Work effective hours, not necessarily long hours...
The best trick I have ever figured out for doing this is to separate all activities into "in front on my computer" and "away from my computer". If you are working ineffectively in either mode, switch modes. If you are still working ineffectively, consider a break.
I often sit in front of my computer, writing code, refactoring, or testing and realize that I'm getting nowhere. Then I conclude that the reason I'm not making progress is because I'm not quite sure what to do.
Determining what to do is an activity that I have found much more effective away from the computer. So I log off, grab pencil and paper and go somewhere else, anywhere else. As soon as I have something I'm sure I want to code, then (and only then) do I return to the computer.
This works both ways. If I'm away from my computer, but feel I'm not creative enough, then I just decide to write something, anything, and go write it. Sometimes just getting the smallest things done opens the doors to getting bigger things done.
Confirmed! I find one of the most useful things to do when i'm not making much progress is to take a walk and think about the problem away from the computer. Often times I find a much simpler solution than what I was trying before.
I find that regulating my free time with something like the pomodoro technique to be very helpful. When I'm in a pomodoro, I am in my own world of code, but when the buzzer rings I make coffee, read a book, or take a walk.
Just having the span of 5 minutes to not think about work enables me to attack the problem with renewed vigor. Ultimately I get more done, and I'm happier for it!
Go for a run, hit the gym or do some yoga. Runner's high does miracles for coming up with better approaches to tough problems. Even if it's midnight and you feel like passing out, just say fuck it and go for a jog - you'd be surprised how much energy you actually have.
This is good advice for starting a day, or ending a day. So many times when I get home from a long day I think I'm too tired to get any work done, but after a 30 min run or bike ride, my mind is ready to start hacking on a project again.
It's also not a bad idea after lunch. It's 4pm here and I just got done doing some pushups. Looking forward to doing some more before I leave.
I have only a little experience here (I realized I very nearly burned out once but only after I narrowly avoided it mostly through luck) but personally I find the best way to ward off burnout is realistic planning.
He absolutely nails it when he says:
The best way to stop burnout is to avoid it entirely through balanced behavior and thinking.
It's definitely important for an employee to pace himself appropriately but it's also equally important for milestones from on high (whether they be one week or 2 months out (any non-vague deadline planned for longer than 2-3 months is bound to be ripe with failure)) to be both realistic and challenging. Not 24 hour death march challenging, challenging that you have to plan your time appropriately and, when working, you work efficiently.
In my experience the major driver of burnout is bad planning. I also think this is a large part of why our type prefer startups. Because startups do very little planning compared to BigCos, it's mostly up to the employees to manage their time effectively. Of course, the pressure is there to do as much as you can but it's tempered by not having completely arbitrary nonnegotiable deadlines that you absolutely have to come through on. (The deadlines you do have to come through on in startups are usually not arbitrary which makes a world of difference when trying to meet them.) When planning is out of sync with provided value it burns people out.
Agree re doing something completely different. I have an old diesel F350 that I work on. The work is physical, tangible and dirty as hell. I find I'm completely refreshed and ready for more 1's and 0's when I'm done.
Also, make sure you have a way to give yourself credit at the end of the day for all the work you've done. Often it feels like you've achieved nothing, but if you look at the list of checked off items on your TODO list, or your list of code checkins it'll give you a healthy sense of accomplishment.
The best trick I have ever figured out for doing this is to separate all activities into "in front on my computer" and "away from my computer". If you are working ineffectively in either mode, switch modes. If you are still working ineffectively, consider a break.
I often sit in front of my computer, writing code, refactoring, or testing and realize that I'm getting nowhere. Then I conclude that the reason I'm not making progress is because I'm not quite sure what to do.
Determining what to do is an activity that I have found much more effective away from the computer. So I log off, grab pencil and paper and go somewhere else, anywhere else. As soon as I have something I'm sure I want to code, then (and only then) do I return to the computer.
This works both ways. If I'm away from my computer, but feel I'm not creative enough, then I just decide to write something, anything, and go write it. Sometimes just getting the smallest things done opens the doors to getting bigger things done.