Ask HN: What keeps you from burning out?

[kineticac]

Let's face it, nobody can code every minute of their lives without burning out too fast. What kind of stuff do you promote at the office / home office that keeps you motivated, loose, and happy?

We're setting up the office space now, and we're committed to making it as fun as possible from the start, to help offset all the stress that is sure to come. Given a budget and space restraints of course ;)

Here's our table / setup so far: http://post.ly/AkcX

[chrischen]

Games? Sometimes I take a break with some video game, but then again I'm kind of young so I don't know if this works for older people.

Also if the thing I'm working on is mentally stimulating and challenging, it motivates me by itself and keeps me from burning out. So something like a couch to sit on or a place with a great view is good to go to and just think.

If you can put in windows, put those in. A TV would work too, and a place for snacks like a fridge.

[makecheck]

I think the best thing you can do is focus on results and not the clock. If someone wants to take 2 days off in the middle of nowhere, or work odd hours, they should, as long as they eventually produce as much as they're supposed to.

A "fun" workplace may not actually be, since it seeks to turn the office into the new home. People should actually go home in order to feel the most at home.

[kineticac → makecheck]

that's definitely a good point. balance between real life and work is a must, rather than trying to keep people only at the office. I like the foosball table because it lets everyone step away from work and do something together that's fun and totally different than what they were just doing before.

[MichaelTroy]

Trying to be conscious of feeling like I am burning (out). If I can be conscious of that feeling, I am able to detach to a certain degree. This enables me to go a hell of a lot further. I guess simply being aware that I may be burning out helps me find perspective.

[seven]

My favourite (home-)office 'things':

* big punching bag. (this is a must have!)

* place to be alone (toilet does not count!)

* working hammock (as homer suggested) probably a big sofa is ok too

* a kitchen

* my brother works for a company where they have breakfast together every Friday.

and since I visited your website, I would like to have a fish-tank. :)

[kineticac → seven]

Punching bag is cool, helps promote health too! Good suggestion.

Glad you took a look at the blog, the fish tank is currently in my house, but if budget permits, I'd like to set one up in the office area too. Saltwater reefs are ridiculously soothing to watch and take care of.

breakfast together sounds like a fun idea =) do they go out somewhere? make it there? cater it?

[seven → kineticac]

Afer I got my punching bag, I really had a lot more respect for boxers. :)

From my understanding, they do not go out, but make breakfast in a conference room. Basic stuff is somehow organized.. and everybody brings small stuff like special marmalade once in a while to spice things up. I guess that they are about 20-30 people. They do talk about business all the time. But as it is not enforced anyhow, it does not feel like work.

They seem to have a very nice working culture. To quote from his (german only blog): 'Meetings are very important. Showing up late is strictly forbidden and would result in drastic punishment. Meetings are so important, that we would never ever let the times overlap with our foosball table tournaments.'

[CyberFonic]

Reading Hacker News and not being made feel guilty :-)

[pasbesoin]

Environment. When I'm putting more effort into tuning out a noisy, distracting environment than I am into the work product, burnout is on the horizon.

Beware of people who claim to like such environments: Some function well in them, but in my anecdotal observation, many crank out substandard work. This accumulates over time into big problems.