It really doesn't matter what makes you tick, what blows your frock up or what gives you that tingle in your short and curlies. Every now and again, even the most passionate of human beings will eventually feel the strain from doing that one thing they feel more passionate about than anybody else. That, my friends, is burnout. And of course, because this is a Yahtzee blog and I'm a Yahtzee obsessive, Yahtzee is what I will be talking about when I refer to burnout. But honestly, you could literally swap Yahtzee with anything you would care to think of. Burnout is burnout, so everytime you see the word Yahtzee, just replace it with your own chosen hobby/sport/bedroom activity.
Yahtzee burnout can happen to anyone at any time. It can make you feel like your progress in the sport (yes, sport) has come to a complete halt and that you're going nowhere. When you're not burnt out, you can often feel like Ronnie O'Sullivan chasing down his millionth 147, when you are burnt out you can feel a lot like Eddie The Eagle: useless, with the whole world pointing and laughing at you. It can also make you ask some serious questions about yourself, such as, "Why am I bothering?", "Why don't I just call it quits?", "Can I even be arsed anymore?" and "Have I been this shit all this time and I was merely kidding myself from the beginning?" If you are not equipped to face this kind of self doubt, it can easily be enough to make you throw in the towel altogether. But stop! That's just not necessary!
Yahtzee burnout is a perfectly natural response to being so entrenched in the game for an extended period of time. This can often be more pronounced if, like myself and everyone else I play with, you play competitively and regularly. It can be even worse if you involve yourself with the behind the scenes nitty gritty that comes with keeping competitive play organised and efficient. Burnout can happen to the best of us and it can be a huge pain in the crevice. It can cause a loss of focus and diminishing scores which can be hugely detrimental to the Championships you're currently embroiled in. It can get so bad that even the very sight of dice makes you want to chunder and regurgitate your mother's homemade shepherd's pie. And what a waste that would be. But there is hope. It does, however come with a caveat; it is by no means foolproof, nor is it easy to implement. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, it may not even be the best advice I can give, but it's all I've got. So, if anything, I'm hoping this post can inspire others to offer their own, and possibly better advice on how to tackle the misery that is Yahtzee burnout. I do honestly wish that this post could be more of a "how to", but as I've said a gazillion times, I'm not an expert, and part of this whole blog is for me to learn along with you fine people. Having said that, I do have at least SOME crumbs of comfort for you.
The single most obvious and effective piece of advice I, or anyone, can offer on the subject of burnout is to just take a break. A few weeks away from Yahtzee (or whatever) without giving it a second thought. This is sound advice (if slightly lame), but it's not always the most practical. Burnout can strike at any time and Sod's Law dictates that it usually strikes when it's least welcome; during a League, Knockout or Team Championship. Put simply, it can strike when you could do without it the most. The obvious answer is to just withdraw yourself from the competition. I would never do this personally. Even if there is an outside chance that I can come out of a competition a champion, I am 100% going to see that competition through to the end. But if you feel there is no other way around, by all means withdraw. Just know that you don't have to.
So, how do you combat burnout when you are unable to just take a step back? Well, this is where your own mental fortitude comes in. The best approach is to compartmentalise. When it's match day, do your best to combat the burnout demons, ensure that it's all about business. I know this can be hard, I've been there myself and have failed at this on numerous occasions, but I've also succeeded in this regard too. I believe it is a tool that can be learned, and if it is learned to the point where it becomes an art form, it can be a deadly weapon in your arsenal. If you can push through burnout and still be a menace in the match then honestly, who will be able to stop you?
Having said all that, you're still burnt out. You don't just want to fake it 'till you make it. You want that passion back, that all consuming desire to compete and win, because there's nothing else like it, is there? So you need to be able to switch off. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Well it bloody well isn't! It can be incredibly easy to dwell on your losses, or even your wins, depending on the size of your ego. You need to train yourself to put in a shift, then just let it go, forget about it. Go home and never think of Yahtzee again. At least until the next match. You need to enter a Zen like state the minute the final scores have been made known and remain in that same transcendental state until you are next called upon to perform. This is definitely easier said than done. But, if you can teach yourself to do this, you will eventually find yourself clawing out of the mire of burnout and pretty soon you will be right back where you need to be!
I wish I could say that I have mastered this technique and that I am able to offer numerous pointers, hints and tips to see you through your own dark days of burnout. The sad and tragic element of this whole post is that I haven't mastered this technique. I have suffered Yahtzee burnout more than once and I have tried my bloody hardest to implement my own very simple advice. Trouble is, as stated, it's very easy to offer advice, but implementing it effectively is something else entirely. I am clearly weak of mind and that's something I need to work on. But I'm not you, and you're not me (you lucky devils), so, while I have had very few successes (but some) using this technique, you may do very well with it. But even if you don't at first, stick with it. Perhaps you will learn some effective technique that I can use in the future. At least I hope so... I need help... dear God, I need help...
Note - Yes, I have kind of covered this before. BUT, I'm incredibly forgetful. I was considering deleting one or the other post (Retaining The Yahtzee Fire, if you're interested) but I think they both have their merits, so I went with it. Sorry if you think I'm repeating myself. It was not intentional and I will be sure to check what I've written about previously more thoroughly in the future... love you xxxx
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