depression. it’s high functioning, debilitating, drowning you depression. and it gets better. and then it gets worse. and then it gets better again. but you keep going and you get your fuel back sometimes and one day you’ll learn to take breaks on the treadmill for a little bit, and 2 years from now you’ll come back to this comment when you’ve burnt yourself out and you’ll think about how far you’ve come and you’ll feel the kind of pride that fills your chest with warm pressure and fills your eyes with tears. i love you you’ll be ok sincerely signed, you from the future

[@Sam-hi4ce]

P.S. your trans babe so if you could figure that out sooner it would be great

[@Sam-hi4ce]

well it’s been 2 months instead of 2 years but i come back to this video so often and i see these comments everytime and i just wanted to say hi. also me from 2 months ago thst thing you burned yourself out over you still failed at, mabye don’t do that next time. love y’all sam from the present

[@Brozafan]

Thank you so much for discussing this topic! Very validating.

[@gitoshrisen7687]

Burnout is a thing faced by everyone these days...so a really good topic to reflect on. Personally I'm confused whether I am lacking motivation or am I lacking the skills and knowledge... because things are running out my hands now..and I don't know what to do.

[@nathanong]

I'm applying for grad school right now, and this helps me understand my version of burn out. I've invested a lot of time into a profession/study (paleontology) that hasn't given me much in return. My fuel sources arent very diverse (drive for success and financial need) and so when my hard work delivers neither, I burn out. Thanks for helping me understand this, Hank.

[@jennacoffin8566]

I had never considered that not having a "vehicle" to put the "fuel" into was a kind of burn out but I can see how it is, and that makes a lot of my frustrations suddenly make sense. I have a lot of love for different communities and I see how they struggle and I want to help, I have all the fuel, I just don't have a way. I don't have the money or the right opportunity or whatever other resources would be helpful for them. Somehow understanding this problem a little better makes me feel better about it. As always, Vlogbrothers/Nerdfighteria is the most thoughtful, wonderful place on the internet.

[@allisonblakely8345]

It’s ridiculous how i spent the evening sobbing (for the first time in months) about how i feel too physically and mentally exhausted to do anything in life and how i don’t seem to have the energy follow my dreams and how i genuinely feel like i haven’t accomplished anything and 2 weeks of the new year has gone by and boom, 2 minutes later this video is posted. It honestly feels like the universe is trying to tell me something lol

[@AzeemaC]

I was legit talking to my co-teacher today about feeling completely burnt out and you post this! This might be the sign to take a break from work tbh, I don't even remember the last time I slept well 🙈 Basically what I mean to say is, thank you.

[@aaron3455]

Burnout for me has always felt like aimlessly wandering a school hallway where you know behind every door is work, work that you have to do, that you want to do & you just can't.

[@MattPalka]

SO GOOD. I love this analogy and metaphor. Burnout is an imbalance in that fuel and opportunity dynamic. Gosh, those values and the narrative we tell ourselves are immensely crucial. I'm writing that down. Diversify what fuels you. And I feel one of the best ways to diversify that is to care deeply with fundamentally important values. To really care deeply and go from there to see what happens.

[@adventureswithmarleigh141]

I really needed this video right now because I am currently experiencing burnout. Thank you for sharing this!!

[@Niclie21]

As a teacher, with some much judgment I feel this. So many deadlines and little reward. I continuously have to reflect. The reward is the student improving but sometimes it’s hard to see that growth. You are often the only adult in the room constantly judging yourself.

[@boredymcbored]

Please do a rambly Hanks chanel video on more of this, suffering major burnout atm. This video was what I needed either way so thanks Hank!

[@kujmous]

Hope seems like a conversation to have, too. It's so intangible and useless, but it is also critical... I could never understand how it could be both.

[@nextbirt]

Hey Hank. Just finished reading your book "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing" and I think it was amazing. I really questioned myself if I should finish it, because its usually not the type of book I read, but I'm so glad I did. The ending was beautiful and thank you for writing this book, it's an amazing adventure and I think I'm very lucky that I managed to stumble upon it. Becoming a fan. Don't want to make any treats but I will come after you if you do not write a second part. Just kidding. But seriously - thank you for creating such a gift for this world.

[@ValerieSanFilippo]

I really like the idea of diversifying what fuels us as a way of keeping pace and avoiding burnout, since it not only requires us to be mindful of the many ways our work impacts the world and vis versa, it also encourages us to approach our work from new perspectives. That means that we will have a more holistic understanding of our work in general. So, by finding the fuel to continue, we also ensure that our understanding of our work is greater than before.

[@skylilly1]

Yes, this topic is very important. I have a few family members feeling this right now. One of them left a 6 figure salary his burnout was so bad. He's totally changing his career and is studying to get his real estate license. I think it's important not to question his reasons. I respect what he's going through. He's starting over and he's enjoying life again.

[@cmuncy5998]

This was incredible. Thank you sir.