I've been dealing with burnout most of this year. Exhaustion, detachment, feelings of ineffectiveness, even apathy about hobbies  I used to enjoy. It's not a fun state to be in, but fortunately I'm not so far gone I can't see the vine hanging above the quicksand.

Taking steps to repair this issue requires equal parts introspection and research. I have to remember there's a connection between how I feel inside and the things I do on the outside. Burnout is a symptom first, so to uproot it, I need to figure out what external factors are keeping it alive.

Our habit of staying constantly stimulated contributes to burnout. To combat this, I wanted a way to frame inputs so I can think about them quickly and systematically. Here's what I came up with:

* input 3 -- Directed, specific input that requires active rumination and interaction. Tackling a work or school task that requires more than basic levels of attention is a prime example of this.
* input 2 -- Generalized input we experience throughout the day. Requires surface-level thought and participation, but nothing that would furrow the brow. Catching up with a friend, listening to a podcast while driving, most 9-5 workday activities..
* input 1 -- Casual input that requires very little in the way of action/reaction. Sometimes considered mindless entertainment. Watching sitcoms, reading the cereal box at the breakfast table.
* input 0 -- No input of any sort other than what is required to not trip over your own feet. Taking a walk, relaxing in a comfy chair.

The most surprising benefit of this system is how it let me reframe downtime. Before, I thought input 1 was an acceptable level of relaxation. Now I realize this keeps my mind stimulated with constant hits of dopamine. Input 0 is useful, too, and I don't have to think about it as "doing nothing", thus avoiding the needless internal guilt trip of "You should be doing something productive, not wasting time, dummy".

I'm not just sitting on a park bench staring at the sky, I'm getting in my input 0 time. And I think it's making a difference.