Exhaustion Is A Natural Part Of The SteemIt Experience
We've all hit the wall of exhaustion, over and over again on SteemIt. The infinite amount of content available, combined with the finite number of hours in the day, combined with all of the other content outside of SteemIt, combined with the other demands of our busy lives... You get the drift. Information overload - and physical-mental exhaustion in general - is one of the "goodies" which naturally accompany participation on SteemIt. They key issue is not that it happens, but how we deal with it. Even with the help of natural stimulants, like coffee, tea, etc. exhaustion is a NATURAL signal from our minds, and bodies, that it is time to take it down a notch. Luckily, SteemIt has got you covered on this front...
The Two Main Types Of SteemIt Exhaustion
There are actually different types, or levels, of exhaustion, and each one has its unique remedy. On the most extreme end of the spectrum is the type of exhaustion where your body and mind are completely overloaded, and the only effective fix is to completely disengage from all exertion. This disengagement can take a multitude of forms, including : shutting down your computer and doing some type of non-mental activity such as manual chores like washing dishes, cleaning the house, gardening, etc. Or perhaps a nap is in order? Or some meditation on the "sound of silence"? In other words, this is the most extreme end of your mind and body's shutdown response, and it needs to be heeded, otherwise your health and productivity will continue deteriorating until you properly rest. This issue is tied in with sleep deprivation, and the longer you let it go on without rest, the more you risk problems with declining cognition, mood problems, etc. I will post more about this issue in a future post. But for now, let's deal with the next level of exhaustion.
Level Two Exhaustion : SteemIt Stuckness
The stage before complete burnout is the point where you are "mentally stuck". This is not the more PHYSICAL exhaustion of type above, but is more of a mental stuckness. You are at a point where your "mental circulation" has become clogged. This can be the result of situations which include : having too many ideas for new posts, but not being able to decide which one to start writing; panicking about your inability to earn Steem - or ENOUGH Steem - through your posting activities; etc. This type of exhaustion is similar to "writer's block" in that you are not so much EXHAUSTED as you are STUCK. In this situation, what you need is to get some DIFFERENT input and perspective which will enable your mind to move out of its rut. A major, effective solution to this type of exhaustion is curation, and the best part is that SeemIt enables you to earn income - and so remain productive during your ruts - by providing you with Steem earnings from your curation efforts.
Curating Yourself Out Of Stuckness
In your stuck situation, curation can be as simple as searching for some posts which are related to your current interests. In this case, you can search for a specific type of content via SteemIt search. For instance, if you are trying to write about mental burnout, you can search for "burnout" in the SteemIt search box. This will lead you to some articles related to the topic which can give you some new perspective and/or new information on the issue, which can often charge you back to productivity. However, sometimes what you really need is a complete change of direction, or focus. In this case, a more "random" approach is needed. This is when you reach for the "home", or "new" tabs on SteemIt. The "home" tab is helpful because it will serve you some content from SteemIt members who have provided you with quality content in the past, and who you have followed as a result. This is a good opportunity to keep tabs on what they are up to, and to gain some inspiration from their new content. Hit the "home" tab and read a couple of articles which resonate with you. Be sure to upvote them if they are valuable, and in the process you will earn some Steem so that you curation effort will keep you productive during this "less active" phase. If you need a real "shot of randomness" click on the "new" tab, and you may just likely stumble upon something totally unexpected, which really boost your productivity efforts forward.
Building Your Mental SteemIt Muscles
In the end, it is just like exercise, in that you make significant gains during you less active periods, like on your off-days when you are not actively running, or pumping iron, at the gym. The key is to find the balance between active, less active, and complete rest modes. There is a time for each of these, and listening to the needs of your body and mind are key in providing yourself the level of input necessary for maximum output.
Feel free to put this tip into practice, and share your thoughts in the comments.
Full steam ahead...
