Burnout happens to nearly everyone at some point. Being a woodworking and tackling projects at a slower pace still isn’t immune to this simple truth. How can you combat this? What’s ideal for reducing or recovering from burnout?
As a woodworker I sometimes get frustrated with project progress. Usually it’s because I feel things aren’t moving along fast enough or that the initial design step I took wasn’t exactly what I hoped for.
These are the ideal times to take a step back, pause and realign. It’s not easy to do but can be critical for moving forward again in a healthy way. Pushing forward or ‘forcing’ a project through is rarely a good move and can at times be downright dangerous.
GATHER YOUR PLANS- Starting nearly any project should have a set of plans. Whether written down, scribbled on a notepad, digitally typed out or clearly defined in your mind – plan things out! It’s always super frustrating to be in the middle of a project and run out of glue or nails or material because something wasn’t accounted for or was quickly overlooked.
SET SMALL GOALS – Having goals is great. Having large goals is great. Crushing yourself under the pressure of large goals with deadlines and “perfection” isn’t reality. Set smaller more bite size goals for yourself. The positive win you’ll get from achieving 5 small goals on a project vs 50% of a large goal does wonders for your attitude, outlook and general well-being.
SLOW DOWN – Seriously, slow down. Rushing, pushing or overworking yourself is a sure fire way to end up injured or in the hospital. Forcing an oversized piece of wood through a saw or machine that might already be near its limit can be disastrous. Make three passes on the surface planet vs one big one. Make two small cuts with the table saw vs one that might overtax the blade. These are simple things (and might seem like no-brainers) – but keep them at the forefront of your mind. It’s important!
What helps you slow down and take a step back from a woodworking project? How do you practice patience and trust that the process will get you where you want to be?